Cedar Keys Wilderness
Twelve keys that have been earmarked as protected breeding grounds for colonial birds make up Cedar Keys National Wildlife Refuge. The four outermost islands have been designated as Wilderness: Seahorse Key, North Key, Snake Key, and Bird Key (also known as Deadman's Key). These keys, low islands rising just above the sea, are in fact one of the largest nesting areas in north Florida. Most of the keys were used as fishing camps or villages by ancient cultures thousands of years ago. A prominent sandy ridge distinguishes Seahorse Key, recalling the island's past life as a huge sand dune (granted this was hundreds of thousands of years ago). The ridge crests at 52 feet above sea level, making it the highest point on Florida's Gulf Coast.
Description from Wilderness Connect (wilderness.net).
| Designation | Wilderness |
| Managed by | U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service |
| State | Florida |
| Size | 379 acres |
| Designated | 1972, by Congress |
| Center point | 29.13° N, 83.09° W |
| Night sky | About as dark as the ground gets (Black Marble reading 8) |
Boundary map
Boundary, simplified to about 0.005 degrees
The outline is the agency boundary simplified for display, so small parcels and inholdings may not show. The agency page has the authoritative map.
Weather by month
Large units span more than one climate. The station stands in for the center point, and the outer parts of the boundary can be warmer or colder.
Where to camp
No federal campground is within ten miles of the boundary in the Campsite Atlas index. Camping inside a wilderness is usually allowed away from trails and water, with no facilities; the managing agency page has the permit and group-size rules.
Explore
Nearby on the other atlases
- 2.6 miIsland Hotel ↗Cedar Key, FL
Landmarks are listed first, then by distance from the boundary.
Guidebooks for Florida
We earn a small commission if you buy through these links. It does not change what we list.
Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.
Reference
Questions people ask
How big is Cedar Keys Wilderness?
379 acres.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Who manages Cedar Keys Wilderness?
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Source: Wilderness Connect
What state is Cedar Keys Wilderness in?
Florida.
Source: Wilderness Connect
When was Cedar Keys Wilderness designated?
Congress designated it in 1972.
Source: Wilderness Connect
How do I get to Cedar Keys Wilderness?
A point inside the boundary is at 29.131° N, 83.089° W. The official page carries directions and the office address.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Are there historic places near Cedar Keys Wilderness?
The National Register has 1 listing within 15 miles, including Island Hotel.
Source: Register Atlas
Sources
- Boundary, name, acreage, designation year, states and description: Wilderness Connect.
- Campgrounds: the Campsite Atlas index of federal campgrounds, matched to this boundary at build time.
- Trailheads and sites: the Forest Service Recreation Opportunities layer, points inside the boundary.
- Night sky: NASA Black Marble (VIIRS, 2016 composite) sampled at zoom 6 around the center point.
- Weather, alerts, air quality, river flow and earthquakes load live in your browser from NWS, AirNow, USGS and iNaturalist when you open the page.