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Hike Bike Paddle Camp Florida with authors Sandra Friend and John Keatley as your guides

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Fountain in tropical pond

Crandon Park

With two miles of oceanfront on Biscayne Bay, Crandon Park melds a classic Miami beach experience with an immersion in nature.

Biscayne Bay  |  Miami
( 25.709548, -80.155929 )      

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Opened in 1949, Crandon Park exists thanks to a far-sighted bequest by the Matheson family. It sticks in our collective memories as the location of the original zoo in Miami.

Today, it’s still packed with family fun and protects a large swath of Key Biscayne. With two miles of oceanfront on Biscayne Bay and access to hiking trails, it makes for a compelling outdoor destination.

Coconut palms on oceanfront Oceanfront and palms at Crandon Park


Resources

Resources for exploring the area

South Florida Explorers Guide book cover 50 Hikes in South Florida book cover Hikers Guide to the Sunshine State book cover

Disclosure: As authors and affiliates, we receive earnings when you buy these through our links. This helps us provide public information on this website.


Overview

Location: Key Biscayne
Trailhead: 25.709548, -80.155929
Address: 6747 Crandon Blvd, Key Biscayne
Fees: $5 weekdays, $7 weekends
Restroom: Numerous locations
Land manager: Miami-Dade County
Phone: 305-365-2320

Open sunrise to sunset. Check beach conditions before planning on a swim. No floatation devices permitted.

Fountain at Crandon Park


Directions

 
From the intersection of US 41 (Tamiami Trail) and US 1 (Brickell Ave) in Miami, drive south on US 1 for 1.5 miles. Turn left onto the Rickenbacker Causeway, the toll road to Key Biscayne. Once you’ve paid the toll, continue another 4 miles into Crandon Park.

About the Park

Since the park opened, there has always been something for the kids. A classic carousel and an old-time outdoor roller rink now are the centerpieces, along with a splash pool and other activities.

Playground Playground under the palms


For anyone who grew up in or visited Miami before 1980, the Crandon Park Zoo is part of their childhood memories. When it moved, it became the Miami Metrozoo.

Ibis and old zoo cage Ibis roam outside an old cage in the former zoo


No children? No worries. Golf and tennis are also a part of the park. You can rent a kayak or bike the paved trails. Or simply relax. Cabana rentals are available.

Art deco cabana building A historic building with ocean-facing cabanas


The biggest draw is the beach, with two miles of oceanfront. It’s a gentle beach with few waves, thanks to an offshore sandbar preventing big swells from the Atlantic from coming ashore.

Bikes at beach Bikes at the beach


For hikers, find your way to the northernmost corner of the park, where Bear Cut Preserve surrounds the Marjorie Stoneman Douglas Nature Center.

Paved trails and gentle footpaths show off the delights of this natural portion of Crandon Park, including a fossil mangrove reef.

Bear Cut Preserve

Bear Cut Preserve

Protecting natural habitats at the north end of Crandon Park, Bear Cut Preserve offers a different perspective on the shoreline of Key Biscayne, with footpaths and bike paths for exploration.


Explore More!

Slideshow

See our photos of Crandon Park


Nearby Adventures

More worth exploring while you’re in this area.

Cape Florida State Park

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.

Vizcaya

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.

Palms along an atoll

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.

Fairchild Tropical Gardens

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.

Official Website

Category: Beach Hikes, Beaches, Biking, Canoe & Kayak Rentals, County Parks, Hikes, Launch Points, Nature Centers, Nature Trails, Paddling, Parks, Paved Bike Trails, Southeast Florida, TrailsTag: Accessible, Birding, Biscayne Bay, Coral Gables, Easy Hikes, Family-Friendly, Key Biscayne, Mangroves, Tropical Forests, Wildlife Viewing

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Well worn path through a wet pine flatwoods landscape

DuPuis Loop Trail

DuPuis Loop Trail
Bike along bike path in greenway

East Coast Greenway Stuart

East Coast Greenway Stuart
Nature trail in pine-palm forest

Gomez Preserve

Gomez Preserve
Hiker in red against mangroves on boardwalk

Peck Lake Park

Peck Lake Park

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