Dry Tortugas National Park guide · 2 min read
Loggerhead Key and Tortugas Harbor Light
Loggerhead Key is the largest island in the Dry Tortugas, covering about 49 acres. It lies roughly 3 miles from Garden Key, the main landing point for boats and seaplanes, so water is the only way to reach it.
The island takes its name from its loggerhead sea turtles, which remain one of its main draws. Birds and the coral reefs around it are other reasons people come to watch wildlife. A tropical research station run by the Carnegie Research Institute once stood here, and shipwrecks have occurred around the island.
Army engineers built the Loggerhead Key Lighthouse before the Civil War, and it was first lit in 1858. The light station aided American ships carrying goods across the ocean and warned sailors away from shoals and hazardous water. Its position also places it at the western limit of the Florida Reef.
The Tortugas Harbor Light has its own history tied to Fort Jefferson. An older lighthouse once stood on the fort's parade ground, and the present structure replaced it. That structure is deteriorating, and plans are underway to rehabilitate it.
Loggerhead Key has no public transportation, so visitors need their own boat or a private charter. Boat operators must check in at Garden Key before heading out. Paddlesports offer another route, since kayaks and paddleboards can reach the island. Kayakers can bring their boats on the Yankee Freedom Ferry, but spots are very limited. Paddlers who head out must spend a night on Garden Key, because a day trip leaves too little time to paddle out, return, and catch the ferry.
Snorkelers can explore the Little Africa reef. Dry ground covers less than 1 percent of the park, so much of its appeal lies underwater. Food, water, and fuel cannot be found anywhere in the park, so plan ahead.
