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Ozello Trail: A Scenic End of the Road on Florida’s Nature Coast

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Ozello Keys
The Ozello Keys, tucked between Homosassa Springs and Crystal River, are accessible by one of Florida’s most scenic drives. This off-the-beaten-path villages is a rare treat. (Photos: Michael Warren.)

OZELLO, FL — Sometimes, if the journey is pleasant enough, it’s nice to go no place in particular. And while the fishing village of Ozello is certainly someplace in general, the road to Ozello is well worth investigating for its own sake.

A Winding Scenic Road to the Gulf of Mexico
From US 19 south of Crystal River, take a right turn onto 494 (Ozello Trail) and head out toward the Gulf of Mexico. The road meanders over vast salt marshes dotted by islands of sabal palm an cedar. Unlike Cedar Key, whose cedars were all but used up by pencil manufacturers, the native trees still thrive here.
Ozello Gold
Out here by the Gulf, the sky has plenty of room to stretch out over the expanse of sawgrass. It would be a terrific place to watch an afternoon thunderstorm, and every evening you can enjoy the town’s scenic treasure trove. “Ozello Gold” is what they call the sunsets here.
Ozello Trout
The Trail makes a great place for wildlife viewing, and since an automobile makes a reasonable blind, you’re likely to see a lot if you drive slowly. Channels along the roadside create a seafood buffet for the local birds. You’re likely to spot ospreys, owls and plenty of kingfishers with their mohawk coifs. Ozello is also a popular destination for kayak fishing for trout and redfish.
Ozello Rainbow
The Ozello Trail draws painters from around the state, but otherwise the place still hasn’t been properly discovered. The town was established just after the Civil War, but until 1961 the only way to get out to these islands was by boat. Some years ago the local school made it into Ripley’s “Believe it or Not” because the school bus was a boat.

Today the community of 600 residents is surrounded by St. Martins’ Nature Reserve, making further development unlikely. Perhaps in another 30 years, it will look much like it does today.

If a picnic is what you’re after, take a left turn on John Brown Drive to a small park and boat ramp. Or you can follow 494 until it ends at Ozello Community Park (10 miles from US 19). There’s a small picnic ground here that overlooks the water, as well as a nearby restaurant, Peck’s Old Port Cove, that serves local seafood fresh.
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