Island Loop Trail

Accessible only by boat or ferry, Cayo Costa State Park preserves one of the most pristine barrier islands in all of Florida. The Island Loop Trail encircles much of this remarkable nine-mile-long island, weaving between the sparkling Gulf beach and the calmer Pine Island Sound shore through a variety of coastal habitats found nowhere else in such concentrated abundance. The necessity of a boat ride filters out casual visitors, ensuring the trails and beaches remain uncrowded even during peak season.

The loop traverses pine flatwoods, oak hammocks, and mangrove fringes before arriving at the legendary Gulf beach, consistently ranked among the most beautiful in the state. Shelling is world-class here, with lightning whelks, horse conchs, junonia, and alphabet cones washing ashore in abundance. Wild pigs roam the interior, and raccoons are bold camp robbers near the primitive campground. Bottlenose dolphins and manatees are regularly sighted in the surrounding waters. Bald eagles nest on the island, and osprey are omnipresent. The combination of isolation, wildlife diversity, outstanding shelling, and pristine beach scenery makes the Island Loop one of the most rewarding hiking experiences available on Florida Gulf Coast, and the logistical effort required to reach it only heightens the sense of reward and discovery.