# Big Pine Key

Big Pine Key is in the Florida Keys. Upper Sugarloaf Key, Cudjoe Key, Summerland Key, Ramrod Key, Little Torch Key and Bahia Honda Key are all nearby.

## Get in

There's only one road: US 1, the Overseas Highway. All other visitors must arrive by sea, as there is no airport. A small, private airport is available on nearby Sugarloaf Key, and a larger facility in Marathon (roughly 25 miles ENE). The island can be reached by sea, of course, though marina facilities are slim here.

## Get around

Big Pine Key is bisected east/west by US 1, and the other major roadway is Key Deer Boulevard, which angles NW off US 1 near the geographic center of the island. There a numerous smaller roads through residential areas.

## Understand

Big Pine is one of the larger Keys, and is composed of an interface of two types of limestone rock. Key Largo limestone, ancient fossilized reef tract, extends from Key Largo to Big Pine Key and then slides under (so to speak) Miami Oolitic Limestone. Miami Oolitic limestone being more porous and rather dissolvable can retain rainwater in its solution holes and this can create a freshwater lens between the two rock layers.This is so very important as it provides year round freshwater access to unique species that are found nowhere else in the Florida Keys such as Caribbean Slash Pine, Key Deer, Key Bunny and a small variety of other unique, endemic plants and animals. It has many native hardwood trees, as well as the pines for which it is named. Blue Hole, a former limestone quarry, is quite pretty and contains at least one fairly large alligator. Like most of the keys, there are no sand beaches here. A bridge connects the northeast side of the island to No Name Key, a sparsely-populated island with hiking trails.

## See

While driving on Big Pine Key, care must be taken to avoid hitting the diminutive Key Deer. These tiny whitetail deer, made dwarfs from thousands of years living on the island, are roughly knee-high. From a distance at night, you may confuse them for medium-sized dogs. They have become quite acclimated to humans, and are often seen around residents' yards and grazing on roadsides. Best times to see the deer are at dusk/dawn. They are also active at night, but are most often seen in your headlights while driving (be careful!).
At the Island's main shopping plaza (Winn-Dixie, Beall's Outlet), one can observe feral chickens. Several flocks—a black/rust-orange rooster accompanied by several darker hens—can typically be seen pecking at the ground and crowing at each other here.
* 24.65997-81.273821 Bahia Honda State Park (John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park), 36850 Overseas Hwy (ho to mile marker 37, three miles east of Big Pine Key), ☏ +1 305-872-2353. 8AM-sunset. A beautiful state park about an hour drive south from Islamorada. There is a small fee to get into the park going by how many people are entering. It is a perfect place to spend the day and enjoy swimming, kayaking, exploring, fishing, bike riding, walking, relaxing. There are picnic tables all through out the park, along with public restrooms, a snack bar, kayak rentals, and snorkel tours. Overnight ocean and bay side camping available for motor homes and tents. At the south-western end of the park, Calusa Beach provides an attractive sight, sheltered between the old and new overseas highway bridges. Sandspur Beach is at the eastern end of the park, providing a long stretch of coral sand on the Atlantic side of the island. $8 per 2-8 person vehicle, $4 per single-occupant vehicle or motorcycle, $2 per pedestrian or cyclist. A surcharge of $0.50 applies per person.

## Do

Other than observing the Key Deer/chickens, and hiking around the Blue Hole, fishing, kayaking, diving and snorkeling are common past times. Fishing charters are abundant. Solo or guided kayak trips in the backcountry are available at Old Wooden Bridge Fishing Camp adjacent to the No Name Key Bridge where Big Pine Kayak Adventures is located. You can explore the diverse seagrass meadows, sponge flats and mangrove tidal creeks of the National Wildlife Refuge island called No Name Key with one of the daily guided tours or on your own with a free loaner laminated chart of the area. Sugarloaf marina also has some great mangrove lined creeks to explore.
Snorkeling and dive trips to Looe Key, one of the best shallow water spur and groove reef formations in the Keys, are available from Underseas Dive Shop, Innerspace Dive Center, Strike Zone Charters and the Looe Key Resort. While staying in Big Pine Key, a day in Key West is typically part of the itinerary.
* 24.67032-81.354451 Nature Center - Florida Keys National Wildlife Refuges Complex, 30587 Overseas Hwy, ☏ +1 305-872-0774, keydeer@fws.gov. Th-Sa 10AM - 3PM. When planning a visit to any of the refuges located within the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Florida Keys National Wildlife Refuges Complex, it is worth visiting the Nature Center. Situated in a natural setting, it gives visitors an appreciation and understanding of the refuges with opportunities to spot birds and other wildlife. Free. (updated Feb 2022)

