Biscayne National Park Hiking and Boating Guide
Welcome to the Biscayne National Park Hiking and Boating Guide
Here you will find information on hiking trails for day hikes and backcountry exploration, biking paths, and wilderness areas of interest for hikers.
Here you will find information on hiking trails for day hikes and backcountry exploration, biking paths, and wilderness areas of interest for hikers.
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Boating
Boating is the perfect way to explore Biscayne National Park. With your boat you can enjoy the protected waters of Biscayne Bay, you can travel to the northernmost Florida Keys, and you can visit and explore the beautiful living coral reefs. And, your access to all of these magnificent resources is limited only by your available time and your skills as a boat operator.
Your skills as a boat operator are of primary importance while you are boating in the park to both ensure your safety and to protect our fragile resources.
Boating Tips
- Know boating's "Rules of the Road" and always keep Boating Safety in mind.
- Have and use the Nautical Chart for the area you are in.
- NOAA Chart 11451 covers the waters of Biscayne National Park and is available from the Florida National Parks and Monuments Association's Online Bookstore (Parks/Camping Topic area).
- Always comply with Slow Speed Zones.
- Watch the water depth and avoid Running Aground.
- Use Mooring Buoys when they are available.
- Most of the waters in Biscayne National Park are very shallow and knowing the tides is very important.
Boating Safety
- Don't drink and drive your boat
- No sitting on bow and gunwales while underway
- While towing water skiers or rafts, the person being towed must be wearing a life jacket and the vessel must have a competent observer in addition to the boat operator
- Always maintain proper lookout
- Operate at a safe speed
- When you see a vessel flying a divers down or an alpha flag, maintain at least a 100-foot distance
- Remember to observe boating's "Rules of the Road"
- Attend a Safe Boating Course offered by the local U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary or U.S. Power Squadron chapter
Safety equipment can save lives and allow you to relax and enjoy your time on the water. Contact your nearest U.S. Coast Guard Station about receiving a free brochure. Also, local chapters of U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary perform courtesy boat inspections at many marinas.
Required Equipment
- Life jacket s (1 per person in the correct size) All children under 6 years old on vessels less than 26 feet must be wearing an appropriate size life jacket while underway
- Throwable type IV flotation device (vessels over 16 feet)
- Fire extinguisher
- Visual distress kit
- Sound making device (horn or whistle)
- Dive flag (if snorkeling or diving)
- Anchor and line
- Radio (with US Coast Guard hailing and distress CH 16)
- Chart of area
- First aid kit
A series of boat speed regulatory zones surrounds most of the Florida coast; these zones were designed for the protection of the endangered manatee. There are approximately 2,000 manatees remaining in the wild and a major threat to their survival is accidental boat strikes. Enforcing reduced boat speeds in areas frequented by these slow-moving mammals is one way to ensure their survival.
Within Biscayne National Park, there is a year-round slow speed zone that runs from Black Point south to Turkey Point. This zone extends from the mainland and out 1000 feet. It includes the boat channels at Black Point Park and Homestead Bayfront Park. In addition, the marinas at Black Point and Homestead Bayfront Parks are year-round idle speed / no wake zones.
Also, Biscayne National Park has implemented a slow speed zone in Biscayne Bay from Sands Cut to Coon Point. The zone was established after many months of public input in order to provide for public safety and protection of recreational resources in this high visitor use area.
White pencil buoys mark this area along the bayside shoreline of Sands and Elliott Keys. The buoys roughly follow the western edge of the shoal area, far enough off shore to allow vessels entering the zone ample time to come off plane before reaching the congested area popular for anchoring, swimming and other recreational pursuits.
How slow is slow?
- Idle Speed, No Wake � proceeding at the minimum speed necessary to maintain steerage of the vessel while producing no wake
- Slow Speed, Minimum Wake � off plane, the hull fully settled into the water, with no wake or minimum wake.
Below the crystal clear waters of Biscayne Bay lies an important and fragile world, the seagrass meadows. These communities are critically important to the health and vitality of the waters of Biscayne National Park and are considered one of the most productive ecosystems in the world. Seagrass meadows provide a protected nursery and foraging area for numerous marine species and their extensive root systems help stabilize sediments on the bay bottom, helping to keep the water clear.
Seagrasses are marine flowering plants with true roots, leaves and stems, akin to the grasses found in most lawns. They produce tiny flowers, spiny seeds and energy through photosynthesis and grow completely submerged. The productivity of the seagrass meadows is extremely high. Seagrasses from dense mats on the bay bottom providing ideal grazing for manatees, sea turtles, sea urchins and some parrot fish. In addition, algae and small sponges grow on the leaves and provide forage for many other organisms. These areas are also a nursery for recreationally and commercially important shrimp, spiny lobster and many fish species.
One threat to the health of seagrass beds in Biscayne National Park is damage caused by grounded vessels. Park staff has recorded over 700 vessel groundings since 1995 and this number comprises only an estimated 10-20% of all groundings in the park. When a vessel runs aground the propellers normally cut or uproot seagrasses, leaving a "scar." The damage can take years to recover and in areas of high currents, the seagrass may never grow back. The hundreds of prop scars running through local seagrass beds offer a graphic reminder of the extensive scope of the damage being done.
