florida keys overseas heritage trail - florida rambler
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Florida Keys Overseas HeritageTrail
Historic Bridges
The old Keys bridges form a central component
of the Florida Keys Overseas Heritage Trail,
providing opportunities for fishing, sightseeing,
recreation and historical reflection. Before
the great City of Miami existed, Henry Flagler
envisioned a railroad across the sea that would
promote a cultural and economic connection with
Cuba, the Panama Canal and South America.
By 1905, Flagler had begun construction on the
Keys section of his Florida East Coast Railroad.
On January 22, 1912, Henry Flagler rode the
railroad to Key West where the project was
heralded by the press as the “Eighth Wonder of
the World.” Ten thousand celebrants crowded the
streets of Key West for a weeklong celebration
of this momentous occasion. The railroad
transformed the wilderness of the Florida Keys
into an economically viable destination. Today
all of the remaining 23 Flagler Railroad Bridges
have been listed on the National Register of
Historic Places and are managed by the Florida
Department of Environmental Protection’s Division
of Recreation and Parks as part of the Florida Keys
Overseas Heritage Trail.
The Florida KeysOverseas Heritage Trail
The Florida Keys Overseas Heritage Trail
(FKOHT) is a multi-use bicycle and pedestrian
facility that will ultimately traverse the Florida
Keys. The vision is that of a 106-mile scenic
trail extending from Key Largo to Key West,
serving the communities as a linear, alternative
transportation corridor and recreational pathway.
The FKOHT originated as a local initiative
designed to link communities with a safe and
continuous multi-use trail, offering an alternative
transportation route and providing recreational,
health and economic benefits for Keys residents
and visitors. The Trail’s corridor closely parallels
U.S. Highway 1, which has been federally
designated as a National Scenic Highway and an
“All American Road.” The Division of Recreation
and Parks maintains approximately 85 miles of
existing trail and bridges and is responsible for
the design and construction of the remainder
of the Trail, in partnership with Monroe County
and many organizations. Funding for these
capital improvements is provided by the Florida
Department of Transportation through a federal
program for alternative transportation.
Florida Keys Overseas Paddling Trail
The Florida Keys Overseas Paddling Trail offers
a paddling destination for those involved in
the growing sport of kayak and canoe touring.
The “blueway” introduces visitors to the history
and ecology of the Keys while providing
recreational opportunities that minimally impact
the environment. The Trail is a segment of the
1500-mile Florida Circumnavigational Saltwater
Paddling Trail, a project coordinated by the Office
of Greenways & Trails. For maps and descriptions
of the Florida Keys Overseas Paddling Trail, visit
FloridaGreenwaysAndTrails.com.
Key Largo(MM 106.5 to 91)
Shaded in places by tropical vegetation, a 15.5-
mile bike path runs by numerous businesses and
parks. Side trips to John Pennekamp Coral Reef
State Park, Key Largo Community Park and Harry
Harris Park provide opportunities for recreation
and relaxation along the way to Islamorada.
Islamorada(MM 91 to 71)
The islands that make up the Village of Islamorada
have 20 miles of bike path which, in some areas,
are on both sides of U.S. Highway 1. South of
Tavernier Creek, the old state road, parallel
to U.S. 1, provides a less traveled alternate
route. Founders Park and Windley Key Fossil
Reef Geological State Park serve as trailheads.
Indian Key Historic State Park, Lignumvitae Key
Botanical State Park and San Pedro Underwater
Archaeological Preserve State Park offer
interesting paddling side trips. The Channel 2 and
Channel 5 historic Flagler railroad bridges are
popular fishing sites.
Long Key(MM 71 to 62)
About 8 miles of bike path runs from Channel 5 Bridge
to Long Key State Park and the Long Key Historic
Fishing Bridge. The Tom’s Harbor Channel Historic
Bridge and the Tom’s Harbor Cut Historic Bridge are
currently used for fishing. Cantilevered platforms have
been constructed on several of the historic bridges
to provide space for fishing and facilitate access to
the Trail where it crosses the bridges. The Trail will
eventually connect Long Key to the City of Marathon.
Marathon(MM 62 to 40)
An 11-mile bike path runs from Grassy Key past
Curry Hammock State Park and Crane Point Museum
to the Seven Mile Bridge at the southwest entrance to
the City of Marathon. Knight’s Key, at the base of the
Seven Mile Bridge, is the entrance to Pigeon Key—a
tiny island that once served as a construction camp
for the Flagler railroad workers. The Pigeon Key
museum features a rich collection of photographs
and artifacts from the Flagler era. The Seven Mile
Bridge has a narrow five-foot shoulder and heavy
vehicular traffic. Side trails down Coco Plum Drive
and Sombrero Beach Road offer scenic views of local
beaches.
Lower Keys(MM 40 to MM 5.2)
The trail section connecting Seven Mile Bridge
to Stock Island is broken into several sections
with some still in the design phase. The Trail will
eventually traverse a series of historic bridges
from Bahia Honda State Park to Key West. The south
end of the Seven Mile Bridge features a fishing pier
and access to a small beach at Veterans Park.
The historic bridges can be used for fishing.
Existing bike paths are located on Big Pine Key,
Ramrod Key, Big Coppitt Key, Lower Sugarloaf Key,
Saddlebunch Keys and Stock Island. Please see
map. Many of the existing bike paths are short
sections at this time, however, in some areas,
there are connections to alternate paths that
provide much longer bike rides and phenomenal
opportunities for viewing wildlife.
Key West(MM 5.2 to MM 0)
From Stock Island, the Trail continues into Key West,
where travel by bike around the celebrated City
of Key West is well established. In Key West, there
are many historic and cultural points of interest to
explore including Fort Zachary Taylor State Park,
Key West Botanical Garden, Bayview Park, Higgs
Beach and the famous monument marking the
Southernmost Point in the continental United States.
Florida Department of Environmental Protection
Division of Recreation and Parks
Florida Keys Overseas Heritage Trail
3 La Croix Court, Key Largo, FL 33037
(305) 853-3571
FloridaStateParks.org/floridakeys
9/15Photos by John Moran
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