With 95 percent of its 100,000 acres underwater, it's easy to understand why Biscayne National Park is a haven for marine recreation. This nationally significant marine ecosystem, with mangrove shorelines, a shallow bay, undeveloped islands, and living coral reefs, has been preserved and protected since 1968.

On the eastern edge of Biscayne Bay are the northernmost Florida Keys. These stunning emerald islands, fringed with mangroves, contain tropical hardwood forests in their interiors. The establishment of the park protected these islands from planned development, allowing them to remain a reminder of the area's past.

On the Atlantic side of the islands lie the coral reefs, the most diverse and beautiful of the underwater communities. The reefs support a kaleidoscope of life. Fish, plants, and other animals abound in all the colors of the rainbow.

Biscayne Bay's shoreline is lined with a deep-green forest of mangroves. These trees, with their complex system of prop roots, help stabilize the shoreline and provide shelter for animals, birds and marine life. Their leaves become a vital part of the food chain when they fall into the waters.

The lush sea-grass beds found throughout Biscayne Bay are another major part of the food chain. The Florida spiny lobster depends on this rich food chain and the bay has been designated a sanctuary where the lobsters are protected year-round. Shrimp, fish, sea turtles, and manatees also utilize these productive underwater pastures.

The parks protected resources are beautiful, diverse, and productive; yet they are also fragile. Fish and birds can be injured and killed by trash in the water. Boats that have run aground can tear up sea grasses. Touching coral may open the way for reef diseases. Carelessness can cause great damage to the resources of Biscayne National Park. Forethought and care can preserve and protect these unique resources for the future.

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General Information

Visitation

The peak visitor seasons are January to April and July to September.

Location

Homestead, Florida

Address

Biscayne National Park
P.O. Box 1369
Homestead, FL 33090-1369

Telephone

(305) 230-7275

Operating Hours & Seasons

The Convoy Point Headquarters is open 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. The visitor center here is open 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Both are closed on Christmas.

Climate & Recommended Clothing

Biscayne National Park is in a subtropical climate, featuring hot, humid summers and mild winters with lots of sunshine. Brief afternoon thunderstorms are common in summer, while winter is usually drier.

The sun can be a delight and a curse at the same time. Protect yourself from overexposure by using sunscreen lotions and by wearing shirts and hats. Shirts are also recommended while snorkeling; the water may seem refreshing, but the sun is still burning. If you burn easily, remain in the shade between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.

Directions

From the Florida Turnpike

Take the Homestead extension of the Florida Turnpike south to Exit 2, Campbell Drive. Turn right off the exit ramp and continue east to the next intersection, Kingman Road. Turn right and continue to SW 328th Street, also known as North Canal Drive. Turn left and continue for 6 miles to the end of the road, the park entrance is on the left.

From U.S. 1

From the north, follow U.S. 1 south to Homestead. Turn left on SW 328th Street (North Canal Drive), and continue for 6 miles to the end of the road, the park entrance is on the left.

From the south, follow U.S. 1 north to Homestead. After the first light after the Florida Turnpike entrance, turn right on SW 328th Street (North Canal Drive). Continue on North Canal Drive for 6 miles to the end of the road, the park entrance is on the left.

Transportation

Air
Miami International Airport is 25 miles northeast of Homestead.

Automobile
Rental cars are available at the airport and in the towns near the park.

Bus
Trailways offers bus service to Miami and Homestead. There are no scheduled bus tours or public transportation to or within the park.

Train
Amtrak offers service to Miami.

Fees & Costs

There is no entrance fee to the park. There is a $15 ($7.50 per night for holders of Golden Age or Golden Access Passports) docking fee for overnight stays at either Boca Chita Key or Elliott Key harbors.

Golden Eagle Passport

The Golden Eagle Passport is an entrance pass to any National Park, monument, historical site, recreation area, and national wildlife refuge that charges an entrance fee. It is a great convenience for those who plan on visiting several different areas that charge special fees. It is valid for one year from the purchase date. A Golden Eagle Passport may be purchased for $50 at any National Park Service entrance fee area or by mail. To order by mail, send check or money order (no cash, please) to:

National Park Service
1100 Ohio Drive, SW
Room 138
Washington, DC 20242
Attention: Golden Eagle Passport

Where entry is by private vehicle, the Golden Eagle Passport will admit the passholder as well as any passengers. Where entry by private vehicle is not possible, the pass will admit the passholder, spouse, children and parents.

