10 Reasons to Visit Big Pine Key

10 Reasons to Visit Big Pine Key when cruising the Florida Keys

(Updated March 1, 2022 with shore access information)

When we first stopped at Big Pine Key, we didn’t know much about what was available for cruisers to enjoy. We only knew of one waterfront bar and grill. We read on Active Captain that there were other places to visit by the water, but no definitive information about these places were available.

Thus, I thought I’d add to my previous post about Relaxing at Big Pine Key, 10 reasons why a stopover at Big Pine Key should be added to your itinerary. I also hope that others who have cruised here will jump in and provide additional information about this area.

Please note we entered Big Pine Key Channel from Hawk Channel as our mast was too tall for us to go under bridges to navigate the north side of the keys. Therefore, the information contained in this post is relegated to where you can dink to from the south side of the bridges.

1. Amazing sunsets from your boat happen almost every night unless it is too clouded.

2. Well protected/good holding anchorages even in a blow. The water is pretty calm even in 20 knot winds because the bay is very protective and shallow.

We saw 40 knot winds when a cold front passed, and even then, the bay was not as crazy as some other more exposed anchorages.

Storm!

3. Multiple uncrowded anchorages

a. We anchored right off the Newfound Channel in 8-9 feet of water. Sailboats are not allowed to anchor north of the south point of Big Pine Key. I guess some boats have dragged into the power lines by the bridge and cut off power to all the lower keys. Watch for the warning buoys that mark this restricted area for boats with masts.

b. You can follow a channel to the west to Newfound Harbor and anchor at Little Torch Key. This anchorage is close to the marked channel into Ramrod Key canals. In addition, there are several other anchorages to the south by Picnic Island and Spottswood Island. You need to follow your chart plotter to these anchorages so that you stay out of the skinny water on each side of the channel. Don’t cut the corners!

c. In addition, we saw a few boats anchored on the west side of Ramrod Key in Niles

4. Several Keys to explore by dinghy

In this area there are multiple keys close together to explore by dinghy. I’d take Navionics on your phone (and maybe a portable charger) when you explore to assure you do not try to cross an area that rises to only 1 foot of water. The bays are extremely shallow in spots.

Keys we explored from East to West

• Big Pine Key
• Little Torch Key
• Ramrod Key
• Summerland Key

5. Beaches to explore

a. Picnic island and Captain Jack’s Boat—This is a favorite spot with the locals and for those in shallow draft fishing boats or dinghies. You can anchor or beach your boat/dinghy in the shallow water off the small beach at Picnic Island, or BYOB and tie up at Captain’s Jack’s boat to listen to his yarns about living in the Keys. He is entrenched there with a self-sustainable boat that includes numerous solar panels.

b. Beaches on small unoccupied keys—There are other small, isolated beaches where you can land your dinghy and pretty much sunbath/lunch with little to no company.

6. Kiki’s Sandbar Bar and Grille

a. Located on the north side of the bridge, and on the east side of Little Torch Key off Torch Channel. There is an easy, accessible dinghy dock where you can tie up.

b. This is one my favorite bar and grills in the keys. The food is good, the drinks are even better, and it has that Caribbean feel because it is totally open. Many tables are placed on the sand so you can eat right on the beach. The wait staff is friendly and accommodating. Just remember if you go in for happy hour you will want to turn on your anchor light before you leave the boat, because it will probably be dark when you return. It gets dark early—around 5:30-6:00.

7. Looe Key Tiki Bar and Grill

a. Located on Ramrod Key. To navigate to this cute tiki hut, you must enter the Ramrod Key one way channel (give way to boats already in the channel) on the east side and make your way up the canal (about .8 mile) to the end and go right. The tiki bar will be on the left. Tie up on the canal wall and assure your dinghy is not blocking the narrow waterway.

b. The food here is good and the daily specials are more than reasonable.

c. Next door to the Tiki Bar is a Shell station with a convenience store. We picked up a few snack items here.

d. If you navigate these canals in the evening or during the summer, we were told by the bartender that you will want to wear bug spray as the canals are lined with mangroves and can be a mosquito and no see um gauntlet.

