Dry Tortugas National Park
Blue-green vistas around Fort Jefferson’s Garden Key Lighthouse
History on land, colorful world under the sea
In the stunning cerulean blue waters of the Gulf of Mexico, Dry Tortugas National Park is one of the most remote National Parks in the USA. The park sits 113 kilometers off the coast of Key West, Florida and is only accessible by ferry, boat or seaplane. But the park’s stunning ruins and colorful coral reefs will make the trek worthwhile.
This 259-square-kilometer park is anchored by the 19th century Fort Jefferson and the picturesque Garden Key Lighthouse, both of which played an important role in the Florida Keys maritime past. You are welcome to explore what remains of the fort; its historic brick moat wall offers spectacular views of the calm water. Dry Tortugas is also home to 30 species of coral, an abundance of brightly colored fishes and marine animals that frequent the turquoise sea. Don a snorkel mask and explore the shallow waters, where colorful fish and coral reefs frame the amazing Windjammer shipwreck near Loggerhead Key.