Experience breathtaking views of the Atlantic Ocean and Biscayne Bay from atop the historic 1825 Cape Florida Lighthouse.
Cape Florida has long served as a beacon for freedom - from Seminole Indians seeking to remain in their Florida home, to runaway slaves and Black Seminoles who secretly gathered before taking safe passage to the British Bahamas. Now it marks a place to relax and enjoy the Florida sunshine on a beach often ranked in the top 10 beaches nationwide.
Cape Florida, or “the Cape of Florida,” was named by explorer Ponce de Leon during the first Spanish expedition to Florida in 1513. Visitors can delve into history on guided tours through the lighthouse and keeper’s cottage or explore the park on foot, on a bicycle or by boat or kayak.
Be sure to stay to see the stunning sunsets over the bay.
Experiences
Bicycling
Bicycle Rentals
Single bicycles may be rented for $9/hour and $15/hour and half
Quad bikes seat 2 + 2 small children in the basket and are available for $20/hour and $33/hour and half
Large quads that seat 4 + 2 small children are available for $30/half-hour and
$48/hour and half
The park has a paved bike path approximately 1.5-miles long and unpaved service roads where you can enjoy easy cycling. You can easily ride a few miles in a loop by routing through the various paths and roadways. The terrain is completely flat. Some paths will take you beneath the trees, and others offer views of Biscayne Bay. If you're lucky, you might spot an eagle ray or manatee. You can rent individual bikes or quad bikes from the park's concession located a few steps from the Lighthouse Cafe. Helmets are highly recommended for all cyclists and Florida law requires helmets for cyclists age 16 and under.
Camping Boat
Visitors are allowed to anchor overnight in No Name Harbor for a fee of $20, per boat, per night. Mooring to the seawall overnight is not permitted. During operating hours, visitors who have paid the overnight fee have access to coin operated laundry machines. Boater's Grill is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
We also have a free pump out for all boats, a picnic shelter and restrooms.
Visitors arriving by boat but not anchoring overnight must pay a $8 entrance fee. The entrance fee and anchoring fee are both collected by honor system.
Fishing
Some of the best shoreline fishing in the region is available from the seawall located along Biscayne Bay. All fishing within the park must conform to regulations concerning size, number, method of capture and season.
A fishing license may be required. More information is available at the Florida Wildlife Commission’s Fishing in Florida.
Hiking
Nature trails are located on the west side of the park. To the north, is a trail through the mangrove wetlands, beginning 100 feet north of The Boater's Grill parking area. A trail through the coastal strand runs from 100 feet east of The Boater's Grill parking area and travels south ending in Area D.
Paddling
Our new launch is available at Beach Access # 1 at the north end of 'Area A.' We have reserved parking spaces directly adjacent to the walkway. Since the portage is several hundred feet, we recommend a boat dolly or an extra helper for your convenience. On the beach, you will notice a 'V-shaped' set of safety floats for your protection. This is the only area on the beach that you are permitted to launch and make land from.
You may also launch from No Name Harbor by lowering your canoe/kayak off the sea wall. However, depending on tidal conditions, there may be a significant drop to the water's surface, providing a difficult launch and loading/recovery scenario. You must portage by hand from the parking lot at 'Boater's Grill,' to the sea wall.
Please arrive early on the weekends as parking fills up quickly. And please remember, you may not tie up to the fishing platforms anywhere in the park; the only beach landing site is at Beach Access #1 in 'Area A.'
Picnicking
18 covered pavilions provide shaded picnicking overlooking the Atlantic Ocean and Biscayne Bay.
Swimming
A mile and a quarter of Atlantic beach is open to swimming. There are no lifeguards, so swim at your own risk. The beach is accessible from access points in areas A, B & C by making any left turn once you enter the park. During the winter, please watch for Portuguese Man-of-War warnings posted at the ranger station.
Walking and Running
Nature trails are located on the west side of the park. To the north, is a trail through the mangrove wetlands, beginning 100 feet north of The Boater's Grill parking area. A trail through the coastal strand runs from 100 feet east of The Boater's Grill parking area and travels south ending in Area D.
Wildlife Viewing
Birds may be seen along the sea wall and the nature trails, depending on the season, weather and migration patterns. The park is home to the Cape Florida Banding Station (CFBS). CFBS partners with the Florida Keys HawkWatch (at Curry Hammock State Park) and Tropical Audubon Society to form the South Florida Bird Observatory.
