A playground for paddlers, boaters, and anglers in urban Miami-Dade, Biscayne Bay is a shallow estuary bounded by barrier islands and coral reefs, stretching from the Oleta River to the top of the Florida Keys. Protected by both federal status (in Biscayne National Park) and state status as the Biscayne Bay Aquatic Preserve, it formed between ridges as sea levels rose, and now covers more than 63,000 acres.
Nearby: Coral Gables, Homestead, Key Biscayne, Key Largo, Miami
Trails and Parks along Biscayne Bay
Bear Cut Preserve- On the shores of the Atlantic Ocean at Crandon Park on Key Biscayne, Bear Cut Nature Preserve is a precious sliver of natural oceanfront in Miami with both hiking and bike paths
Biscayne National Park- Biscayne National Park protects the mangrove coastline of south Miami-Dade County along with living coral reefs and a handful of barrier islands that barely managed to escape development.
Cape Florida Nature Trail- At Cape Florida State Park, the 1.5 mile nature trail loop bisects the natural areas of the park between the lighthouse and marina and shows you views of Stiltsville in Biscayne Bay
Cape Florida State Park- A popular destination for sun worshipers, Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park is an easy getaway for most folks in the Miami area, with a long strand of beachfront complimenting trails along Biscayne Bay and a historic lighthouse at the point.
Crandon Park- Opened in 1949, Crandon Park - which takes up a commanding portion of Key Biscayne - is packed with family fun. The biggest draw is the beach, which spans two miles of oceanfront with few waves.
Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden- Established in 1938 as one of the world’s largest collections of tropical plants, Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden is an integral part of the history of Florida botany and of Coral Gables.
Matheson Hammock Park- A tropical retreat along the coast of Coral Gables, Matheson Hammock Park has two distinct sides: a wild slice of the ancient Miami Hammock and a waterfront with a man-made atoll on Biscayne Bay
Oleta River State Park- Camping cabins and mountain biking in Miami? Oleta River State Park is a surprising gem amid the bustle of this dense urban area, providing both beach access and paddlers a place to explore the mangrove islands of the Oleta River and Biscayne Bay.
The Barnacle Historic State Park- In 1891, Commodore Ralph Middleton Munroe built his cherished retreat, The Barnacle, in the dense jungle of the Miami Hammock. The Barnacle Historic State Park preserves that tiny sliver of history surrounded by urban Miami.
The Deering Estate- The Deering Estate at Cutler, a Miami-Dade county park, preserves both the historic buildings and a remnant of the Addison Hammock, a pine rockland along the old road following Cutler Ridge.
Vizcaya Museum & Gardens- The grandiose home of industrialist James Deering may be the star attraction, but the gardens of Vizcaya, set along Biscayne Bay, rival those of any formal estate.
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