## Buy

There are several stores along US 1, and a shopping plaza just off US 1 on Key Deer Boulevard. All basic services, including a full grocery store and pharmacy are available. A limited clothing selection can be found at Beall's Outlet.

## Eat

At the Winn-Dixie shopping plaza is a decent sit-down Chinese restaurant. The No-Name pub on the NE side of the island has excellent pizza and sandwiches. There are no dedicated fast-food restaurants on the island. Tonio's Seafood Shack & Tiki Bar at mile marker 25 offers casual seafood dining.
* 24.662-81.40891 Boondocks Grille and Draft House, 27205 Overseas Highway, Ramrod Key, ☏ +1 305-872-4094. Dining with regular live entertainment.
* 24.66311-81.482 The Square Grouper Bar and Grill, 22658 Overseas Highway, Cudjoe Key (at mile marker 22.5), ☏ +1 305-745-8880. Gourmet dining.

## Drink

* 24.69772-81.35141 No Name Pub, 30813 Watson Blvd, ☏ +1 305 872-9115. Daily-10AM-midnight. Somewhat famous.
There are several low-key taverns along US 1. Just a few miles down in Ramrod Key you will find Boondocks and the Looe Key Tiki Bar.

## Sleep

* 24.64778-81.331671 Big Pine Key Fishing Lodge, 33000 Overseas Hwy, MM 33 (at mile marker 33, at the junction with Long Beach Drive), ☏ +1 305-872-2351. The lodge has camping from $50 a night (a bargain for the keys), with a few gravelly tent sites and numerous RV sites (most seasonal residents fully set-up and decorated). The facilities are pretty good, with large restrooms/shower rooms and a well-stocked camp store. They also have a large/deep boat launch ramp. Key Deer occasionally wander through the grounds at night.
* 24.63469-81.354742 Deer Run bed and breakfast, 1997 Long Beach Dr (turn onto Long Beach Drive at mile marker 33, and continue for about two miles, the B&B is on the left), ☏ +1 305-872-2015.
* 24.63604-81.348413 The Barnacle bed and breakfast, 1557 Long Beach Dr (turn onto Long Beach Drive at mile marker 33, and continue for about two miles; 5he B&B is on the left), ☏ +1 305-872-3298.
* 24.67011-81.351864 Big Pine Key Motel, 30725 Overseas Hwy (at the junction with Cunningham Lane), ☏ +1 305-872-9090. Cheap and clean.
* 24.67386-81.388215 Parmer's Resort, 565 Barry Ave, Little Torch Key (turn north onto Barry Avenue, mile marker 28.5), ☏ +1 305-872-2157.
* 24.65864-81.518516 Sugarloaf Key Resort KOA Kampground, 251 State Rd 939, Sugarloaf Key (Gg to mile marker 20, the first turn south at the eastern end of the island, and it's 200 meters on the left), ☏ +1 305-745-3549, toll-free: +1-800-562-7731. The southernmost KOA in the United States. Suitable for RVs and tents. The KOA has an open-air swimming pool and a private beach.
Dolphin Marina Cottages are also in the vicinity (Little Torch Key).

## Go next

Big Pine is located roughly half-way between Vaca Key (Marathon) and Key West, so it can be easily visited while in-transit. Those who choose to camp here can reach Key West in about 40 minutes. There are some more "touristy" bars and restaurants a little further down the Overseas Highway on Ramrod Key.