Rising from the shallow waters off Plantation Key, Florida, Hen and Chickens Shoal Light has guided mariners through the Upper Keys since 1929. This skeletal steel tower marks the treacherous coral reef formation that earned its colorful name — a large coral head surrounded by smaller ones resembling a hen with her brood.

The light remains active as a navigational aid but is not open to the public. Visitors can view and photograph the structure by boat, with early morning offering the best light against the turquoise backdrop of the Florida Straits.

Nearby, explore Windley Key Fossil Reef Geological State Park, snorkel at John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park, or visit the History of Diving Museum in Islamorada.

Explore Nearby

• Windley Key Fossil Reef Geological State Park — State Park in Florida
• Indian Key Historic State Park — State Park in Florida
• Florida Keys Scenic Highway — Scenic Byway in Florida
• Big Cypress National Preserve — Dark Sky Site in Florida