Bahia Honda State Park, Big Pine Key Florida

Today, the island is home to one of Florida's southernmost state parks, known for beautiful beaches, magnificent sunsets, and excellent snorkeling. Visitors can picnic on the beach and take a swim, or simply relax and enjoy the balmy sea breezes that caress the shores year-round. Anglers can fish from shore or bring a boat and launch at the boat ramp. The park's concession rents kayaks and snorkeling gear and offers boat trips to the reef for snorkeling excursions. Bahia Honda is an excellent place to see wading birds and shorebirds. The nature center can introduce nature lovers to the island's unique plants and animals. There are 3 different campgrounds in the park. Reservations may be made up to 11 months in advance, the sites book quickly so make your plans well in advance. Buttonwood- (#1 - #48) This campground can accommodate a variety of camping rigs from a large RV to a small tent. The sites are more suitable for an RV or pop-up because they are gravel. The Buttonwood sites have very little shade and are the largest sites in the park. They all have electricity, water, a picnic table and grill. There is also a bathhouse with hot showers and a dump station for sewage. The waterfront sites in this area are #12 - #25, but keep in mind #12 and #13 are by the boat docks and #14 is on the channel coming into the boat docks. Sandspur- (#49 - #72) These sites are the most beautiful in the park but are very small and have low clearance. They are located in a very rare habitat called a hardwood hammock. Bahia Honda has several white sandy beaches for you to enjoy. Calusa is the smallest beach; it is located on the northwest side of the island. There are several small pavilions in this area and a bathhouse with outdoor, fresh water showers. Loggerhead is the shallowest beach and is located on the south side of the island. It is known for the large shallow sand bar just a few feet offshore. It shares the same bathhouse with the Calusa beach. Sandspur is the largest beach; it is located on the southeast end of the island. There are three large pavilions in the Sandspur area and a bathhouse with outdoor, fresh water showers.