Things to do nearBoot Key Harbor

Boot Key Harbor has served as a waypoint for mariners navigating the Florida Keys for generations. The harbor's naturally sheltered position, formed by the low mangrove-fringed Boot Key to the south and Marathon to the north, made it an obvious refuge long before the city-managed mooring field was established. Today that mooring field is one of the largest and most organized in the southeastern United States, hosting hundreds of vessels at any given time and sustaining a tight-knit community of long-term liveaboards and transient cruisers alike.

On the water, the harbor rewards exploration. Kayaking through the surrounding mangrove channels reveals a quieter side of the Keys, where herons stalk the shallows and manatees surface without warning. Anglers find productive flats just beyond the harbor mouth, while the offshore reefs to the south, including Coffins Patch Reef, offer snorkeling and diving within a short boat ride.

The surrounding area of Marathon provides everything a mariner needs, from provisioning and marine services to open-air dining and live music. Nearby, Curry Hammock State Park offers hiking trails and a beach for days spent ashore. Boot Key Harbor earns its reputation as one of the friendliest stops in the entire Keys island chain.