HISTORY & HERITAGE
Fort Island Gulf Beach
Citrus County · Gulf Coast
Citrus County's Gulf beach, reached by three miles of road across open salt marsh west of Crystal River.
ABOUT THIS PLACE
Getting there is part of it. Fort Island Trail runs west out of Crystal River, crosses the Salt Creek Bridge and then jogs its way for three miles through a vast salt marsh with nothing built on it, passing the Gary Maidhof Walk to Nature boardwalk before the parking areas. At the end is a groomed sandy beach on the Gulf of Mexico, which is the reason the place fills up on a fine day, because on this stretch of coast an actual swimming beach is a rarity rather than the norm. Swimming is allowed. There is an accessible beach pavilion with a surface mat running down to the water's edge, restrooms at the beach and outdoor showers beside them. It opens at six in the morning and closes at 9:30 at night. Two rules catch people out: no pets, and no fishing from the beach or off its jetties. There is a boat ramp and a fishing pier on the site, and anyone coming for either should check their current condition before making the drive out
Not identified in this guide as an officially clothing-optional beach. This is a visit category, not a safety rating—check surf, lifeguards, water quality and posted rules.
BEACH CONDITIONS
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