On The Island
Cedar Keys National Wildlife Refuge
A group of restricted access islands in the Gulf of Mexico. Includes a major seabird rookery and an 1850´s lighthouse on Florida´s highest coastal elevation. Boats are available at Cedar Key.
Cedar Key Railroad Trestle Nature Trail
The trail’s path is an easy walk beneath towering pines, beside aromatic cedars, and among dozens of varieties of plants and wildlife. Each season offers a new vista of the trail, bringing an ever-changing host of wildlife and offers a host of opportunities for photographers and artists. The trail is located off State Road 24 on Grove Street and is open from dusk to dawn.
Off The Island
Cedar Key Scrub State Reserve
A unique scrub habitat on the mainland offers walking and birdwatching, few marked trails.
Lower Suwannee National Wildlife Refuge
A new 40,000 acre refuge, offers nature driving and hiking trails for wildlife observation and photography and access to the famous Suwannee River.
River Trail and Bottomlands Boardwalk
Located off Highway 347, adjacent to Headquarters drive, the trail is a short, shaded 3/10 of a mile to the historic Suwannee River. You will travel past Prothonotary warbler boxes, a bat house/wooden duck condo, and a shaded bench, before you reach the observation deck over the river. There are approximately 60,000 bats that reside in our bat houses. Get there about 45 minutes before sunset to see them. The adjacent Bottomlands boardwalk runs 1000 feet across a cypress swamp (maybe in drought season), and back to the parking area. Barred owls, Pileated and red-bellied woodpeckers have been seen.
Dennis Creek Trail
Located adjacent to Shell Mound,it has its own parking area. The One mile loop trail crosses Three bridges over the salt barren and takes you through a dense population of sweet smelling Carphepherous (Vanilla Plant). Shaded benches are located near the freshwater pond and the creek, so you can watch the birds watching the fish jump.
Shell Mound Trail
Located Three miles off Highway 347, on county road 326, there are three trail-heads with varying inclines for mobility concerns. The main trail-head takes you by a cross-section of the 28 foot tall mound exposing millions of shells used by the ancient cultures to build the more than Five acre mound. The shaded bench atop the mound provides a spectacular view of the gulf and Costal salt marshes.
Shired Island Trail
Located off Highway 357, at the Shired boat ramp parking area. Follow the trail to the “Beach” that was constructed 7,000 years ago by ancient Costal cultures. From the shoreline, the shell midden is evident as you look back to the tree line. This is one of the finer beaches for picnicking and photography in the area.
Friends of the Lower Suwannee and Cedar Keys National Wildlife Refuges
Visit the web site for Friends and Volunteers of Cedar Key and Lower Suwannee National Wildlife Refuges to see what sort of special activities and talks are planned for each month highlighting the two refuges and the Cedar Key area’s natural offerings. Also find out what opportunities are available for volunteering.
Manatee Springs State Park
A Florida first magnitude spring, offers diving, swimming, picnicking, boat ramp, canoe rentals, and an elevated boardwalk through primordial cypress wetlands into the historic Suwannee River.
Shell Mound Park
A prehistoric Indian mound and nature trail off Highway 347 on CR 326 outside Cedar Key offers camping, boat ramp, and picnicking. Call 352-221-4466 for more information.
Waccassassa Bay State Preserve
A 31,000 acre limited access preserve between Yankeetown and Cedar Key offers access to canoeists and campers for both freshwater and saltwater fishing, photography and historic site exploration.