Dry Tortugas National Park
Dry Tortugas National Park
The park is located 70 miles (112.9 km) west of Key West in the Florida Keys
Dry Tortugas National Park is a family adventure vacation well worth checking into if you’re looking for a family vacation idea in a warm climate. It’s full of outdoor adventure and fun with some great Key West snorkeling, saltwater fishing, swimming, historical forts, lighthouses and ship wrecks, hiking, beach camping, boating, scuba diving, bird watching, and underwater photography of some of the best coral reef and marine life areas down in Southern Florida. Check out below for great Dry Tortugas National Park information.
Uniqueness
Dry Tortugas National Park is comprised of seven islands in the Florida Keys that, along with the coral reefs, sand, and the surrounding shoals and waters, is 64,701 acres with 99% of it open water and submerged island. The Tortugas were first discovered by Ponce de Leon in 1513. Abundant sea turtles or “tortugas” provisioned his ships with fresh meat, but there was no fresh water-the Tortugas were dry. Since the days of Spanish exploration, the reefs and shoals of the Dry Tortugas have been a serious hazard to navigation and the site of hundreds of shipwrecks. The area is known for its famous bird and marine life, and its legends of pirates and sunken gold.
Fort Jefferson, one of the largest coastal forts ever built, is a central feature on Garden Key. U.S. military attention was drawn to the keys in the early 1800′s due to their strategic location in the Florida Straits. Plans were made for a massive fortress and construction began in 1846 and continued for nearly 30 years, but the fort was never completed. The invention of the rifled cannon made it obsolete. It was used to house deserters in the Civil War and remained in Union hands. The army deserted it in 1874. Today, you can take a self-guided tour and enjoy bird watching for the number of migratory and tropical bird species, and the marine life that are now part of this historical place. The park islands lay across a principal flyway from the United States to Cuba and South America, therefore, many songbirds and migratory birds rest at Dry Tortugas. In the case of the sooty terns, they nest here each year laying only one egg on Bush Key, which is closed while they are there.
There is also salt-water fishing for sport, picnicking, Ranger-conducted activities where you can learn a wealth of information, beach camping, scuba diving, boating, snorkeling, photography, hiking, and swimming. Patches of healthy coral reef, some easily accessible from Garden Key, are snorkeling havens. Fishing and dive charters can be arranged in the Florida Keys and Naples. Just about everything you can think of for family adventure vacation fun in the sun can be found in this national park.
The park is open all year. Around 67,000 people visit the park each year. Dry Tortugas National Park Visitor Center is open all year from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm and is located inside Fort Jefferson on Garden Key. You’ll find exhibits on the history of Fort Jefferson and a video describing the park’s history and natural resources. Ft. Jefferson on Garden Key is open during daylight hours; closed at dark. There are intermittent ranger-led tours and self-guiding fort tour with interpretive signs available that tell the human history of the Keys. You can also borrow snorkel equipment.
Loggerhead, East and Middle Keys are open year-round during daylight hours. Bush Key is closed Feb-Sept. to protect nesting Sooty and Noddy Terns and Hospital Key and Long Key are closed year round.
The best time to visit is November through April. The Keys are hot and humid during the wet summer season and the insects bite and swarm. Be aware that seas are rough from October through January. Peak visitation is in April.
In 1935, President Franklin Roosevelt set aside Fort Jefferson and the surrounding waters as a national monument. Before this time, it was a wildlife refuge for the sooty tern to protect them from egg collectors. The area was re-designated as Dry Tortugas National Park in 1992 to protect both the historical and natural features such as the coral reefs, sea turtles, and nesting birds.
First named The Turtles, Las Tortugas, by Spanish Explorer Ponce de Leon in 1513, these reefs soon read “Dry Tortugas” on mariner’s charts to show they had no fresh water. Because the area around the park is dangerous for ships, a lighthouse, The Tortugas Harbor (Fort Jefferson) Light, was built on Garden Key in 1825 and again in 1876. And then in 1858, the present lighthouse was built on Loggerhead Key, the Dry Tortugas Loggerhead Light. It is still an active aid (optic only) to navigation in the national park. Both lighthouses still operate to some extent. All buildings are open during the day, but you must be accompanied by a park staff member.
