Saltwater swims, mangrove paddles, and island expeditions. All of this and more is available at Biscayne National Park in southern Florida!
To reap the full benefits of Biscayne – which is 95% water – you are encouraged to leave the comforts of land, board a boat, and dive in the water to get a glimpse of the magical underwater world that is erupting with life and mystery below the surface of the Atlantic Ocean.
In Biscayne National Park, you’ll discover underwater dive sites featuring historical shipwrecks, endangered marine species, bright coral reefs teeming with exotic marine life, remote islands only accessible by boat, shoreline mangrove forests bursting with thriving organisms, and much, much more!
In this Biscayne National Park travel guide, I am going to share with you everything you need to know to plan your trip, including the top hikes, the best things to do, where to stay, when to go, and more!
Complete Guide to Biscayne Natoinal Park
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Quick Facts About Biscayne National Park
- Location: Florida, USA
- Established: 1968 (National Monument); 1980 (National Park)
- Size: 172,971 acres
- Annual Visitors: 701,023 (2022)
- Fee: FREE!
- Visitor Center: Dante Fascell
Fun Facts About Biscayne
95% of the park’s nearly 173,000 acres are underwater. Other than the Convoy Point area near the visitor center, a boat is needed to access the park.
The Florida Keys actually begin in Biscayne with the first true key being Elliot Key.
Elliot Key is the largest island in the park, spanning 7 miles long and 2,500 feet wide.
Biscayne Bay was originally intended to be part of Everglades National Park.
Biscayne is home to the third-largest coral barrier reef system in the entire world. This tract is also the last living coral reef in the continental United States.
A species of once-endangered crocodiles is no longer endangered, thanks to the National Park’s efforts to restore the population along Pines Canal.
The park is only 9 feet in elevation at its absolute highest point at Totten Key and 0 feet at its lowest in the Atlantic Ocean.
The mangroves lining the shore are extremely vital to the park. They help keep the water clean and clear by using their impenetrable root systems to slow water from the land into the bay. They also provide shelter, breeding areas, and nesting areas for organisms under the water’s surface and entwined in their branches.
There are at least 50 shipwrecks found underwater in the park. Scuba divers and snorkelers can take the Maritime Heritage Trail, an archeological underwater trail, to see six of the shipwrecks.
Some of the world’s most endangered animal species reside inside the park such as the pillar coral, smalltooth sawfish, four species of sea turtle, and the Florida manatee.
Top Hikes in Biscayne
The “Top Hikes in Biscayne” list is going to be short and sweet because there is only one official hiking trail accessible by vehicle in the National Park boundaries!
With 95% of the park being in the water, walking is limited to the boardwalk trail by the visitor center and island exploration via boat.
I will share with you details about the visitor center trail and three of the island trails.
Jetty Trail
- Distance: 0.8 miles
- Type of Trail: Out & back
- Elevation Gain: 0 feet
- Difficulty: Easy
Whether you’re waiting for your boat tour to begin, you want to unwind after your underwater excursion, or you don’t have a desire to physically go into the water, this trail is a way to see some of the marine life in the park.
This easy path begins at the picnic area near the visitor center and takes guests on a short journey along a mangrove-lined shore. You’ll stroll on a boardwalk for the first half of the trail. Here you’ll get to peer over the ledge and glimpse marine life such as fish, sea turtles, and birds. You might see manatees and dolphins in the distance if you’re lucky!
Fishing is allowed on the boardwalk so you may see fishermen with poles tossed into the water.
The other half of the trail is on a smooth, sandy, and gravelly surface that leads all the way out to the end of the jetty.
Boca Chita Trail
- Distance: 0.8 miles
- Type of Trail: Loop
- Elevation Gain: 3 feet
- Difficulty: Easy
This nature trail is only accessible by boat. From Convoy Point to the island of Boca Chita Key, you’ll need to paddle a sea kayak, jet a boat, or maneuver a sailboat about 11 miles through the ocean.
Once you reach the island – the signature lighthouse will clue you in to your arrival – you’ll see the nature trail that winds around the outskirts.