Many of the neotropical migrants that breed in eastern Canada, the northeastern United States and the mid-Atlantic region use the Atlantic Flyway in fall to reach their winter habitats in the Caribbean Islands and northern South America. Migrant passerines following the eastern Florida coastline southward often funnel through Key Biscayne and land in BBCFSP, a natural oasis in heavily-developed Miami-Dade County. Here, the birds stop to rest, refuel and sometimes find refuge from bad weather before continuing southward. The restored native vegetation provides ample food such as insects and fruit that are essential to build up the fat deposits that fuel the birds on their over-water flights.
Twenty-two mist nets are set up in an area covering approximately ten acres located discreetly within a restored hardwood hammock in BBCFSP. Mist nets are operated from mid-August through the first week of November and opened daily from just before sunrise to early afternoon, weather permitting. CFBS was established in 2002 to investigate use of the restored hardwood hammocks by neotropical migrants. As the only long-term banding station in South Florida, it fills a gap in migration monitoring along the entire Eastern seaboard. CFBS offers a unique study opportunity for the utilization by migrant birds of restored native sub-tropical vegetation, as well as the challenges faced by birds along their migration routes.
Amenities
Accessible Amenities
The park currently has two beach wheelchairs, one swimming wheelchair, at no charge on a first come first serve basis. Located at the bicycle rental area inside the park. In addition, there is a Mobi Mat located at Beach Access #6 next to the Lighthouse Cafe. Other accessible amenities include picnic pavilions and benches, grills, fishing pier and playground.
Beach
Cape Florida's 1.25 miles of natural beach has consistently been ranked as one of the top 10 beaches in the United States by Dr. Stephen Leatherman of Florida International University, aka 'Dr. Beach.' The park's concession offers rental chairs and umbrellas as well as ocean kayaks and hydro bikes. The waves are very gentle, thanks to a reef six miles offshore.
Canoe Kayak Launch
Our new launch is available at Beach Access # 1 at the north end of 'Area A.' We have reserved parking spaces directly adjacent to the walkway. Since the portage is several hundred feet, we recommend a boat dolly or an extra helper for your convenience. On the beach, you will notice a 'V-shaped' set of safety floats for your protection. This is the only area on the beach that you are permitted to launch and make land from.
You may also launch from No Name Harbor by lowering your canoe/kayak off the sea wall. However, depending on tidal conditions, there may be a significant drop to the water's surface, providing a difficult launch and loading/recovery scenario. You must portage by hand from the parking lot at 'Boater's Grill,' to the sea wall.
Please arrive early on the weekends as parking fills up quickly. And please remember, you may not tie up to the fishing platforms anywhere in the park; the only beach landing site is at Beach Access #1 in 'Area A.'
Lighthouse
Lighthouse at Bill Baggs
Built in 1825, the Cape Florida Lighthouse is recognized as the oldest structure in South Florida and was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1971. It was restored in 1967-70 and again in 1992-96. It was the only lighthouse to have been attacked by Indians. A U.S. Army base was built here to protect the land and sea from subsequent Indian attacks.
The park is also recognized as a site within the U.S. National Park Service’s National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom – commemorating the trip to the British Bahamas by escaped slaves before the lighthouse was constructed.
Pets
All pets must be on a 6-foot leash and well-behaved at all times. Pets may not be left unattended. Pets that are noisy, vicious, dangerous, or intimidating to other persons, or damage park resources, will be asked to leave the park with their owners. Pet owners must pick up after their pets and properly dispose of all droppings in trash receptacles. You may walk your pet in the picnic areas, along the sea wall, bike trails, and hiking trails. Pets are not allowed on the beach, wetlands, playground, Youth Camp, lighthouse, keeper's cottage, Lighthouse Café or Boater's Grill.
Guide and Service animals are excluded from the above restrictions.
Picnic Pavilion
The park has 18 picnic pavilions that may be reserved up to one day in advance by paying the required fee at the park entrance station. All visitors attending a picnic or party are still required to pay the park entry fee. The rental fees are as follows:
We have 15 pavilions with 6 picnic tables that accommodate 40 people and are available for $50 plus tax, per day.
We have three large pavilions with 10 tables that accommodate 80 people and are available for $100 plus tax, per day.
Electricity is available for $15 per day, only at the large shelters.
There is a $50 cleaning fee that may be assessed if the shelter and immediate vicinity is not cleaned prior to the group leaving. The group is responsible for leaving the shelter and grounds as it was received.
Playground
A children's playground is located in the north center of 'Area A' that features 4 swings, 4 slides and a climbing ladder.
Shower Station
Cold showers are available outside restrooms in Areas A, B & C.
