The park contains the site of the Fowey Rocks Lighthouse, which has guided ships through the dangerous Florida reef since 1878.
The park is home to the Maritime Heritage Trail, an underwater archaeological site featuring the remains of the Mandalay shipwreck.
The park's mangroves act as a critical nursery for juvenile fish and crustaceans before they migrate to the open ocean.
It is one of the only national parks in the United States where you can explore a shipwreck while snorkeling.
The park boundaries include the Stiltsville structures, a collection of historic houses built on pilings above the shallow waters of the bay.
Biscayne National Park encompasses 172,000 acres, with 95% of its total area consisting of protected marine waters. The park preserves the northernmost section of the Florida Reef, one of the largest coral reef systems in the world. Visitors access the park primarily via boat, as there are no roads leading to the offshore islands or reef tracts. The ecosystem includes four distinct zones: the mangrove shoreline, Biscayne Bay, the Florida Keys, and the offshore coral reefs. It serves as a sanctuary for threatened species, including the American crocodile and various sea turtles. The park remains a primary destination for scuba diving, snorkeling, and recreational boating in South Florida. Educational programming focuses on maritime history, including dozens of documented shipwrecks scattered across the bay floor.
The elevated boardwalk at the Dante Fascell Visitor Center offering views of the mangrove shoreline and the bay.
Bring a polarized lens for your camera or sunglasses to better see marine life through the surface glare.
Ensure all watercraft and snorkeling gear are thoroughly cleaned to prevent the spread of invasive species like lionfish.
Book boat tours through the official park concessionaire well in advance as daily capacity is limited.
Attempting to access the islands by private kayak without checking tide tables and wind forecasts, as open-water conditions change rapidly.
The visitor center is open daily, though boat tours are subject to cancellation based on high wind or sea conditions.
Do not touch, stand on, or collect coral; use reef-safe sunscreen to protect marine life; practice leave-no-trace principles on all islands.
