Walk the Old Seven Mile Bridge

Join other walkers and runners on Marathon’s most popular outdoor exercise and sightseeing location, the renovated pedestrian- and bicycle-friendly Old Seven Mile Bridge. 

The 2.2-mile span reopened in 2022 after extensive renovation, some 110 years after the bridge’s original debut as the centerpiece of Henry Flagler’s Florida Keys Over-Sea Railroad. It now serves as a popular linear park with fantastic views overlooking the convergence of the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Ocean.

Visitors stopping to count the various shades of blue in the water might be there awhile, with hues ranging from the lightest turquoise to the darkest navy. 

For those who look over the bridge railing, there’s no telling what sort of marine life one might see. Visitors report frequent sightings of a variety of rays along with sea turtles, dolphins and many species of fish including sharks. 

Nicknamed “Old Seven,” the span serves as the gateway to Pigeon Key, a tiny island that was once home to about 400 workers constructing the railroad, considered an engineering marvel. 

Bird watchers might spot pelicans, magnificent frigate birds, a wide variety of gulls, cormorants, ospreys and more. 

The Pigeon Key Express 60-passenger train — a tram with a front engine made to resemble an old train engine — takes passengers across the pedestrian span three times daily to visit the museum and tour the historic island of Pigeon Key. 

If walkers make it to the island and change their minds about walking the 2.2 miles back, they can check with attendants on the island about a one-way return trip on the train, which is possible on a space-available basis.

Both the new and old bridges are positioned in a nearly east-west direction, making the Old Seven Mile bridge perfect for lingering to photograph both sunrises and sunsets.  

A parking lot adjacent to the old bridge accommodates up to 35 parked vehicles. Isla Bella Beach Resort is located just across U.S. 1 from the “Old Seven” parking lot and Faro Blanco Resort is one mile away on the Marathon side, with access via the Florida Keys Overseas Heritage Trail’s paved pathway. 

Difficulty level: Easy
Best for: Exercise walkers, runners, dog walkers, cyclists, sightseers
Admission: Free to traverse the 2.2-mile bridge span. $15 for adult bikers and walkers ($12 for children 4-12) to enter the historic island of Pigeon Key, including the museum and either guided or self-guided tours of the island. The fee to ride the train and visit the island is $28 for adults; $20 children age 4-12; and $23 for veterans. 
Address: Overseas Hwy. just past Knights Key Blvd.
Nearby lodging: Isla Bella Resort & Spa, Faro Blanco Resort & Yacht Club, Courtyard Faro Blanco Resort, Tranquility Bay Beachfront Resort
Nearby dining: Sunset Grill & Raw Bar, Lazy Days South, Castaway Restaurant & Sushi Bar, BlueWaters Bar & Grill at Courtyard, Burdine’s Waterfront