Driving Directions
Anclote Key State Preserve is located three miles off Tarpon Springs and is accessible only by private boat.

Hours of Operation
Florida state parks are open from 8 a.m. until sundown 365 days a year.

Wildlife
Rare and endangered species find sanctuary here, delighting thousands of nature lovers each year. Anclote Key is home to at least 43 species of birds, including the American oystercatcher, bald eagle, and piping plover. Perched in towering pine snags that pepper the island are the nests of ospreys. Endangered loggerhead and green turtles are occasionally seen.

There are six distinct biological communities found on Anclote Key; marine sands, beach-dune, maritime hammock, mesic flatwoods, tidal marsh and swamp.

The remoteness of this unique island is the key to respecting its fragile beauty and character. The lighthouse at the island's southern end served as a beacon to ships for years after President Grover Cleveland declared Anclote Key a lighthouse reservation in 1886 and the lighthouse and two houses for its keepers were built. In 1984 the lighthouse was decommissioned after modern navigation technology made the lighthouse obsolete.

Park Activities

Boating, Full Camping, Fishing, Picnicking, and Swimming

Picnicking
Five picnic areas with shelters are found along the shore of Big Lagoon and the Intracoastal Waterway. The Governor's Pavilion, which accommodates larger groups, can be reserved for a nominal fee.

Swimming
Swimming is excellent in the shallow Gulf waters. Swimmers should watch for occasionally heavy boat traffic.