Best trails in Biscayne National Park
Biscayne National Park is located in southern Florida, south of Miami. The park protects the waters of Biscayne Bay, the northernmost Florida Keys, and a portion of the Florida Reef, one of the largest coral reefs on the planet. The park is known for its variety of ecosystems, including mangrove swamps along the shoreline, coral reefs, and islands. The diverse ecosystems make for an incredible variety of plants and wildlife. You'll find manatees, sea turtles, hundreds of species of birds and fish, and rare plants here.
With more than 95% of the park under water, it's no surprise that boating, fishing, kayaking, and snorkeling are popular activities. Boating tours are available if you want to learn more about the park. There are also lots of things to do on land! You can picnic and hike along the shoreline and on the keys. Beautiful trails lead out from the mainland onto jetties where you'll have amazing views of the water and wildlife. You can also take a boat out to the keys to explore more remote hiking trails that circle the islands. You can even camp overnight on Elliott Key and Boca Chita Key.
The park is open 24 hours a day and is beautiful to visit year-round. The best time to visit is in the winter or spring, when the subtropical climate makes for dry and mild weather.
Biscayne National Park has no entrance fee.
Top trails
- (457)·Easy·0.7 mi·Est. 0.5–1 hrThe Jetty Trail is a short and easy walk along a mangrove-lined shore that leads to the Colonial Bird Protection Area at the end of a jetty. Informational panels can be found along the trail that discuss the environment and wildlife in the area.The start of the trail is by the shore near the picnic area at the Dante Fascell Visitor Center. Half of the trail is a boardwalk and the other is a smooth, gravel/sand surface. The Jetty Trail is the most scenic of all the trails in the park. Being...
- (267)·Easy·1.7 mi·Est. 0.5–1 hrThis is a short and easy walk along a beautiful mangrove-lined shore that leads to the Colonial Bird Protection Area at the end of a jetty. There are informational panels that can be found along the trail which showcase the local environment and wildlife in the area.This is a great trail to catch the sunrise or sunset and is great for the entire family.
- (188)·Easy·0.7 mi·Est. 0.5–1 hrThis route is only reached by ferry or other boats. This short nature trail winds through a wooded area, with informational guides along the way which tell the history of the area. Make sure to stop by the small beach behind and to the left of the bathrooms- there are so many shells, sponges, corals, conch, hermit crabs, starfish, birds, and a couple of rays to observe.
- (205)·Easy·5.8 mi·Est. 1.5–2 hrThis trail follows alongside Southwest 87th Avenue from Black Point Marina to the Old Cutler Trail. Accessibility: There are 5 designated accessible spaces in the paved parking lot off of Southwest 87th Avenue at the south end of the trail. All of them are van-accessible with striped access aisles. The trail surface is paved asphalt or concrete and smooth. It is typically 3 to 6 feet wide. There is a painted dividing line along most of the trail which reduces the width. The entire trail...
- (6)·Easy·1.1 mi·Est. 0.5–1 hrThis interpretive boardwalk route leads through Elliott Key’s ecosystem, beginning near the bay and winding into a tropical hardwood hammock forest. Informational panels provide insight into the island’s cultural and natural history. While ocean views are rare, the trail offers frequent sightings of coastal wildlife, wildflowers, and subtle mangrove-fringed shorelines. Trail junctions allow extensions onto nearby paths for those who wish to explore further. The raised walkway protects...
- (7)·Easy·1.0 mi·Est. 0.5–1 hrThis is a short trail through a densely wooded area on Adams Key. The trail can become overgrown in the summer season, and downloading the offline map to navigate is advised. Since this is a primitive trail, there are many opportunities to observe wildlife due to the wildness of this area. There are scenic views along the water portion of this loop.
- (4)·Easy·5.4 mi·Est. 1.5–2 hrThis is a lightly trafficked trail in Biscayne National Park. The majority of this hike is along a sandy trail, which passes by dunes and through flatland forested ecosystems. The trail follows what was once an old highway that runs along the middle of the island. There are many opportunities to view wildlife and wildflowers along this route.
Visitor info
No entrance fee or pass is required.
Join millions of people who enjoy our National Parks with the "America the Beautiful" National Park & Federal Recreational Lands Pass, otherwise known as the Interagency Annual Pass. The pass is valid for a year's worth of visits from the month of purchase at more than 2,000 federal recreation sites across the country.
Biscayne National Park does not charge an entrance fee.
The Dante Fascell Visitor Center is accessible to visitors using mobility equipment or strollers and has wheelchair accessible restrooms. Orientation films include open captioning.
Assistive listening devices, tactile exhibits, and Braille materials are available.
Additional information about accessibility at Biscayne National Park can be found on their website: https://www.nps.gov/bisc/planyourvisit/accessibility.htm.
All trolleys are wheelchair accessible from the City of Homestead. Some boat tours are wheelchair accessible. Please call (786)-465-4058 to ask about accessibility on the boat tours.
The Dante Fascell Visitor Center is accessible to visitors using mobility equipment or strollers and has wheelchair accessible restrooms. Orientation films include open captioning.
The Convoy Point Picnic Area is wheelchair accessible with packed, level paths and surfaces.
There are accessible restrooms at the following trailheads: Convoy Point and Boca Chita Key.
Service animals must be on-leash throughout the park.
