Phone: (941) 463-4588

Directions
The park is located on CR 865 between
Fort Myers Beach and Bonita Beach in Lee County.

Hours of Operation
Florida state parks are open from 8 a.m.
until sundown 365 days a year.
Alcoholic beverages are not permitted
in Florida State Parks. Please place all trash
in its proper place and do not feed the wildlife.

Activities
There is no Camping at Lovers Key State Park
Recreational activities offered at Lovers Key Carl E. Johnson State Recreation Area include boating, fishing, swimming and shelling. Trout, redfish, snook and tarpon are caught seasonally. Castnetting for mullet in the bay is a popular activity.

A boat ramp is available for access to adjacent Estero Bay and the Gulf of Mexico. A canoe launch is also available.

Beach related activities such as shelling and hiking are encouraged in the park; however, swimming in the canals is prohibited. Florida law also prohibits the collection of live shells or collecting of artifacts on state-owned land.

To preserve the scenic beauty and the ecology, fences and warning signs have not been installed in some areas of the park. Caution and close supervision of children is required while visiting these areas.

Description
This 712-acre area features canals and tidal lagoons fringed with mangroves, which support an array of fish and other aquatic animals.

The remnant maritime hammock on Black Island hosts several species of woodpeckers, hawks, owls and warblers. Osprey may be seen regularly fishing in the water and nesting in area trees. Marsh rabbits, raccoons and gray squirrels may also be observed in their natural setting. Many shore birds and wading birds, including roseate spoonbills and reddish egrets, may be seen feeding in the lagoons and along the beach area. Bottle-nosed dolphins and the endangered West Indian manatee also inhabit the nearshore waters.