Continent |
North America |
Country |
Florida (USA) |
Next Big City |
Miami, Key West |
Next Town |
Islamorada |
|
Type: |
Ocean |
Rider Ability: |
Intermediate, Expert |
Features: |
Shower, Toilet, Parking |
Water
Type: |
Shallow, Flat, Chop |
Hazards: |
Swimmers, Currents, Rocks |
Quality: |
Crystal clear |
Best Tide: |
Low tide |
Great flat water. Big shallow area, waist deep for about 0.5 miles out. Sand and turtle grass bottom, which can be quiet disturbing. Current under the bridge between Lower Matecumbe and Long Key can be strong. Stay away from the main channel there.
Beach
Type: |
Sand |
Size: |
Small |
Hazards: |
Rocks, Trees, Bystanders, Road |
Beach Users: |
No information |
Limestone clay beach with heavy tidal influence. Beach can widen or narrow by 5-10m on heavy tide. Large hammock/mangrove trees close to the water on high tide. At high tide almost no beach.
Weather
Spring:
|
Shorts |
Summer:
|
Shorts |
Fall:
|
Shorts |
Winter:
|
Shorts, Shorty |
Water and air warm year-round, ability to ride with no wetsuit on all but the coldest days, then a shorty is recommended.
Wind
Best Months: |
January, February, March, April, September, October, November, December |
Wind Type: |
Frontal, Trade |
Best Direction: |
E |
Main Direction: |
NE, E |
Primary wind is East, Northeast from frontal activity. Very consistent fall to spring. It will blow all night and all day in the right conditions. Summer has light winds.
How to get there
Transport |
Car |
Access
|
Short walk |
South from Miami or North from Key West on Highway 1 to mile marker 74. Anne's Beach is on the ocean side at the very southern tip of Lower Matecumbe Key. Small municipal park with 2 parking lots with room for about 10 cars each. The southern lot is the best launch.
Extra information
No special rules or restrictions, beware that water's edge is less than 20m from the highway. On onshore or sideonshore, keep your kite well away from the road. Popular beach for tourists and locals. Respect the swimmers and sunbathers. Be aware of the narrow channel from Caloosa Marina which cuts across the riding area. Do not leave your lines across this channel.
Nightlife
Holiday Isle on Windley Key, 9 miles north, has some nightlife.