Environment

Nature Trails of Key Biscayne & Virginia Key

Key News Contributor

August 9, 2016

Nature Trails of Key Biscayne & Virginia Key

Although man-made, the nature trails on the Key Biscayne and Virginia Key provide residents and visitors the opportunity to enjoy their hidden treasures and natural resources in an eco-friendly way. These paths are not immune to natural and man-made hazards.

Plant overgrowth of the paths can endanger both bikers and walkers. Faults in the paths can cause dangerous hazards to bikers. Trash can detract from the pleasure of the path, as well as endangering the flora and fauna that reside along them (e.g., fishing line entrapment of birds).

Citizen Scientist inspection of the paths and reporting on features detrimental to their use would allow both bikers and walkers to continue to enjoy the natural environment of the Key while also protecting the local flora and fauna.

Virginia Key is home to an amazing Tropical Hammock Interpretive Trail and you don’t need a botany degree or birder’s eye to appreciate it. In addition, the dune and beach community adjacent to the land-water interface possesses several threatened and endangered plant species, comprises a significant amount of this type of community within Miami-Dade County, and is an essential sea turtle nesting beach.

This area also has an interesting mangrove area lining a tidal creek that runs parallel to the beach between the hammock and beach area. The purpose of the Interpretive Trail is to inspire members of the community to promote the planting of native species in their homes, work areas, and other green spaces. There is no better place to get acquainted with the dynamics of the maritime world of tropical and sub-tropical life in South Florida than by following the nature trail in Virginia Key Park.

Crandon Park includes a nature trail bordering the beach, extending into a mangrove area located on the northern end of the Key. Visitors are encouraged to explore the various ecosystems of the Park including the dunes, mangroves, and coastal hammock where they can observe many species including herons, ospreys and many brilliantly colored butterflies.

Crandon Park is also home to rare and beautiful plants like the beach peanut, Biscayne prickly ash and the coontie. The beautiful sandy beach, coastal dunes and tropical hardwood hammocks are an important nesting and feeding ground for migrating songbirds, hawks and sea turtles. The Crandon Park Visitors and Nature Center is your gateway to the Bear Cut Preserve, a 264-acre natural barrier island habitat located on the northern tip of Key Biscayne.

Guided tours and educational programs are offered year round for all ages – from low tide marine beach and wading tours, to bird watching, canoeing, kayaking, snorkeling and bicycling. Visit the center’s exhibit room and aquariums with different recreated underwater habitats. Self-guided nature trails are available with trail brochures at the Nature Center.

Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park features several biking/walking paths, one of which extends along the southeastern side of the park that includes a stunning vista of Biscayne Bay as well mini-piers for recreational fishing and several walking paths that lead into the heart of the park. This path also passes by No Name Harbor and the Cape Florida Lighthouse, the latter housing a description of the early history of the Island.

The Park is renowned for its natural beauty and unique 19th century lighthouse that stands tall in the middle of the beach, which is also the oldest standing structure in Miami-Dade County. For those who wish to enjoy this beautiful shoreline, there is a 1.5-mile paved bike path and an unpaved service and woods path where one can also enjoy easy cycling.

One path offers a breath taking view of Biscayne Bay while another brings you beneath beautiful trees and into the wooded area. Both are quite relaxing and ideal places to cycle through under a warm sky. To the north is a trail that runs through the mangrove wetlands that begins 100 feet north of the Boaters Grill parking lot.

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