You’ll be walking through the thin throng of palms that trace the outline of the island while getting treated to views of the sparkling Atlantic. There is something so thrilling about walking on a little piece of land way out in the middle of the ocean. All you can see in the distance is water, water, and more water. And maybe Miami in the far distance on a clear day!
While you’re on the island, take the time to explore every inch. Don’t just walk the nature trail! Stop by the beach and peruse the array of shells, sponges, conch, starfish, crabs, birds, and rays. Walk through the grass and sand and wind through the sparse palms dotting the island. Enjoy a picnic at one of the tables or bring a blanket and pop a squat on the sandy beach or grass. Circle the 65-foot lighthouse and climb it if you desire!
Elliot Key Interoperative Loop
- Distance: 1.1 miles
- Type of Trail: Loop
- Elevation Gain: 6 feet
- Difficulty: Easy
Elliot Key is 7 miles from Convoy Point, so visiting this island and hiking this trail will require a boat.
On this route, visitors will get to read informational signs on the history of the area as they wander through the island. You’ll walk from the campground to the bay, onto a boardwalk, and through a forest. Views are slim, but you’ll get to see wildlife.
Elliot Key is the largest island in Biscayne so take the time to stroll around and wander through every part of the island. Picnic near the marina, fish from the dock, and snorkel in the shallow clear blue waters.
Adams Key Loop
- Distance: 1 mile
- Type of Trail: Loop
- Elevation Gain: 6 feet
- Difficulty: Easy
Adams Key is about 8 miles out to sea from Convoy Point. Just like Boca Chita and Elliot Keys, you will need a boat to access this island. Adams Key isn’t as popular as Boca Chita and Elliot Keys but this can add to its allure.
If you choose to hike this primitive, densely-wooded trail that circles the island, be aware that the path can get a little overgrown and become infested with thick clouds of mosquitoes.
While it may not be as charming or enticing as the other islands in the area, many pick this island to get away from other visitors, explore the fish-flooded lagoons, and launch paddle boards to explore the surrounding keys.
Where to Stay Near Biscayne National Park
Lodging (Inside the Park)
There is no lodging inside Biscayne National Park.
Lodging (Outside the Park)
- Garden Inn Homestead – budget
- TownePlace Suites by Marriot Miami Homestead – mid-range
- Holiday Inn Express – luxury
Camping
The park’s two campgrounds are located on islands and are only reachable by boat.
To camp on Elliot Key, you must bring your own boat or get dropped off. Campsites are available on a first-come first-served basis. There are restrooms with sinks and cold showers, picnic tables, and grills. Fresh drinking water is sometimes available.
To camp on Boca Chita Key, you must bring your own boat or get dropped off. Campsites are available on a first-come first-served basis. There are toilets, waterfront views, picnic tables, grills, and a grassy camping area.
Long Pine Key Campground is not located inside the park, but if you don’t want to camp on one of the islands and you want to still be close to the park, this is a great option.
Getting Around Biscayne
Access the park with a vehicle to Dante Fascell Visitor Center. This is the only vehicle-accessible area in the park.
To reach the rest of the park, which is all water and islands, you will need to launch a paddle craft, charter a boat, or take a guided tour. This is the best way to see Biscayne National Park!
When to Visit Biscayne
Biscayne National Park sits in a subtropical climate which ensures year-round mild weather and an abundance of sunshine. Therefore, the park is open all year. Weather permitting, boat tours and excursions depart daily.
Here is a breakdown of the season patterns and the pros and cons of visiting each.
Summer
Summer is hot, humid, and rainy. High temperatures are often in the 90s throughout most of the season and weather can be unpredictable due to it being hurricane season. Trips to the Florida National Parks are often difficult to plan in the summer because of the frequent hurricanes.
That being said, as long as the weather behaves, summer can be a great time to cool off from the hot weather and get wet since most of the park is underwater. And the days are longer so you can extend your outdoor activities well into the evening.
Fall
Fall can still be hot and rainy. Temperatures are often in the 80s during the day.
Hurricane season doesn’t technically end until November, so heavy rain and wind can still be an issue, making it difficult to plan a trip. But the weather isn’t as excruciatingly hot as it is in the summer.
