Things to Do in Key West at Fort Zachary Taylor State Park

The perfect Key West vacation always includes an excursion to Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park. This pre-Civil War era fort has an incredible history that helped define the path of the island of Key West.

Fort Zach, as the locals know it, is home to one of the best beaches on Key West. It is a popular spot to spend the day relaxing and catching some sun. Here are a few things that you won’t want to miss on your visit to Florida’s southernmost state park.

The Beach at Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park

In my opinion, Fort Zach is Key West’s best beach–hands down. This state park, just to the west of Key West Harbor, has so much more to offer than our other beaches.

On the east side of the beach, you will find sprawling sand to toss your beach towel on and lay back while enjoying some Key West sun. No worries if you did not pack a beach chair or umbrella, the concessions are happy to rent you one for the day.

The sand may be a tad rocky for some, so water shoes are a good idea if you’re unaccustomed to the coral beaches of the Florida Keys. Walking in from shore the depth quickly increases which means in those hot summer months your going to find the cooler water here on this side of the island.

The amenities of this beach are what make it the best beach in Key West for me. Located just behind Fort Zachary Taylor Concessions is a shower station that is perfect for washing all of that salt off after a refreshing swim. The restrooms here are clean and modern compared to the other State Parks that I have been to.

Parking at Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park is easy as can be. There are two huge lots to park in, and there is always the unpaved “beach lot” all the way at the end of the park road. But I do recommend biking or walking into the park to save a few dollars.

Snorkeling From Shore in Key West

The best place to snorkel from shore in Key West by far is Fort Zachary Taylor Beach. I like to head out to the jetty on the SW corner of the island and from there swim over to the rock piles that lay about 100 feet off the beach.

Snorkeling at Fort Zachary Taylor Beach is the perfect spot to dip your toes in if you have not snorkeled before. This is the perfect beginner snorkeling in Key West. The depth here only reaches 7-8 feet when snorkeling from shore.

At the rock piles, which serve as something of an artificial reef, you will find loads of tropical fish and even some living corals. I often spot Parrot Fish, Yellow Tail Snapper, and usually a lobster or two hiding in the rocks.

Don’t fret if you left your snorkel gear at home. Run over to the park concessions next to The Cayo Hueso Cafe and they will be happy to rent you some gear for a few hours.

Parrotfish in Key West — Parrotfish swimming among the rocks

Have a picnic under the Trees

One of my favorite things to do when I have a day off is to grab my hammock and a cooler and head out to Fort Zachary Taylor for the day. I like to string my hammock between the incredible Australian Pines that cover the southwest side of the park and spend the day listening to music and grilling up some fish tacos.

This picnic area is absolutely perfect for wasting the entire day hanging out with friends and family. You will find the pines have picnic tables scattered throughout the area and quite a few of them have charcoal grills.

The Australian Pines make for great shade in the warmer months and provide that little bit of refuge from the sun when you need it. One thing to remember if you’re planning a picnic at Fort Zachary Taylor is that the entire park is “pack-in, pack-out.” Please don’t leave your trash for me or the park staff to pick up.

Visit the Cayo Hueso Café and Grab a Bite to Eat

After all that snorkeling from the beach works up your appetite, you may want to head on over to the Cayo Hueso Café. From 10 till 6 daily the Cafe serves up both breakfast and lunch.

The menu is simple hamburgers, hotdogs, sandwiches, and wraps–which makes it easy to grab and go. If you’re looking to sit and eat, they have a shaded patio deck that overlooks the Atlantic Ocean as well.

Complete the Southernmost Hike on the Nature Trails and Do Some Birding

The nature trails at Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park are one of my favorite places on the island to relax and go for a walk. These trails are actually part of the Great Florida Birding Trail. The trail is made up of The Point Trail and the Fort View Trail.

These beautiful walking paths are well maintained by the park staff, but watch out for the tree roots! If you have brought your bike, you’re in luck, there is a bike path just off this short nature trail that will take you over to the beach near the pines.

Birding is the real draw on these nature trails. Over by the Civil War fort, you could find Northern Harriers, Cooper’s Hawk, Broad-winged Hawk, Bald Eagle, Merlin, Peregrine Falcon, American Kestrel, and Sharp-shinned Hawk. Frigate Birds and other pelagic species can often be spotted out near the rocks off the beach.

