Things to do nearBahia Honda State Park

Bahia Honda State Park sits at mile marker 37 on the Overseas Highway, occupying one of the few naturally wide keys in the chain. The name comes from the Spanish for deep bay, a nod to the unusually deep channel that runs along the island's southern edge. That channel made this site strategically important during the construction of Henry Flagler's Overseas Railroad in the early twentieth century, and the old bridge trestle that remains is one of the most photographed landmarks in the lower Florida Keys.

The park's three beach areas each have a distinct character. Sandspur Beach on the Atlantic side draws swimmers and sunbathers to its broad, gently shelving sands. Calusa Beach faces the Gulf and tends to be calmer, making it a favorite for families with young children. Snorkeling directly off the shore reveals sea fans, sponges, and small reef fish, and guided snorkeling trips depart from the park's marina for deeper reef sites nearby.

Birding is quietly one of the park's great draws. The tropical hardwood hammock interior shelters white-crowned pigeons, mangrove cuckoos, and migrating warblers during spring and fall passage. A short nature trail winds through this habitat, offering shade and a different pace from the beaches.

Nearby, Looe Key adds a world-class dive and snorkel reef to any itinerary built around the park. Bahia Honda State Park earns its reputation as one of Florida's most beautiful state parks, and a visit here makes that case effortlessly.