Attempting to "power off" using the boats engine can destroy your engine by pulling sediment into your cooling system. In addition, attempting to power off blows large holes in the bay bottom; it is also illegal and can subject you to severe fines and civil liability.
Also beneath the park's waters are the living coral reefs. The dramatic beauty and brightly colored fish that frequent these area garner most visitors' attention. However, they are just as fragile as the seagrass meadows and are also damaged by boat groundings. Even the hardbottom areas with little sediment are full of life and are just as important as the seagrass meadows and coral reefs. These places are home to soft corals, sponges, and numerous other invertebrates (including the tasty spiny lobster). The majority of the park's half million annual visitors are boaters. Without your help and care, the wonderful resources protected within the park will be lost.
Coral Reef Safety
- To prevent damage to underwater resources and to your boat, come to the park prepared!
- Learn how to read and use a nautical chart
- Refer to your chart prior to leaving the dock
- Know what the tides are
- Learn how to use your electronic navigation equipment
- Learn how to read the water and wear polarized sunglasses. Water color indicates water depth and/or bottom conditions and polarized lenses reduce glare and improve visibility.
- Brown, brown, run aground Avoid brown areas! This color indicates that reef formations or seagrass beds are close to the surface.
- White, white, you just might Use Caution! Sand bars and rubble areas may be much shallower than they appear.
- Green, green, nice and clean Green waters are generally safe for shallow draft boats, larger deeper draft vessels should exercise caution.
- Blue, blue, cruise on through Clear sailing in deep water areas.
You ran aground, now what?
- Attempting to power off can cause significant damage to your vessel and to the living bottom communities. If you do run aground or if you venture into shallow water and start stirring up mud in your wake STOP!
- Turn your motor OFF, do not attempt to power off
- Trim your motor up
- Try to push or pole your boat off, following the route in
- Wait for high tide in order to drift free
- Call for commercial assistance on VHF Channel 16
Mooring buoys help preserve the fragile coral reef ecosystem by preventing anchors from striking the coral and anchor ropes or chains from chafing or breaking coral. They also provide a convenient way to secure your boat. Mooring buoys are located adjacent to some of the more popular reefs in the park. Some of these reefs are very shallow so do not attempt to motor across a reef to reach a mooring buoy.
Mooring buoys are hard, white plastic spheres about 18" in diameter. Lobster trap buoys are smaller Styrofoam balls, many of which are painted with bright colors.
Use caution and idle speed when approaching the buoy. Look for and avoid shallow water near the buoy. Watch carefully for swimmers and snorkelers. To secure your boat to a mooring buoy, pick up the floating line and pass your bow line through the loop. Secure both ends of your bow line to your bow cleat. DO NOT put the loop around your cleat. This increases the wear on the mooring system and increases the likelihood of pulling the mooring anchor free and of damaging your boat. In rough weather or for larger boats, increase the length of your line.
Inspect the mooring buoy your boat is tied to, you are still responsible for your vessel. Dive or snorkel the mooring line to be certain the mooring is holding. Note: Biscayne National Park assumes no liability for the use of the mooring buoys Please report any problems, such as broken or frayed lines to Biscayne National Park: 305-230-7275, ext. 0.
When anchoring near reefs, place your anchor in clean sandy areas downwind from the reef. This will keep the anchor line from being dragged across the reef. Placing an anchor in the reef can cause great damage to the reef and also result in a substantial fine. Use 5 to 7 times the length of rope as the depth of the water; in rough seas use more line. Snorkel or dive to check that the anchor and line are secure and not touching any coral.
Our national park system was established to preserve and protect the natural and cultural treasures of our nation. Do your part to help.
Florida State fishing regulations and licensing requirements apply and are enforced within the park.
Watercraft
Effective 20 April 2000 *** Personal Watercraft Use Prohibited In Waters of Biscayne National Park
National Park Service Director Robert Stanton has announced that a rule that prohibits the use of personal watercraft (commonly referred to as jet skis, waverunners, sea-doos, etc.) in most national park areas, including all of Biscayne National Park, will take effect 20 April 2000.
"The National Park Service is charged with protecting this nation's natural and cultural heritage while providing for the public's enjoyment of the places entrusted to our care," Stanton said. "Because of this mandate, we adopted a prudent approach to managing personal watercraft that protects park values, sensitive natural areas, and plants & animals, and reduces conflicts with park visitors who seek solitude and traditional recreational activities.
| Trail | Length | Description |
| Convoy Point | 0.25 mile round trip | Easy walking. Boardwalk path takes visitors to the end of the jetty. |
| Elliott Key | 0.75 mile loop trail | Easy walk. Self-guided nature trail tour across the island. |
| Elliott Key | 7 miles | Easy walking. Self-guided tour across the island north to south. |
| Adams Key | 0.25 mile loop trail | Easy walking. Self-guided nature loop tail. Day use only. |
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