Winter
Winter is considered “high season” in South Florida. Visitors flock to Florida to escape their state’s crummy weather and enter a sunny paradise. The weather is mild, and the rain and bugs are at bay.
A con to venturing into Biscayne in the winter would be that you could experience cloudy water clarity. Weather can get a little “cool” although 70s are still normal throughout the season. It can sometimes be too chilly to jet in a boat or dive underwater, and the clarity of the water might not be as crystal as it is during the summer. The days are also a lot shorter so outdoor activities often have to be cut short.
Spring
Spring is similar to winter where the high temperatures remain in the 70s for the most part. Rain doesn’t really become an issue until late May or early June when thunderstorms and hurricanes begin.
See where Biscayne ranks in my Florida National Parks Ranked Best to Worst!
Best Things to Do in Biscayne National Park
Since there is only one official hike in the whole park that doesn’t require boarding a boat, I am going to share with you the best things to do in Biscayne National Park that are on the water.
Biscayne National Park Institute is one of the authorized NPS concessionaires inside the National Park. They offer a variety of experiences tailored to every level of adventurer even down to the casual observer or wildlife enthusiast. Climb aboard one of their U.S. Coast Guard-certified boats and cruise through Biscayne Bay, explore islands, paddle the mangroves, seagrass meadows, and lagoons, sail the Bay, or snorkel the reefs and shipwrecks.
That being said, you can certainly launch your own boat or hire a private charter to take you to the various bays, lagoons, and islands.
No matter how you get there, these are some of the fun things you should do while you’re at Biscayne!
Snorkel or Scuba Dive in the Coral Reefs and Shipwrecks
Did you know only 5% of the Atlantic Ocean has been explored by humans? The other 95% is a complete mystery to mankind. The ocean is wider and deeper than we can even comprehend, and it is filled with creatures and flora that fly high above our imaginations. A majority of the ocean is unmapped, unobserved, and unknown.
Sound exciting? Take a dive and see what you can discover!
Snorkeling and scuba diving are definitely the finest ways to detect underwater marine life. Whether you hover at the surface with a snorkel peeking at the colorful coral reefs or venture into the ocean’s depths scouring two-century-old shipwrecks, you will get a front-row seat to the magical underwater world that is the enigmatic Atlantic Ocean.
Best Snorkeling in Biscayne National Park: 🤿
- Boca Chita Key
- Elliot Key
- Maritime Heritage Trail
- Coral reef patches in the open ocean
Explore One (Or Three) Atlantic Islands
Every ideal Biscayne National Park itinerary contains a trip to one of the islands! Island hopping in the Atlantic is thrilling because you not only get to explore remote keys that few get to see but you get a chance to walk on the mere 5% of the park that is on land.
The two most popular islands to visit are Boca Chita Key and Elliot Key.
Saunter through the nature trails on each key, have a picnic, drop a fishing pole in the water, snorkel the shallow areas around the mangroves to spy juvenile sea life, coral, and sponges, and climb the infamous lighthouse on Boca Chita.
Paddle Boarding or Kayaking Through Mangroves or Lagoons
Paddling is another great way to gain a front-row seat to some of the marine life action. While you won’t be going underwater (though you can choose to get out and snorkel if you’re not on a tour), you can paddle through shallow mangrove tunnels and lagoons. Marine life like birds, manatees, sea turtles, and fish, both below and above the water, on the surface and on the trees, will probably want to show off while you paddle.
Biscayne National Park boasts one of the longest contiguous stretches of mangrove shoreline left on the United States’ eastern shoreline. Mangroves are home to birds, tree crabs, juvenile fish, the mangrove snake, and rare and endangered plant species. Jones Lagoon’s clear shallow waters are home to marine life like baby sharks, dolphins, sea turtles, sting rays, coral, and jellyfish.
No matter where you paddle, you are sure to get an up-close-and-personal experience with some of nature’s rarest species.
Want to plan an epic road trip to see all three Florida National Parks – Everglades, Biscayne, and Dry Tortugas? Read my guide!
What to Explore Around Biscayne
If you’re visiting Biscayne National Park, I’d highly recommend adding these spots to your itinerary:
- Everglades National Park
- Dry Tortugas National Park
- Florida Keys
