Biscayne National Park Sights Guide
Welcome to the Biscayne National Park Sights Guide
It is our intent to provide information that will be timely and of assistance in planning a trip, vacation or obtaining data about this park
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There are a number of things to do while enjoying Biscayne National park. These activities include but are not limited to boating, birding, camping, canoeing, fishing, hiking, photography, sailing, scuba diving, snorkeling, swimming, water skiing and wildlife watching.
Biscayne National Park is a wonderful place to visit. The mangrove shoreline, crystal clear waters, emerald isles, and living coral reefs attract near 500,000 visitors a year. Most of these visitors enter the park by private boat. They fish, cruise, and enjoy the waters of the park. They picnic and camp on the islands. And with snorkel or dive tanks, they explore the exciting kaleidoscope of life which is the living coral reefs. But boating in the park can be difficult — to protect yourself and the park's resources requires skill and knowledge. To learn more, see the Boating Page.
For a detailed list of Biscayne hiking possibilities, with locations and trails, see the Hiking Page. Hiking trails of varying length from .25 mile to 7 miles and are easy hikes.
Join a National Park Service ranger to explore Biscayne's natural and cultural history. Join a ranger to learn about the forces that once shaped this landscape - and continue to do so, see the Calendar Page. Ranger / Naturalist programs include scheduled talks. Programs are provided by park naturalists year-round. These are just some of the ways to discover the diversity of the scenic, natural and historic wonders that comprise Biscayne National Park.
Park Headquarters and the visitor center are located at Convoy Point and are open year round.
Birding
A Sanctuary for Birds. Birds are drawn to the bay year round. Each follows its own instincts for survival. Brown pelicans patrol the surface of the bay, diving to catch their prey. White ibis meander across exposed mud flats, probing for small fish and crustaceans.
Large colonies of little blue herons, snowy egrets and other wading birds nest seasonally in the protected refuge of the Arsenicker Keys. The extremely shallow waters surrounding these mangrove islands in the south bay are especially well suited for foraging.
Ask a ranger about the best birding spots during your stay in the park.
The Bay
"The water of Biscayne Bay is exceedingly clear. In no part can one fail to clearly distinguish objects on the bottom...," biologist Hugh Smith wrote in 1895. Today the shallow waters of this tropical lagoon are still remarkably transparent. They serve as a blue-green tinted window to a world of starfish, sponges, crabs, sea urchins, fish of all sizes and kinds, and hundreds of other marine plants and animals.
The bay is a huge reservoir of natural riches, teeming with unusual, valuable and rare wildlife. It is home for many; temporary refuge and feeding ground for others; birthplace and nursery for still others. It is a benign powerhouse, designed to draw energy from the sun and use it to support a complex and far-reaching web of life.
One unusual animal that depends on this web is the manatee. This gentle blubbery giant visits the bay in winter to graze peacefully on turtle and manatee grasses. It is the water's warmth and ample food supply that attracts this endangered marine mammal.
A History of Abundance. The coastal wilderness of south Florida was the first spot in North America explored by Europeans. Spanish explorer Ponce de Leon sailed across Biscayne Bay in search of the mythical Fountain of Youth in 1513.
Later, travelers like land surveyor Andrew Ellicott recorded the bounty of life in the region. "Fish are abundant," Ellicott wrote in 1799. "[Sea] Turtles are also to be had in plenty; those we took were of three kinds; the loggerhead, hawk-bill, and green."
In the 1800's and early 1900s many settlers of the keys earned their living from the bay. Among then were Key West fishermen who collected fast-growing, "fine quality" bay sponges and sold them.
An Underwater Crossroads. Today commercial and weekend fishermen, snorkelers and boaters still reap bountiful rewards from the bay. The bay's good health is reflected in the number of different kinds of fish--more than 250--that spend part of their lives in it. Many of the fish that dazzle snorkelers and divers on the coral reefs by day feed in the bay at night. And, like the mangrove shoreline, the bay plays a critical role as a fish nursery. The young of many coral reef fish, such as grunts, snappers, and highly prized Spanish mackerel, find food and shelter from big hungry predators in the bay's thick jungle of marine grasses.
Fishing On The Water
When Biscayne National Park was established, fishing was allowed to continued according to Florida state law. Many thousands of people come into the park to fish, either from the shore or by boating out around the islands. The park waters extend several miles offshore to a depth of 60 feet.
The offshore waters of the Florida Straits and the more protected area of Biscayne Bay offer a year round spot for recreation. Saltwater fishing can be enjoyed in all seasons. In the ocean, marlin and sailfish are two popular catches; in the bay, snapper and grouper are caught--Florida fishing license required; you must obey Florida regulations on size, number, season and method of take. You can take stone crabs in season. Blue crabs can be taken year round. Lobsters are protected in the bay and tidal creeks, but they can be taken on the seaward side of the keys during the Florida lobster season. Waterskiing is allowed; skiers should avoid mooring sites and watch for swimmers and divers.
Biscayne is one of the very popular fishing areas for the exciting bonefish. They thrive in the shallow waters and are considered an unequalled sport fish. Bonefish are strong and fast and feed on crabs and clams.
On The Keys
The keys can be reached only by boat. Developed recreation areas and services are limited to a few islands. Boat fuel, supplies and food are not available on any island but are available at mainland marinas. Only Elliott Key has drinking water.
Elliott Key
Free boat docks are located at the Elliott Key Harbor and University Dock. A campground with picnic tables and grills is open on a first come first serve basis. Drinking water, restrooms and showers are nearby. Backcountry camping is allowed by permit only, and popular overnight anchorage sites are located offshore. The island also has a self guiding nature trail.
Adams Key
A free boat dock, picnic area, restrooms and nature trail are available for use during the day.
Boca Chita Key
A free boat dock, picnic are, and restrooms are available. A primitive camping area is on the island. no permit is required. An ornamental lighthouse is open intermittently.
Sands Key
Popular overnight anchorage sites are located offshore.
On The Reefs
Exploring the reefs is best on calm, sunny days. Both the outer reefs, along the park's eastern boundary, and the patch reefs, closer to shore, offer opportunities for snorkeling and diving. Strong currents can occur on the outer reefs. Unless you are experienced, we recommend that you stay on the calmer patch reefs.
The park sells reef guidebooks at the Convoy Point Visitor Center. Mooring buoys are available on some of the patch reefs. Check with a ranger for buoy locations and for more information.
There is much to see and do, the beaches, the mangrove shoreline, the keys, the reefs, birdlife, oceanlife, and wildlife.
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