Even if you are not into bird watching, these trails are a great spot to walk off some of last night’s calories. You remember that second slice of Key Lime Pie, don’t you?

Explore the Historic Fort Zachary Taylor

If you are a history buff, you will love this National Historic Landmark which features the largest collection of Civil War cannons. While here you can walk the brick hallways and explore this Civil War fort that overlooks the ocean.

During the Civil War, the Union used Fort Taylor’s strategic location at the mouth of Key West harbor as a deterrent to Confederate ships. Later, Fort Zachary Taylor saw use during the Spanish American War, World War I, World War II, and the Cuban Missile Crisis.

This fort boasted a height of 50 feet with five-foot-thick walls–very impressive for its time. The sea-facing bastions were home to 42 guns on three levels which were said to have been able to shoot across the channel with accuracy.

There is a self-guided tour of the fort as well as a guided tour daily at 11 am. If you want a really cool experience, the third weekend of each month a group of Civil War reenactors is on site.

Fishing From Shore in Key West

On the westernmost side of Fort Zachary Taylor, you will find a jetty that protects the soil from eroding into the main shipping channel. Here at this channel (and all along the rocky coast of the peninsula) fishing from shore is permitted.

I have only fished this spot a couple of times. I pulled out a bunch of smaller Snappers and a Jack or two. I have heard of other local anglers catching Tarpon and Snook here but have never experienced it firsthand.

Depending on the tide there can be some serious current coming out of Key West Harbor. You will probably want to keep this in mind when selecting a rig.

Remember, if you are going to fish from shore while you’re in Key West you will need a Florida saltwater fishing license. The Florida Department of Fish and Wildlife makes getting this license quick and easy on GoOutdoorsFlorida.com.

Do Some Yoga on the Beach in Key West

Every day from 8:15 to 9:45 you can take some time to breathe and feel your poses while doing yoga on Key West’s favorite beach. All skill levels are welcome, just drop in.

Watch the Sunset on the Open Water From Shore

At the end of a long day filled with fishing from shore, snorkeling, and picnicking in the pines the crowning jewel for me is watching the Key West sunset from shore at Fort Zach. The most popular spot to check it out inside the park is at the western break wall on the main ship channel where the Gulf of Mexico meets the Atlantic Ocean.

Sunset from the beach at Fort Zachary Taylor — The beach at Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park is another one of my favorite spots to watch the sunset

We usually pack some beach chairs and head over there about an hour before sunset to enjoy a cocktail and relax as the sun falls below the horizon. No worries if you don’t have a beach chair though. There are a few picnic tables and benches in this area, but they do fill up quickly. If all else fails and you’re feeling sporty, you can always climb out on the rocks and find a good nook to relax in.

I really like the sunset views here at Fort Zachary Taylor because, however crowded, there is always space to spread out and get away from the masses. We tend to stick to the opposite side of the beach from the pines.

Sunset from Fort Zachary Taylor State Park in Key West — Sunset from the rocks at Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park

How Much Does it Cost to Get Into Fort Zachary Taylor?

Park entrance fees are a little funny to figure out, but here is the gist of it. One car is $6 + $0.50 per person. A scooter is $4.50 to enter. The best way to enter the park in my opinion is on foot or by bicycle, in this case, the fee to enter is $2.50.

What Time Does Fort Zach Open and Close?

Fort Zachary Taylor State Park opens at 8 am every morning and shuts its gates a touch after sundown. It is a popular spot to catch the sunset–so don’t stress about running for the exit because the sunset just happened 5 minutes ago. The fort itself opens at 8 am every morning and can be explored until around 5 pm.

Can You Swim at Fort Zachary Taylor?

Yes! This is one of my favorite beaches to swim at. The beach on the south side of the park is perfect for jumping in and taking a swim or just laying out and catching some sun.

Is Fort Zachary Taylor State Park Dog Friendly?

The real answer is “not really.” The state park beach has a “no pet” policy. If you’re looking for a beach to bring your dog to, I would head over to Dog Beach which is by the corner of Vernon and Wadell, next door to Louie’s Backyard.