8. Tonio’s Seafood Shack and Tiki Bar

a. Located on the east side of Summerland Key, north of the bridge between Ramrod and Summerland Keys. Once you go under the bridge stay next to it to enter the first canal closest to the bridge. This will keep you in 5-6 feet of water and away from the extremely shallow reef that abuts the key. There is a warning buoy marking the reef just outside the 2^nd channel north of the bridge.

b. We tied up at a wooden dock by the parking lot, but we were told by the wait staff that usually there is a $10 fee to use this dock. Other boats tied up on the canal wall beside the restaurant. We had hoped to leave our dinghy here to walk a half a mile to the market, but we decided against it since we didn’t want to pay $10 and crab boats used this area to turn around.

9. Murray’s Market and Summerland Hardware

a. Located on Summerland Key and accessed from the canals on the west side of the key. Since we didn’t want to leave our dingy at Tonio’s which was just a short walk to the market, we decided to dinghy towards the south end of Summerland Key and enter the canals on the west side. Using Navionics, locate the cut near the bottom of the key and avoid the skinny water on each side of the cut. Then stay close to the key as you navigate around to the canal entrance. The bay next to the key is about 1 foot deep.

Once you enter the canals, follow them all the way to the canal which backs up to Highway 1. We used Navionics to find our way. You will go about 1.3 miles through the canals to the back of Murray’s Market. A small airport will be on your right. Once again, tie up next to the canal wall and assure your dinghy does not drift and block the narrow canal.

These canals are fun to explore as they are lined with some amazing homes and large fish boats.

The water next to these homes in the “channel” is about 5 feet, but in the middle of the bay it is 0-2 feet. So stay close!

b. Murray’s Market is a specialty grocery, not a full grocery store like Winn Dixie. However, it has staples such as eggs, cheese, limited supply of can goods, bread and some scrumptious desserts. They also have a meat counter with excellent, but expensive cuts of meat.

c. From Murray’s you can easily walk east to the Summerland Hardware (3 min walk). We did not do this, and I am not sure if there is a place to tie up behind the store, but you could dink down and give it a try.

d. A Slice of Paradise is a pizza place also located on the canal west of Murray’s. I did not note whether you can tie up there or not, but again, it is a very short walk from Murray’s.

10. Diving and snorkeling at Looe Key-we did not go here this trip, but we did check out one of the two dive shops in the area which are accessible by dinghy

a. Captain Hook’s Big Pine Key—located on the west side of Big Pine Key, north of the bridge. Look for the channel to enter (markers are “sticks”) and then go to the first canal closest to the bridge. You can tie up at their dock. They have a store with t-shirts, dive paraphernalia, etc.

b. Looe Key Reef Resort and Dive Center on Ramrod Key. The Looe Key Tiki Bar mentioned above is attached to this resort. So the directions will be the same as mentioned above.

We read on Active captain that you can secure your dinghy by the bridge and walk to the Winn Dixie on Big Pine Key. We did not find a place where we felt comfortable leaving our dingy to walk to this store. If someone knows of a safe place to tie up the dinghy to get to Winn Dixie, please leave this information in the comments and I will add to the blog.

Also, if you find a location to leave the dinghy and have access to a car, I hear that you should visit the No Name Pub built in 1936 on Big Pine Key. In addition, Big Pine Key is known for the little Key Deer which are found in the National Key Deer Refuge.

So there are lots of reasons to make a stop at Big Pine Key, but for me the sunsets are one of the best reasons!

Update!

On our last stop at Big Pine Key heading north to Miami, Big Pine Sea Center  (W of side of Big Pine, south of bridge ) allowed us to tied up to their wall for a fee so that we could walk to Winn Dixie, Ace Hardware and pharmacy. Uber was also available to return us to the Sea Center with our groceries. You might give them a call prior to heading their way as they are a small operation.

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Thank you for sharing in our adventure!