Dry Tortugas National Park includes the largest of the 19th century American coastal forts. By 1829 the United States knew it could control navigation to the Gulf of Mexico and protect Atlantic-bound Mississippi River trade by fortifying the Tortugas. Fort Jefferson’s construction began on Garden Key in 1846 and continued for 30 years but was never finished.
During the Civil War the fort was a Union military prison for captured deserters. It also held 4 men convicted of complicity in President Abraham Lincoln’s assassination in 1865. The Army abandoned Fort Jefferson in 1874, and in 1908 the area became a wildlife refuge to protect the sooty tern rookery from egg collectors.
Almost 70 miles / 112.9 km west of Key West lays a cluster of seven coral reefs called the Dry Tortugas. These reefs along with surrounding shoals and waters make up Dry Tortugas National Park. The seven islands included in the park are Loggerhead Key, Garden Key, Long Key, Bush Key, Hospital Key, Middle Key, and East Key. Of the parks 64,657 acres, 99% is open water and submerged island.
Warm, clear and well lit; the Dry Tortugas’ shallow waters foster optimal conditions for coral reefs to develop on the outer edges of tropical islands. Actual builders of these fringing reefs are small primitive animals called polyps. Over centuries polyps accumulate in living colonies that form the reef’s rigid structures so often misconstrued as rocks.
Visitors will find a wide variety of activities to choose from at the park. Ranger-conducted activities and self-guided tours of the fort can get you started. The Dry Tortugas are renowned for spring bird migrations and tropical bird species so bring your binoculars. Salt water sport fishing, snorkeling, swimming, scuba diving, picnicking, boating and camping are also available options. There’s also bird and wildlife watching. The Dry Tortugas are renowned for spring bird migrations and tropical bird species.
Join a National Park Service ranger to explore Dry Tortugas’ natural and cultural history. Join a ranger to learn about the forces that once shaped this landscape – and continue to do so. Ranger / Naturalist programs include scheduled talks and walks. These are just some of the ways to discover the diversity of the scenic, natural and historic wonders that comprise Dry Tortugas National Park. Check at the visitor center for information.
Snorkeling, swimming and underwater photography are amazing here. Snorkelers find marine life concentrated around patches of live coral. Swimmers can explore coral wonderlands in only 3 to 4 feet of water.
Private boaters have a prime opportunity to visit the fort. Private boaters are allowed to overnight anchor within one mile of Garden Key, but from sunrise to sunset, docking at Garden Key is limited to two hours. Be prepared for possible rough seas and have appropriate nautical charts. Nautical charts for the route can be purchased at marinas and boating supply outlets in Key West. Information can be obtained in Key West from the U.S. Coast Guard station, the Chamber of Commerce, and the Charter Boat Association. No small personal crafts are allowed in park waters.
Snorkeling and scuba divers will be able to see the varied marine life around the coral reefs in water three to four feet deep. The water surrounding Dry Tortugas make it optimal for coral reef growth around the tropical islands. It supports a large quantity of marine life with multicolored sea fans, sea anemones, sponges, lobsters and the beautiful reef fishes, making it a prime underwater photography location for those national park pictures. Also seen are the loggerhead and hawksbill sea turtles. Because the females dig nests on the sandy shores and then leave the eggs and head back to the sea, the poor little hatchlings must find their own way to the sea, albeit instinctively, without any protection from predators. It is very important that you do not interfere with the babies or the nests.
Fort Jefferson is open during daylight hours and there is a self-guiding trail that interprets the history of human presence in the Dry Tortugas while leading visitors through the fort. Loggerhead Key is open during the day only. All buildings and structures are closed to entry unless you are accompanied by a park employee.
