Curry Hammock State Park - Little Crawl Key Loop
Florida Keys · Monroe County · Florida Bay / Atlantic coastal waters
A compact Florida Keys paddle with mangrove-tunnel and Deer Key loops, a sandbar about a third of a mile out and short open-water sections. Conditional go: the mangrove route depends on water level, so plan a fallback before you launch.
Launch location
A close map of the verified put-in, and a link to open it in your maps app for directions.
- Open launch map24.74153, -80.98029
Why paddle here
- It offers a short, highly varied route that works well as a Florida Keys paddle sampler, with a longer 5-mile option for stronger paddlers.
- It works for a mixed group: on 6 September 2026 our group launched one BYO inflatable SUP and one tandem kayak rented through the self-service QR rental, from the same spot.
- The park's on-site paddling map shows several possible outings rather than one all-or-nothing route.
- The launch setup is low-friction: close parking, a short carry, and restrooms with a freshwater rinse shower behind them.
Launches, parking and access
Where you actually put the boat in, how far you carry it and over what. This is the part official sources are worst at, so it is the part we say most plainly — including where we do not know yet.
Curry Hammock day-use and campground waterfront
- Launch type
- Carry-in kayak/SUP launch
- Access
- Public access
- Put-in
- 24.74153, -80.98029· open in Maps
- Hours
- 8 a.m. to sunset, 365 days a year
- Fees
Park admission applies; no separate paddle launch fee stated
High confidence- Parking
limited; park may close when full
High confidence
- Carry to the water
- Short carry
- When we launched on 6 September 2026, parking was close and the carry to the waterfront was short.
- How hard that carry is
- Not yet assessed
Nobody has checked this yet.Rate the carry — How hard was that carry with a loaded boat?
- Ground you cross
- Not yet recorded
Nobody has checked this yet.Describe the ground — What did you cross on the way — pavement, sand, stairs, loose trail?
- Boat cart
- Not yet assessed
Nobody has checked this yet.Report cart use — Could you use a boat cart the whole way, or did you have to carry?
- Unloading
- Not yet assessed
Nobody has checked this yet.Report unloading — Could you unload beside the water before parking, or carry the whole way?
- Restrooms and rinse
- Restrooms — A short walk away · Rinse station — A short walk away
- Restrooms near the waterfront launch, confirmed on 6 September 2026
- Freshwater rinse shower behind the restroom facilities
- Rules at this launch
- Motorised vessel launching is not allowed
The put-in pin is where we launched on 6 September 2026. Our group got on the water together from here: one BYO inflatable SUP and one tandem kayak rented through the self-service QR rental at the launch. Parking was close, the carry was short, and restrooms, with a freshwater rinse shower behind them, were nearby. Rental inventory, prices and the QR check-out can change between visits, so confirm availability before counting on a rental.
Routes
Difficulty belongs to the route, not the location. One place can offer a beginner loop and an advanced crossing.
Little Crawl Key mangrove loop
BeginnerLoop· 1.5 mi· About 1 hour· Timing mattersPut in at Curry Hammock day-use and campground waterfront.
Why it is rated this way
- A 1.5-mile loop close to the launch
- Protected mangrove water for most of its length
- Short enough to turn back if the wind gets up
At the lowest tides the mangrove tunnel can be difficult to impossible to get through. Check the tide before committing to the full circumnavigation.
The park's on-site paddling map, photographed in September 2026, lists the Mangrove Tunnel Loop at 1.2 miles and a Deer Key Loop at 1.3 miles; the park's website gives the Little Crawl Key circuit as 1.5 miles. On 6 September 2026 the mangrove route was too shallow for our party to continue, so we turned around early and reassessed rather than forcing passage. Check the water level before committing to it, and choose a turnaround point before leaving shore.
Help verify this route
Have you paddled Little Crawl Key mangrove loop (1.5 mi)?
- How far was this route if you tracked it?Report the distance — How far was this route if you tracked it?
- How long did it take you, and at what pace?Report the time — How long did it take you, and at what pace?
Deer Key Loop
Not yet ratedLoop· 1.3 miPut in at Curry Hammock day-use and campground waterfront.
Listed at 1.3 miles on the park's on-site paddling map, photographed in September 2026. We did not paddle it on that visit, so it carries no difficulty rating or timing guidance yet.
Help verify this route
Have you paddled Deer Key Loop (1.3 mi)?
- How difficult did this route actually feel?Rate the difficulty — How difficult did this route actually feel?
- How long did it take you, and at what pace?Report the time — How long did it take you, and at what pace?
- Did tide, current or closing times decide when you could paddle this?Report timing — Did tide, current or closing times decide when you could paddle this?
- Anything on the water we do not mention — obstructions, closures, traffic?Report hazards — Anything on the water we do not mention — obstructions, closures, traffic?
- How much did wind, current or tide shape this route on the day?Report conditions — How much did wind, current or tide shape this route on the day?
Sandbar east of the launch
Not yet ratedOut and back· 0.3 mi each wayPut in at Curry Hammock day-use and campground waterfront.
