At Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park, you will find more than just one of the best beaches in the country. This lovely state park, which is located on the south of Key Biscayne, is also a place of great cultural interest to the area.
As you explore the park’s grounds, which include more than 160 hectares (400 acres) of land, reserve a thought for the man who made it all possible, Bill Baggs. This local newspaper editor and civil rights activist worked long and hard to protect the site of the park from development. Enjoy the fruits of Baggs’s labour with a walk down the long stretch of sandy Atlantic shoreline, which measures over 1.6 kilometres (1 mile).
Thanks to a well-situated offshore reef, the water at the park is usually calm and well suited for a swim or some casual snorkelling. Family groups will appreciate the park’s facilities, which include a youth camping area, a playground, and a picnic spot.
On the beach, seek out a marker that commemorates the park’s role in the National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom. This site served as a key station and secret port for runaway slaves and Seminoles who sought to escape to a free life in the Bahamas. At one point in the 1820s, just under 300 slaves made the journey from this location to Andros Island and their freedom.
The park is equipped for a variety of activities, both on and off the water. Hike or cycle along well-maintained scenic trails near the coastline, with quad bikes and bicycles available for hire at the visitor’s centre. You can also rent boats, canoes, and kayaks, as well as paddleboards and hydrobikes. Boats can anchor at a natural port called No Name Harbour. For a small fee, you can stay overnight in your boat.
Take a moment to admire the Cape Florida Lighthouse, South Florida’s oldest structure. Built in 1825, it is the only U.S. lighthouse to have been attacked by Native Americans. Later, an army base was established to protect the area.
Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park is open from early morning until sunset on every day of the year, including holidays. Tours of the lighthouse are run twice a day from Thursday through Monday. End your visit with a meal at one of the park’s two onsite restaurants.