The area has a subtropical climate. Temperatures range from the mid-50′s to mid-80′s. April and May are often idyllic, making it the best time to visit, although possibly crowded. There are two seasons: Winter storm season (December-March), windy with rough seas, and Tropical storm season (June-November).The tropical sun can be brutal. Make sure you have sunglasses, SPF-15 sunscreen, adequate clothing coverage and a hat for prolonged outdoor activities. It is hot and humid during the summer and there are many insects.
Keep pets on a leash and under control at all times. They are not allowed to be tied up to an object or left unattended. All marine animals are protected and should not be disturbed. It is illegal to collect any historical artifacts found within the park or park waters. Dead shells above the high water level are the only things that may be collected. You are not allowed to catch lobsters or conch.
Contact the park for the numerous boating and fishing regulations in the park. A Florida fishing license for saltwater fishing is required. Remember that surrounding park waters have coral reefs and heads that can cause damage to boats. Follow all the Leave No Trace principles even in the water. Dumping or throwing overboard bottles, cans, paper, or other trash on park grounds or in the water is prohibited. Pumping holding tanks into park waters is illegal.
If you visit using your personal boat, please bring at least two anchors and NOAA chart 11438. Overnight anchoring is limited to within one mile of Garden Key; there are no overnight anchoring buoys. Dockage at Garden Key is limited to two hours daily, sunrise to sunset. Docking facilities are provided for park visitors and park operations. Load, unload, and moor vessels only where designated on the public dock. Moor private vessels no more than 2 hours between sunrise and sundown; overnight mooring to docks or piers is prohibited. The park superintendent may waive these regulations in emergencies that threaten life or property.
The beach camping is primitive so bring tents, camp stove, coolers, sleeping bags (depending on when you are camping), lanterns, bug spray, suntan lotion, water (there is no fresh water) and food. Keep radios to a minimum as most people camp there to get away from excessive noise. Ground fires are not permitted.
A Florida salt water fishing license is required to fish. Personal watercrafts, i.e. jet skis, are not permitted. Supplies are available in Key West and other local communities of Stock Island, Big Coppitt Key, Summerland Key and Marathon.
Do not disturb shells, corals, sea fans, tropical fish, spiny lobster, and turtles and their nests. Dead shells above high water line may be collected, but all coral, living and dead, is protected from collection. Shipwrecks and their cargo and all historic artifacts in the park are protected by law. Commercial fishing and spear fishing are prohibited; so is taking of conch or lobster.
Bush Key is reserved for birds only in the February through September nesting season when disturbance may cause death for many young birds. Hospital and Long Keys are closed all year long.
Divers must bring their own gear. There is no food or fresh water. You must provide your own.
Between March and September, some 100,000 sooty terns gather on Bush Key for their nesting season. They come as early as mid-January from the Caribbean Sea and west central Atlantic Ocean, performing nocturnal maneuvers above Dry Tortugas, but never landing. In February egg-laying starts immediately and the island is closed to visitors. You will be able to readily see them, however from the fort with binoculars. A single egg is laid in a simple depression in the sand and the parents share in the care of the egg. The colony will leave as soon as the young are strong enough. Mixed in with the sooty terns are about 2,500 breeding brown noddies. They nest in vegetation, such as bay cedar and sea lavender. Both sooties and noddies feed by capturing fish and squid from the sea’s surface while still in flight. Visitors may also see masked and brown boobies, roseate terns, double-crested cormorants, and brown pelicans.
In season, a continuous succession of songbirds and other migrants flies over or rests at the Dry Tortugas. Strategically set, these islands lie across a principal flyway from the United States to Cuba and South America. Familiar up north in summer, many gulls, terns and migratory birds winter here. During April and early May, the Audubon Society sponsors guided birding trips.
Though fragile, the Tortugas reef complex supports a wealth of marine life. Multicolored sea fans sway in gentle currents. Sea anemones thrust upward their rose and lavender tentacles in search of food. Lobsters anticipating danger wave their antennae. Sponges dot sandy bottoms, and staghorn coral clusters simulate underwater forests.
