Lignumvitae Key Botanical State Park

Accessible only by boat or kayak, Lignumvitae Key is one of the last untouched tropical hardwood hammocks in the Florida Keys. This 10,481-acre park, established in 1971, preserves a rare glimpse of what the Keys looked like before development transformed the island chain. The park’s namesake lignum vitae trees — among the densest and slowest-growing hardwoods on earth — anchor a forest that includes gumbo limbo, poisonwood, mastic, and strangler fig.

Ranger-guided walking tours are the primary way to explore the island, following a one-mile trail through the dense hammock canopy to the 1919 Matheson House, a coral rock homestead built by a wealthy Miami chemist who once owned the island. The tours run Thursday through Monday, and reservations are recommended since group sizes are limited.

Paddlers love the trip across Florida Bay to reach the key, with calm, shallow waters offering excellent opportunities to spot nurse sharks, sea turtles, and rays along the way. Birding is exceptional during spring and fall migration when warblers and raptors rest on the island. There is no camping on Lignumvitae Key itself, but nearby Indian Key and Long Key State Park offer camping options for those making a multi-day trip.

Winter and early spring (December through March) bring the most comfortable weather, with lower humidity and fewer mosquitoes — the latter being a genuine consideration, as the island’s interior can be thick with them during summer months. Bring repellent regardless of season.

Explore Nearby

• Alligator Reef Light — Lighthouse in Florida
• Hen and Chickens Shoal Light — Lighthouse in Florida
• Florida Keys Scenic Highway — Scenic Byway in Florida
• Big Cypress National Preserve — Dark Sky Site in Florida