Crane Point Hammock: Marathon’s Hidden Gem with Natural Fish Pedicures

Crane Point Hammock is one of the most surprising places to visit in the Florida Keys, and I think is one of the best things to do when you’re on Marathon. A mix of beautiful trails, wildlife watching and seemingly random beautiful spots to explore, the Crane Point Hammock is a must-visit on your Florida Keys road trip. This is a great spot to go walking with kids or to just be curious adults.

Where else can you learn about trees, watch sharks from the shore, have a fish pedicure and dream about living in a secluded mid-century modern villa in the Florida Keys? This is the spot for all of that. Read on and you’re going to want to set aside time for visiting the Crane Point Hammock for an afternoon or a whole day. If you have any questions about the Hammock or spending time on Marathon, please leave a comment or send us a note. We’re always happy to share more and help you plan a great Florida Keys trip!

Highlights of Crane Point Hammock

There aren’t many places in the Florida Keys that you can show up and spend your entire day, but Crane Point Hammock has so much to offer that you could easily spend at least a half day here. If you’re visiting with kids you’ll have plenty of exhibits about wildlife and even live animals to keep them interested. If you’re just a few adults visiting, you can do the trails and have a fish pedicure.

If you’re looking for a kayaking experience you can book that and go out with a guide along the shoreline and mangroves. Add to this bringing your own picnic and you’ve got plenty of things to do. Really, what impresses me so much about visiting Crane Point Hammock is how comprehensive of an experience it is. With our first visit we didn’t really know what to expect because the whole preserve is privately managed so you don’t see a lot of information about it or see it advertised. When you arrive and look at the map and plan out your time, you’ll see that it’s actually an amazing compound with different activities and plenty of shady spaces.

The only thing missing from visiting Crane Point Hammock is a swimming area. You can get on the water while kayaking or enjoy the wildlife below the surface from the different viewpoints, but you don’t have a water access spot for swimming unless you’re doing the kayaking… so maybe that’s what you should plan for!

Murals at Crane Point Hammock

I love finding murals in the Florida Keys and the Crane Point Hammock happens to have several. From local artists to Wyland murals, there are quite a few to check out. Also, while it’s not a mural, the entry doors to the Crane Point Hammock visitor center and gift shop are AWESOME. I haven’t seen bronze doors like this anywhere else, depicting wildlife in an undersea scene. Really cool!

Tips for a Day at Crane Point Hammock

Plan your time at Crane Point Hammock to be a minimum of two hours. Arriving when they open at 9:00 am is ideal so that you can start exploring the trails before it’s too hot out. You can take your time on the main trail out to the mangroves and the point, learning about all the trees and vegetation along the way and, of course, birdwatching. The hammock (forest) and the mangroves are great for enjoying some Florida Keys birdwatching.

The fish pedicure station is out by the Crane House, so you’ll need to do the trail out there to enjoy that. For the fish pedicure, make your way to the small dock on the inlet, take off your shoes and dangle your feet in the water. You can sit and enjoy it as long as you want, as this is just a natural thing the fish do and it’s not like at a spa where it’s all managed. Just dangle and enjoy.

For the kayaking, you need to book it 24 hours in advance and then you have all day access for the trails, the museum, the fish pedicure and then the kayaking. With the kayak rental you’ll be able to paddle out for snorkeling from the kayak. This is good if you’re a confident snorkeler and want a very different sort of experience. When we’re on Marathon my favorite snorkeling tour is going out on the Starfish Catamaran, but getting to snorkel from a kayak in a beautifully calm area is pretty cool too. You’ll see that there are a few different picnic areas at the Crane Point Hammock. Whether you want to bring a full picnic spread or just some snacks and water, it’s up to you but there are some lovely spots to enjoy relaxing and snacking.

What to Bring to Crane Point Hammock

I think the first thing you need to bring for your visit to Crane Point Hammock is the sunblock. Even though there is a lot of shad in the different areas and trails, you’ll be in the sun a lot. Also, if you’re doing the kayaking with snorkeling, you’ll need to be sure that you’re using reef-safe sunblock.

Next up, and this applies to anyone interested in walking all the trails or spending time standing and birdwatching, but you need bug spray. The mosquitos aren’t bad everywhere, but there are a few areas on the trails and when you’re in the mangrove sections where the mosquitos are irritating and it’s better to be safe than sorry. Of course bring a camera for the cool forest sections and anything you find interesting as you explore Crane Point Hammock, and if you’re kayaking be sure you have a waterproof case for your phone.

Something else to bring that you might not think of normally is an umbrella. In general you don’t need one if you’re just walking the trails, but if you plan on enjoying the Florida Keys fish pedicure, an umbrella is a great idea as there is no shade on the dock where you sit. You probably want at least fifteen minutes enjoying the fish pedicure, so having your own portable shade is going to save you and keep you comfortable.

Where is Crane Point Hammock?

Getting to Crane Point Hammock is pretty easy. It’s located in Marathon on the north side of the Overseas Highway. So, if you’re driving towards Key West, this means it’s on your right, and if you’re driving towards Key Largo it’s on your left. There isn’t a ton of parking at Crane Point Hammock, but it’s not that well known of a place, I feel. Unless you know what you’ll find here or have been told to visit, you’ll likely just drive right by. Find a shaded spot to park and bring anything you’ll need when you first head into the hammock so you don’t have to trek back.