Find Hotels Near The Key West Nature Preserve Key West

The Key West Nature Preserve is a beautiful and unique preserve located in the heart of Key West, Florida. This area was recently designated by The Trust for Public Land as one of America's national parks, and it serves as an important refuge for some of the most endangered species on Earth. The preserve encompasses nearly 1,000 acres of protected coastal wetlands and tropical hardwood hammocks, and its habitats include mangrove swamps, freshwater marshes, seagrass beds, coral reefs and sand dunes. Within these protected areas lies a rich variety of wildlife such as hawksbill sea turtles, roseate spoonbills, great white herons, American crocodiles and Florida scrub jays.

Visitors to the nature preserve are welcomed with a plethora of outdoor activities to enjoy. Hiking trails allow visitors to explore the various habitats while birdwatching gives birders an opportunity to view some of the rarest species in the world. Kayaking is also offered in certain areas where visitors can traverse through the mangroves filled with alligators and shorebirds. Additionally, the beach provides visitors with stunning sunsets over the Atlantic Ocean or Gulf suitable for photography enthusiasts.

Policies have been put in place to ensure that this natural wonder remains unharmed by human impact. These policies include staying on designated trails at all times as well as limiting access during nesting season for endangered species protection. In addition, there are also regulations regarding fishing which require residents to obtain permits from either state or federal agencies if they wish to fish within the preserve boundaries.

The Key West Nature Preserve is more than just a place for recreation; it serves an integral role in helping maintain biodiversity throughout southern Florida. Through conservation efforts this area remains pristine despite significant development occurring throughout much of south Florida due to its close proximity to Miami-Dade County. The area is home not only to endangered birds such as bald eagles but also provides habitat for reptiles like iguanas and crocodiles who are trying to survive in our rapidly changing world. Even though humans have changed much of southern Florida's environment since its inception centuries ago, The Key West Nature Preserve stands strong as a testament that we can still protect small sections of nature amid large-scale development projects if we work together towards common goals.