The ridge crests at 52 feet above sea level, making it the highest point on Florida's west coast. The other keys barely make it to 20 feet above the waves. An upland forest of cabbage palm, red bay, live oak, and laurel oak covers the ridge, with an understory of saw palmetto, yaupon, wild olive, prickly pear, eastern red cedar, and Spanish bayonet. In the 1960s and 1970s, nesting birds numbered approximately 200,000, but today the yearly average has dwindled to 50,000. The most abundant species are white ibis, common egret, double-crested cormorant, snowy egret, tricolored heron, brown pelican, and great blue heron.
Reptiles are common as well, including a dense population of cottonmouth snakes.
Due to the shortage of fresh water, however, mammals are scarce. No camping is allowed, but visitors may come during daylight hours and enjoy shell collecting, picnicking, beachcombing, bird watching, and photography.