Florida Keys Wilderness
Florida Keys Wilderness consists of many islands off shore of the main chain of non-Wilderness Keys that are bisected by US 1. These islands are administered by the Fish and Wildlife Service as part of National Key Deer Refuge, Key West National Wildlife Refuge, and Great White Heron National Wildlife Refuge. They protect a seemingly endless expanse of sea, sky, and islands between the gulf and the ocean south of Florida's southern mainland coast. Although beaches exist on some of the islands, tangles of mangroves make access to most islands difficult. Furthermore, most of the Wilderness islands are closed to public access to protect the sensitive wildlife resources.
Description from Wilderness Connect (wilderness.net).
| Designation | Wilderness |
| Managed by | U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service |
| State | Florida |
| Size | 6,197 acres |
| Designated | 1975, by Congress |
| Center point | 24.73° N, 81.31° 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
- 3.3 miFort Zachary Taylor ↗National Historic Landmark
- 3.4 miIngham (uscgc) ↗National Historic Landmark
- 3.8 miHemingway, Ernest, House ↗National Historic Landmark
- 4.6 miHa. 19 (Japanese Midget Submarine) ↗National Historic Landmark
- 0.4 miSand Key Lighthouse ↗Key West, FL
- 3.3 miWestern Union (schooner) ↗Key West, FL
- 3.3 miLittle White House ↗Key West, FL
- 3.3 mi
Landmarks are listed first, then by distance from the boundary.
Guidebooks for Florida
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Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.
Reference
Questions people ask
How big is Florida Keys Wilderness?
6,197 acres.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Who manages Florida Keys Wilderness?
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Source: Wilderness Connect
What state is Florida Keys Wilderness in?
Florida.
Source: Wilderness Connect
When was Florida Keys Wilderness designated?
Congress designated it in 1975.
Source: Wilderness Connect
How do I get to Florida Keys Wilderness?
A point inside the boundary is at 24.731° N, 81.314° W. The official page carries directions and the office address.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Are there historic places near Florida Keys Wilderness?
The National Register has 23 listings within 15 miles, including Fort Zachary Taylor and Ingham (uscgc).
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.