Things to do nearCurry Hammock State Park

Curry Hammock State Park encompasses roughly 1,000 acres spread across several small islands in Monroe County, preserving a mosaic of tropical hardwood hammock, mangrove forest, and seagrass beds that define the ecological character of the Florida Keys. The park takes its name from the Curry family, one of the prominent early settler families of Key West, and the land has remained relatively undisturbed compared to the heavily developed stretches of US 1 that flank it. Visitors arrive to find a campground set close to the water, a small beach with clear, shallow swimming, and a network of paddling trails that thread through the mangrove interior.

The birding here is genuinely exceptional, and the park is recognized as one of the premier hawk-watch sites in the eastern United States during autumn migration. Wading birds, shorebirds, and raptors move through in impressive numbers, drawing serious birders with spotting scopes and field guides. Beneath the water, the seagrass flats support juvenile fish, sea turtles, and the occasional spotted eagle ray gliding through the shallows.

The campground offers tent and RV sites with access to the beach and boat ramp, making it a practical base for exploring the surrounding waters of Florida Bay and the Atlantic. The atmosphere throughout the park is unhurried, shaped more by tidal rhythms and seasonal bird movements than by crowds or commercial activity. For anyone traveling through the Keys who wants to understand what this archipelago looked like before the bridges and strip malls arrived, Curry Hammock State Park offers a rare and grounding glimpse into that older landscape.