It’s always a pleasure to head on over to the Cedar Keys and paddle out to Atsena Otie Key. Once the site of the original town of Cedar Key, Atsena Otie offers a pleasant scenic paddle, both around the key as well as through the middle…James
Cedar Key is a city located 50 miles southwest of Gainesville, Fl on SR 24, in Levy County. The group of keys is named after the Eastern Red Cedar tree, which played a predominant role during the 1800s. Cedar Key was actually offshore from where the city is located now, on the island key of Atsena Otie. “Atsena Otie” is from the Muskogean language “acheno ota” which translates to Cedar Island. It was here that settlers established the town Cedar Key in 1842.
In 1868 the Eberhard Faber Pencil Company built a lumber mill on Atsena Otie, supplying cedarwood to its pencil factory in New Jersey. A major hurricane and 10’ storm surge destroyed the mill in1896. Much of the salvaged homes as well as wreckage from the mill were floated over to re-establish the town of Cedar Key on Way Key.
Remnants from the old town, as well as a cemetery still remain on Atsena Otie. It is now managed as part of the Cedar Keys National Wildlife Refuge.
Atsena Otie Paddle Map:
Atsena Otie Key Details:
Location: Cedar Key is a city located 50 miles southwest of Gainesville, Fl on SR 24, in Levy County, 29°8′44″N, 83°2′30″W. Atsena Otie is the closest key, located approximately 1/2 mile south of Cedar Key.
Launch point: The launch areas are located at the City Park Beach and on G Street
Rentals are available at the following locations:
Kayak Cedar Keys – 6027 A St, Cedar Key, FL 32625 – 352-543-9447
Cedar Key Paddling. Bait, Tackle, & Rentals – 12293 FL-24, Cedar Key, FL 32625 – 352-665-1276
Cedar Key Boat Rentals &Island Tours – 8070 A St, Cedar Key, FL 32625 – 352-231-4435
Paddle Distances:
Cedar Key to Atsena Otie: – Approximately 3/4 mile from the City Park Beach to the northern beach on Atsena Otie. The paddle around Atsena Otie is approximately 2 miles. Paddling inside Atsena Otie, covering all areas will add 3.5 miles
Cedar Key to Daughtry Bayou: – Approximately 4.5 miles round trip.
Difficulty: Easy paddling. Keep track of tides so as to not get trapped inside Atsena Otie or in the bayou around the airport. Keep watch for boats in the channel.
Average Paddle Time: This varies greatly depending on stops and exploration. For an approximation of actual paddling time, simply use an average speed of 2.5 mph.
Width and Depth: The lagoons inside Atsena Otie as well as around Way Key and Draughty Bayou, can vary from 200 – 400′ wide. Depending on the tides, water depth can range from 1.5′ to 4.5′. ***Be sure to keep track of the tides inside the inner lagoons of Atsena Otie as well as the surrounding bayous. It is easy to be trapped in by very shallow water and oyster beds!***
Current – Tidal: Definitely tidal and the current is strong in the channel at the change of tides.
Side Paddles: The Inside of Atsena Otie can be paddled thoroughly at high tide. If not high tide, the oyster beds prevent full exploration. ***Be sure to keep track of the tides inside the inner lagoons of Atsena Otie as well as the surrounding bayous. It is easy to be trapped in by very shallow water and oyster beds!***
Rest Areas: There are numerous places to paddle on shore and enjoy the beaches of Atsena Otie. Near the kiosk on the west side, there is also a bathroom.
City Park Launch…
Paddling over to Atsena Otie Key is always an exciting, fun paddle. We usually time our paddles to take advantage of high tide. As a result, the high water will allow us to explore the interior of the key in addition to the outer shoreline. The launch is a nice sandy beach at City Park just East of the Marina. There is no fee to launch and parking is free along the park sidewalk. Get there early as parking becomes hard to find as the morning gets later. Restrooms are available at the park.
Off to Atsena Otie…
The first thing to note is the strong current from our left to the right, flowing out to deeper water. With the key somewhat to our right, we angle leftward, allowing the current to guide us to our destination.
There is a sandy beach on the Northwest point of the key where we stop and plan our continued route. Along the shoreline are numerous shells, pieces of brick, Sand Dollars, and dead Horseshoe Crabs. The bricks are leftover from the 1800s when the key was settled, had a sawmill, and a few hundred residents. The cemetery is still in the center of the key with graves dating back to the 1800s
Our paddle takes us on the West side of Atsena Otie and the old abandoned pier. This is the roost for hundreds of Cormorants, Pelicans, and Seagulls that all take flight as our kayaks silently pass by. Continuing around the west side of the key, the water is noticeably calmer as the current is being blocked. From here we enjoy the calm waters along the Southwest shoreline.
The ‘Lagoons’…
There are 2 main ‘inlets’ along this Southwest shoreline that provide access to the interior of Atsena Otie. The first is right at the Southwest corner of the key. This is a small lagoon that does not allow passage further inside the key but it is pretty. Lined with mangroves, It is here we saw an eagle on a past trip. The entrance to this small lagoon is lined with oyster beds, so be sure to stay in the small channel during lower tides! Depending on the water level, it is possible to not have to exit out into the gulf but paddle inside a small channel to get to the next lagoon. It is in this next lagoon that offers access to the interior of Atsena Otie. Herons, Egrets, Osprey, and an occasional Eagle can be seen inside the key. Here, again, it is important to know the tides to have access and not get scraped on the oyster beds.
There are many sandy beach areas along the Eastern shoreline. About two thirds the way up there is a small passage when at higher tides, allows passage in and out of the interior. This is another area with numerous oyster beds. It is in this lagoon, in the Northeast corner of the key, that I was able to photograph a Dolphin feeding. It was actually playing with his food, throwing the fish up in the air numerous times!
The Cemetary…
The Atsena Otie Cemetery can actually be accessed from the interior marsh during higher tides. The main access to the cemetery is about 400′ south of the NW corner of the key. Signs mark the trail entrance. A marked trail leads almost 1800′ into the key, to the cemetery where several old graves can be seen. This cemetery has graves from those who inhabited the Key in the 1800s when it was a thriving community. A plaque at the cemetery list many of the family members buried in the cemetery as early as 1827.
When deciding to take this trail, be prepared for mosquitoes, they are quite prevalent along this trail! A nice short video of this trail can be watched at Florida nature Coast.
The Eastern Coast…
It becomes quite evident turning the Southeast corner and paddling up the shoreline that storms have taken a toll on many trees. Numerous pines are dead and remain only as skeletal perches for the Cormorants and Egrets. I can only imagine a combination of weather, diseases, and lightning that have all contributed to the demise of these trees. There are however numerous sandy beaches to enjoy a rest or swim.
Birds of Atsena Otie Key:
Guides, Maps & Info…
- Atsena Otie Topo Map…
- Cedar Key Tides…
- Atsena Otie Key – Cedar Keys National Wildlife Refuge…
- Atsena Otie Ghost Town...
- Cedar Keys National Wildlife Refuge…
- Atsena Otie History…