Long Key State Park

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Last Updated: December 5, 2025

Long Key State Park is a 965-acre coastal park located in the Florida Keys.


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Summary

The park offers a variety of activities, including camping, fishing, swimming, kayaking, hiking, and birdwatching. One of the main attractions of the park is the exceptional snorkeling and diving opportunities in the clear waters surrounding the park.

Visitors to Long Key State Park can explore the park's diverse ecosystems, including seagrass beds, mangrove swamps, and hardwood hammocks. The park is home to a variety of wildlife, including manatees, sea turtles, and numerous bird species.

Some of the specific points of interest within the park include the Long Key Natural Trail, which winds through a hardwood hammock and offers views of the ocean; the Layton Trail, which leads to a picturesque tidal lagoon; and the Golden Orb Trail, which offers panoramic views of the park and the surrounding ocean.

One interesting fact about Long Key State Park is that it was once a private resort owned by Henry Flagler, a wealthy businessman and developer who played a significant role in the development of Florida's east coast in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

The best time of year to visit Long Key State Park is between November and April, when temperatures are mild and there is less rainfall. However, the park is open year-round and offers activities and attractions for visitors no matter the time of year.

       

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Park & Land Designation Reference

National Park
Large protected natural areas managed by the federal government to preserve significant landscapes, ecosystems, and cultural resources; recreation is allowed but conservation is the priority.
State Park
Public natural or recreational areas managed by a state government, typically smaller than national parks and focused on regional natural features, recreation, and education.
Local Park
Community-level parks managed by cities or counties, emphasizing recreation, playgrounds, sports, and green space close to populated areas.
Wilderness Area
The highest level of land protection in the U.S.; designated areas where nature is left essentially untouched, with no roads, structures, or motorized access permitted.
National Recreation Area
Areas set aside primarily for outdoor recreation (boating, hiking, fishing), often around reservoirs, rivers, or scenic landscapes; may allow more development.
National Conservation Area (BLM)
BLM-managed areas with special ecological, cultural, or scientific value; more protection than typical BLM land but less strict than Wilderness Areas.
State Forest
State-managed forests focused on habitat, watershed, recreation, and sustainable timber harvest.
National Forest
Federally managed lands focused on multiple use—recreation, wildlife habitat, watershed protection, and resource extraction (like timber)—unlike the stricter protections of national parks.
Wilderness
A protected area set aside to conserve specific resources—such as wildlife, habitats, or scientific features—with regulations varying widely depending on the managing agency and purpose.
Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Land
Vast federal lands managed for mixed use—recreation, grazing, mining, conservation—with fewer restrictions than national parks or forests.
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