Most obvious among the coral reef inhabitants are the colorful reef fishes. Vivid, boldly patterned reds, yellows, greens and blues work as camouflage, identity, warning and courtship messages. Predatory fish include amberjacks, groupers, wahoos, tarpon, and atop this coral food pyramid, sharks and barracudas.
Hunted by humans – mostly illegally – for gourmet meat, leather, and cosmetic oils, sea turtle numbers have diminished greatly worldwide, but green, loggerhead, and hawksbill species are still seen in the Dry Tortugas. Sea turtles themselves prey on small marine invertebrates and forage turtle grass and other aquatic plants. Twice or more per season, females climb onto sand beaches to dig out nests, lay eggs, cover them and retreat seaward. Hatchlings crawl seaward by instinct, but most succumb to natural predators between nest and sea. It is critical that humans do not disturb sea turtles.
If you are camping, remember that rats can chew through tents and backpacks if they smell food. Keep it stored properly.
There is an entrance fee for the park of $5.00 – 17 and older – 7 Days. There is a nightly fee for camping at the Garden Key campground of $3.00.
The 10 site, primitive campground is located on the same island as Fort Jefferson, Garden Key, and is a short walk from the public dock. It is open year round. Eight individual sites can accommodate up to 6 people and 3 tents, and are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Should a regular campsite not be available, an overflow area is provided. A group site is available for 10-40 people and must be reserved in advance. Call 305-242-7700 to obtain a reservation application. Groups of 10 or more arriving without a reservation will not receive exclusive use of the group site. The campground is a self-service fee area with a nightly fee of $3 per person. A 50% discount applies to holders of the Golden Age or Golden Access Pass. No other discounts apply. Fees paid for transportation (seaplane or ferry) do not include camping fees.
Campsites have picnic tables and grills. Saltwater flush toilets and saltwater sinks are available at the dock. Campers must bring all supplies, including fresh water, fuel, ice, and food. All trash and garbage must be carried out upon departure. Food must be stored in hard-sided containers or hung from posts provided, as the island has rats. You are not allowed to attach anything to the trees. All camping gear must be free standing. Gas camping stoves or charcoal briquettes placed in the campsite BBQ units are the only fires allowed. Visits to the campground are limited to 14 consecutive days and no more than 30 days per year.
The park can only be reached by boat or seaplane; it is inaccessible to trailers and motor homes. Vessels may anchor between sunset and sunrise in a designated anchorage area, defined as the area of sand and rubble bottom within 1 nautical mile of the Fort Jefferson harbor light. Overnight anchoring is not permitted at any other location in Dry Tortugas National Park.
Key West, Stock Island, Naples, Big Coppitt Key, Summerland Key and Marathon all have attractions and services available. Other attractions are Everglades National Park,
210 miles away, Big Cypress National Preserve, 275 miles away, Biscayne National Park, 210 miles away, Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, 5 miles away, Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park, 70 miles away, and Bahia Honda State Park, 115 miles away. The John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park is nearby also.
Commercial air service is available to Key West International Airport. There are no roads to Dry Tortugas National Park. It can only be reached by boat or seaplane. Private pleasure boats are welcome, but must be fully self-sufficient. U.S. Coast Guard and Geodetic Survey Chart #11438 are necessary for navigation to the Dry Tortugas. A boat is necessary to visit areas of the park other than Garden Key/Fort Jefferson.
Approximate Mileage from the following major cities to Dry Tortugas National Park:
By Boat/Plane:
Big Coppitt Key, FL – 10.20 miles
Bay Point, FL – 15.05 miles
Pirates Cove, FL – 20.77 miles
Perky, FL – 17.25 miles
Marathon, FL – 48.99 miles
By Plane:
Key West International Airport – 4.02 miles
There are no roads to Dry Tortugas National Park.
Dry Tortugas National Park, Site Supervisor, P.O. Box 6208, Key West, FL 33041
305-242-7700
By Fax 305-242-7711