The Golden Eagle Passport will not reduce use fees, such as those for camping, swimming, parking, boat launching, or cave tours. It covers entrance fees only.

Golden Age Passport

The Golden Age Passport is a lifetime entrance pass for those United States residents 62 years or older. These may be purchased at any National Park Service entrance fee area for a one-time processing fee of $10. The Golden Age Passport cannot be purchased by mail or telephone. Proof of age and citizenship or permanent residence must be shown at the time of purchase.

The Golden Age Passport will admit the passholder and any passengers in a private vehicle. When entrance is not via private vehicle, the pass will admit the passholder as well as children, spouse, and parents.

The Golden Age Pass grants a 50 percent discount to the holder on any federal use fees charged for things such as camping, swimming, parking, boat launching, or tours. It does not, however, reduce the price of special recreation permit fees or fees for concessions.

Golden Access Passport

The Golden Access Passport is a free entrance pass to any national park, monument, historic site, recreation area, and national wildlife refuge for those who are blind or permanently disabled. The Golden Access passport may be obtained at any National Park Service entrance fee area. Proof of a medically determined disability and eligibility for receiving benefits under federal law is necessary at purchase.

The Golden Access Passport will admit the passholder and any passengers in a private vehicle. Where entrance is not by vehicle, the pass will admit the passholder, spouse, children and parents.

The Golden Access Passport also provides a 50 percent discount on any federal use fees charged for services and facilities. It does not cover special recreation permit fees or fees charged for concessions.

All passes described above are non-transferable.

Facilities & Opportunities

To see Biscayne National Park, which is 95 percent water, one must travel by boat. This will give you unlimited access to the park's resources. Boaters should use NOAA Chart 11451 for safe boating operations in park waters. Nautical charts for the area can be purchased at marinas and boating supply outlets in the area or by calling Maptech at (800) 839-5551 or visit their website at www.maptech.com. The parks concessionaire at Convoy Point offers park tours, snorkel and dive trips, island adventures, canoe rentals, and special programs on the water. Call Biscayne National Underwater Park Inc. at 305-230-1100 for schedules, rates, and reservations.

Convoy Point is the only place in the park that is accessible by car. A visitor center, concession operation, picnic area, and grills are located here. Exhibits, video programs, book sales, and information about the park are readily accessible at Convoy Point.

Trails

A boardwalk at Convoy Point takes visitors to the end of the jetty (one-quarter mile round trip). At Boca Chita Key, there is a one-quarter mile loop nature trail. There is a three-quarter mile loop nature trail that takes visitors across Elliott Key. A second trail, 7 miles long, provides access to north and south ends of that island. Adams Key, for day-use only, has a one-quarter mile loop nature trail. The keys are only accessible by private boat or occasional concession-operated trips. Call 305-230-1100 for more on their offerings.

Lodging & camping

There is no lodging in Biscayne National Park. Homestead and Florida City have numerous hotels and motels. Campgrounds are available on Elliott Key and Boca Chita Key. Both islands have picnic areas, grills, rest rooms, and showers. Boca Chita Key has no fresh water. Reservations are not required or accepted, and there are no fees charged. Backcountry camping is not allowed in the park. There is no trash pickup on the islands. Please return all trash to the mainland for proper disposal.

Food & Supplies

Food, gas and supplies are available at stores in nearby Homestead and Florida City.

Accessibility

Facilities at Convoy Point are wheelchair accessible. The crew will provide needed assistance for wheel chair access to glass-bottom boat tours.

Pets

Pets are only allowed in the developed areas of Convoy Point and Elliott Key and must be on a kept on a leash 6 feet or less in length. Except those used to assist individuals with disabilities, pets are prohibited on the islands, in the surrounding shallow waters (less than 3 feet deep), or on boats docked at the islands.

Recommended Activities & Park Use

Visitors without boats who want to fully enjoy the park should make reservations on an excursion with the concessionaire, Biscayne National Park Inc. (305-230-1100).

Adjacent Attractions

There is a wide range of activities available in the south Florida area. For additional information contact Tropical Everglades Visitor Association, 160 US Highway 1, Florida City, FL 33034, 1-800-388-9669. You may also contact The Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau, 701 Brickell Avenue, Miami, FL 33131, (305) 539-3000.

