Blue Hole Observation Platform (National Key Deer Refuge)
Florida
A former quarry pit is now the largest body of freshwater in the entire Florida Keys -- and the covered observation platform 225 feet from the parking lot is the single best spot in the refuge to see a wild alligator, Key deer, turtles, and wading birds from one stop.
Why Roamward picked it
Free
Know before you go
Tickets & access
The Blue Hole Observation Platform sits inside National Key Deer Refuge. The hole is a former limestone quarry now filled with freshwater — a reliable stop for Key deer, alligators, turtles, and wading birds. The Nature Center on US-1 (separate from the platform) posts its own hours (Wed–Sat 10 a.m.–3 p.m. as of the official visit page).
Do you need tickets for the Blue Hole Observation Platform?
The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service visit page does not list an advance ticket or reservation for the Blue Hole Observation Platform. Refuge lands and trails are open from one half hour before sunrise through one half hour after sunset, and a short paved trail runs from the paved parking lot to the platform. Check the official refuge page for current notices before going. Checked August 2026.
Official source (checked August 2026): USFWS — National Key Deer Refuge · Visit Us
Hours, admission, and access change — confirm with the official source before you plan the detour.
On the drive · A stop on Miami → Key West
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