About a third of a mile from the launch according to the park's on-site map. The sandbar is not visible from the put-in: on 6 September 2026 we only located it once we were in open water and could see boats gathered near it. Do not rely on boats being there. Use a verified waypoint when you have one, check wind and water before leaving shore, and agree a turnaround point first. Our SUP paddler reached it in suitable conditions.
Help verify this route
Have you paddled Sandbar east of the launch (0.3 mi)?
- How difficult did this route actually feel?Rate the difficulty — How difficult did this route actually feel?
- How long did it take you, and at what pace?Report the time — How long did it take you, and at what pace?
- How much did wind, current or tide shape this route on the day?Report conditions — How much did wind, current or tide shape this route on the day?
Conditions now — before you go
Live readings and forecasts for the water this launch is on, so you can make the go/no-go call before you drive out. Readings, not advice.
Checking conditions…
What conditions do here
How much each factor typically governs a trip at this location.
These are not live conditions. This describes how much each factor typically governs a trip here. Always check the current forecast, tide table and river level before you launch.
- Wind
- Plan around it
- Current
- Minor factor
- Tide
- Trip-deciding
- Boat traffic
- Minor factor
- Boat traffic: Low near launch; open-water routes may encounter boat traffic
Planning
- Exposure
- Mix of protected mangroves and open coastal water
- Seasonal
- Low tide can make the mangrove tunnel difficult or impossible; wind changes route suitability.
- Best time of day
- Morning preferred for calmer conditions (not yet confirmed on the water)
- Reservations & permits
- No reservation stated for self-guided paddling; guided tours have limited space/sign-up.
Hazards
Tidal timing matters
Low tide in mangrove tunnel
Wind exposure
wind/open-water exposure
Oyster bars / shallows
shallow flats
Check tide and wind before choosing the tunnel or open-water routes. Lowest tides may block the mangrove tunnel.
Amenities and craft
Craft suited to this water
- Inflatable SUP launched from the waterfront on 6 September 2026
Bringing your own boat: Yes. A BYO inflatable SUP launched here on 6 September 2026; park admission applies.
Amenities
- Restrooms
- Showers — Yes - cold outdoor day-use shower; hot showers in campground bathhouse
- Picnic area
- Food nearby — No food concession identified on official park page
- Drinking water — Yes at campground; verify day-use access
What you will see
Rentals and outfitters
Whenever Water Sports
On siteRentalsHigh confidence
PaddlePin tips
Plan verdict: conditional go. Several craft and route options worked on our 6 September 2026 visit, but the mangrove route was too shallow that day. Choose a fallback route and a turnaround point before leaving shore.
High confidenceUse tide and water level as a route-selection input: if the mangrove route is too shallow, turn back and reassess rather than forcing passage. The sandbar east of the launch is the open-water alternative when wind and water allow.
High confidenceBefore launching, confirm current wind, weather, park advisories and rental availability, and make sure the chosen craft and seat suit each paddler for the full distance.
High confidenceMornings are usually the calmer choice for the open-water sections.
Medium confidenceCheck tide and wind before choosing the tunnel or open-water routes. Lowest tides may block the mangrove tunnel. Wear a PFD; there is no lifeguard.
High confidence
Been here? Help keep it accurate
PaddlePin is researched from official sources. Paddlers who have actually been are how it stays true.
Contributions are reviewed before anything on this page changes. PaddlePin stays the researched directory — your report is evidence we check, not an edit to it.
Sources
Where this information came from, and when we last read it.
- Primary source — Florida State Parks, read
- Secondary source — Florida State Parks, read
- Outfitter — wheneverwatersports.com, read
Guides that cover this paddle
Longer reads that put this location alongside its neighbours and say when it is the right choice.
- Curry Hammock & Bahia Honda Paddle Field Guide
Will your Florida Keys paddle plan work? Field-checked Curry Hammock and Bahia Honda launches: exact access pins, BYO and rental notes, carry and dated conditions.
- Best Beginner Paddles in the Florida Keys
Compare beginner paddles in the Florida Keys by launch simplicity, exposure, tides and route commitment, with PaddlePin’s evidence-first guide.
- Florida Keys Paddling With Kids: Three Launches, and SUP or Kayak
Three researched Florida Keys paddles for families — Key Largo mangroves to a 1.5-mile beginner loop in Marathon — and how to tell a SUP day from a kayak day.
Nearby paddling
Long Key State Park - Natural Shoreline
Beginner routeFlorida Keys · Monroe County · Atlantic-side shallow waters / Long Key shoreline
A quiet Middle Keys shoreline paddle through shallow seagrass water and mangrove habitat, with wildlife viewing and a low-friction carry-in launch.
Bahia Honda State Park
Beginner routeFlorida Keys · Monroe County · Atlantic Ocean / Gulf of Mexico side waters
A flexible coastal paddle from either the ocean or Gulf side of Bahia Honda, with clear Keys water, beach scenery and iconic bridge views. The ocean-side beach access has a short carry from close parking, with restrooms and rinse showers nearby.
Florida Keys · Monroe County · Florida Keys flats between Indian Key Fill and Indian Key
A classic short Keys island crossing over shallow seagrass flats to a historic ghost-town island — currently unavailable because the park is closed for dock reconstruction.