Overview

Boating and snorkeling are among the most popular activities at Biscayne National Park, which makes sense since 95 percent of the park is water. Located within hailing distance of downtown Miami, the park includes coral reefs, small islands, mangrove forests, and a Maritime Heritage Trail that leads snorkelers and scuba divers to a half-dozen shipwrecks. Favored dive spots include segments of the Florida Reef, one of the world's largest coral reefs; within Biscayne Bay you may spot endangered manatees. The islands in the park, such as Elliott Key (the northernmost of the Florida Keys), have been inhabited by various tribes, pirates, farmers and others over a span of 10,000 years, and are accessible to visitors for camping and wildlife watching. American crocodiles and alligators are among the park's rarer inhabitants; others include whales and sea turtles. The visitor center is located at Convoy Point, on mainland Florida near the city of Homestead, but you'll need a boat to visit the vast majority of the park. You can bring your own or join a glass-bottom boat tour or a dive trip. Experienced kayakers can paddle across Biscayne Bay and camp on Elliott Key or Boca Chica Key. **Date Formed:** June 28, 1980 **Area:** 172,924.07 acres [www.nps.gov/bisc](http://www.nps.gov/bisc)