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History

Cruise into lower Biscayne Bay and the dichotomy of the horizon calls out. To the north, Miami's skyline juts forcefully into the Florida stratosphere, evidence of a booming international city. To the south, the landscape drastically changes to abundant mangroves, mahoganies, palms, and wildlife - a vastly different world.

There's basically no development here, save for a nuclear power plant and a landfill. Ironically, were it not for these two - and a few other outrageous plans - there would be no Biscayne National Park.

Tequesta Indians were the first inhabitants of this region, setting up camps on the coral-rock islands, surviving on fish, turtles, manatees, small mammals, and wild plants. Having survived for thousands of years here, the Indian population was decimated in only three centuries by European exploration that began in the 1500s.

During the 1800s, Bahamian and European settlers farmed the keys, producing pineapples and limes, among other crops. Even though water was scarce, the farms proved profitable. However, a hurricane at the turn of the century destroyed the pineapple plantations, while limes rotted during prohibition, since they were no longer used in cocktails. Prohibition started a new industry, liquor smuggling, which went the way of the Tequestas, only faster.

In the early 1900s, South Florida's homesteading became enticing, and frustrated farmers abandoned the groves and sold their property to the likes of Dr. John C. Gifford. A respected horticulturist, Gifford subdivided his land and began selling lots to the rich and famous. Once considered an advocate of nature, Gifford would later come under scrutiny for his backing of the Everglades drainage in 1911, and the push to connect the upper keys of Biscayne Bay with the mainland in 1929.

That push would be negated in the turbulent 1960s - long before "environmentalism" became clichŽ - when concerned citizens turned the tides on burgeoning commercial development of lower Biscayne Bay.

In 1960, Dade County politicians authorized the transformation of Elliott Key into the city of Islandia. There were several strategies to connect the new well-to-do city to the mainland, all of which would call for one causeway or another zigzagging across Biscayne Bay.

Soil for the causeways was going to come from the dredging of a proposed 40-foot channel between the Atlantic Ocean at Caesar Creek to an area north of Mangrove Point on the mainland. This channel was to accommodate huge vessels headed to the planned Seadade oil refinery that would be built adjacent to the developing Turkey Point nuclear plant. Proposed by Florida Power & Light in 1964, the power plant had many opponents who worried about warm discharge water being released into the bay and its impact on marine life.

At about the same time, an evolving garbage dump was overtaking Black Point, north of the plant, and the Saga Bay Company was planning an upscale shoreline community near Old Cutler. "Dade's Frontier," as locals called the countys southern wilderness, was fast becoming Dade's frontline in the battle between conservationists and profiteers.

Advocates for the park multiplied as each proposal became public. Those on the bandwagon included Izaac Walton League, Representative Lloyd Miller, and vacuum cleaner magnate Herbert Hoover Jr., who contributed $100,000 and a company plane to ferry policymakers between Washington, D.C., and Miami.

By 1968, it appeared the conservationists were winning, even as the newly created Islandia City government began bulldozing a 120-foot-wide highway, called Elliott Key Boulevard. If Islandia were started, many individuals believed, it wouldn't be stopped. This spurred fervent revolt, as well as a legal battle between Islandia and Dade County, which was suddenly listening to the concerned electorate. The campaigning worked, and by October, Congress designated Biscayne a National Monument. Twelve years and several acquisitions later, it became a Biscayne National Park.

Islandia's highway and the causeways came to a dead end. The oil refinery and the planned Saga Bay community sagged. Turkey Point had its cooling-water canals and the dump had its watchdogs. Dade's Frontier remained just that, becoming the only county in America with two national parks (Florida Evergaldes is the other).

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Reservation Information

Camping

Biscayne National Park has campgrounds on Boca Chita Key and Elliott Key. These are open year-round and operate on a first-come, first-served basis. Boat transportation must be arranged to these islands.

Boat Docking

There is no fee to enter Biscayne National Park, however there is a charge for overnight docking. At either Boca Chita Key or Elliott Key Harbors, the overnight docking fee is $15 per night ($7.50 per night for holders of Golden Age or Golden Access Passports).

Call the parks headquarters for more information about reservations at (305) 230-7275.

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