Biscayne National Park

Call Directions Website

Biscayne National Park The official Facebook account of Biscayne National Park.

Biscayne National Park protects mangrove forests, Biscayne Bay, the northernmost Florida Keys, coral reefs and 10,000 years of human history.

They say you are what you eat, but some nudibranchs take that saying to the next level. Can you spot the nudibranch hidi...
10/21/2026

They say you are what you eat, but some nudibranchs take that saying to the next level. Can you spot the nudibranch hiding on this Common Sea Fan?

Nudibranch sea slugs are closely related to snails, however they do not need a shell for protection. At less than half an inch long, Hamner’s Tritonia uses its small size, striped patterning, and bumpy protrusions to blend into its surroundings. This species is found only on Common Sea Fans, surviving by exclusively eating its polyps.

But Hamner’s Tritonia doesn’t just eat its food, it steals its abilities! Instead of digesting the sea fan, this nudibranch retains the fan’s stinging cells in its body. This gives it a powerful defense, becoming stinging and distasteful to predators that may try to eat it.

Next time you are out exploring the reef, slow down and look closely: there may be a nudibranch hiding in plain sight!

NPS Photos 1-2 (Bella McCracken): A tiny, pale, striped nudibranch is visible on the purple, net-like pattern of a sea fan as it crawls across its surface. Brown polyps dot parts of the sea fan, but none are present directly surrounding the nudibranch.

Another year around the sun for Biscayne National Park! October 18th is Biscayne National Park’s birthday; this year th...
10/18/2026

Another year around the sun for Biscayne National Park!

October 18th is Biscayne National Park’s birthday; this year the park turns 58 years old! 🎉

It was 58 years ago when President Lyndon B. Johnson helped sign Biscayne National Monument into existence. This park was set to protect a unique part of South Florida from the mangrove shoreline, through shallow seagrass beds, across the northern Florida Keys, to its coral reefs and open waters. Later, in 1980, President Jimmy Carter would increase those protections to create Biscayne National Park. There is so much to discover both above and below the surface; from the wildlife that call this watery oasis home, to the history and stories of the people who have shaped this space.

Biscayne National Park is also made up of you, the communities and people who visit and make memories here continuously shape the park and its stories. Biscayne is a place where there is always something new to explore, learn, and protect.

Happy Birthday, Biscayne National Park! Here is to 58 years of protecting, preserving, and connecting people to this incredible place!


NPS Photo 1 : A park ranger sits in a doorway reading. The sign outside says Biscayne National Monument Information. NPS Photo 2 N. Algarin: A park ranger sits reading in front of a coral stone wall decorated with metal fish, mangrove trees, and the words Biscayne National Park.

October 13 marks Jones Day, a moment to honor the remarkable Jones family and the lasting impact they made in the Florid...
10/13/2026

October 13 marks Jones Day, a moment to honor the remarkable Jones family and the lasting impact they made in the Florida Keys.

The story begins with Israel Lafayette Jones, who left Raleigh, North Carolina, in search of new opportunities. After a devastating freeze destroyed Central Florida’s citrus groves, he continued south, where he met Mozelle Albury. Together, they raised two sons, King Arthur and Sir Lancelot.

Life in the Florida Keys was not easy. Intense heat, insects, thick vegetation, and unpredictable weather were some of the challenges they faced. Through determination and hard work, the Jones family cleared the land and had a thriving farm. They became some of the largest producers of key limes and pineapples in the region, and earned recognition throughout the Miami area.

Sir Lancelot Jones became a well-known fishing guide in the Keys. He welcomed visitors to experience the waters of the Florida Keys and Biscayne Bay. Among those visitors were politicians and presidents that developed an appreciation for the natural beauty of the area. The Jones family's connection to the landscape highlighted the importance of preserving South Florida’s natural and cultural resources.

In 1968, Biscayne National Monument was established to protect the area. Then, in 1980, the protected area expanded to include portions of Biscayne Bay and its coral reefs, and Biscayne became a national park.

Today, when we celebrate Jones Day, we are not only remembering a remarkable family. We remember their connection to this place, and the legacy they left behind for future generations to enjoy the beauty of Biscayne National Park.

NPS Photo 1 : Jones Family sits on the porch of their house smiling at the camera.
NPS Photo 2: Sir Lancelot Jones is standing by a wooden dock near a mangrove island smiling at the camera.

If you harvest stone crabs in Florida, here are some important rules to know. Florida’s recreational stone crab regulati...
10/11/2026

If you harvest stone crabs in Florida, here are some important rules to know. Florida’s recreational stone crab regulations are designed to support sustainable harvesting and responsible trap management. The required trap registration system, which is free of cost, ensures each trap is traceable. Recreational harvesters may not harvest from, set, or place any trap registered to another individual.
Gear rules—such as degradable panels, escape rings, and size limited entrances—help reduce mortality and prevent ghost fishing. Minimum claw size requirements and the prohibition on harvesting egg bearing crabs further protect the stone crab population. While both claws may be taken if they meet the legal size of 2 7/8 inches, doing so leaves the crab with limited defense against predators.
For more information, visit: https://myfwc.com/fishing/saltwater/recreational/stone-crab
NPS Photo: Man is conducting stone crab research on a vessel in Biscayne National Park.

Biscayne hosts Park After Dark on the third Saturday of every month. At our most recent event, we welcomed the Palette K...
10/09/2026

Biscayne hosts Park After Dark on the third Saturday of every month. At our most recent event, we welcomed the Palette Knife Artists of Miami, who showcased their invasive‑species‑themed art exhibit in the Dante Fascell Visitor Center Gallery. Since 2015, we’ve invited a variety of artists to share the beauty and stories of South Florida through their work, and we’re excited to continue that tradition.

This exhibit will remain on display in the visitor center until January 2027. https://www.nps.gov/bisc/planyourvisit/calendar.htm

NPS Photo 1 Houston: Two people smile towards the camera holding roasted marshmallows.
NPS Photo 2 Houston: A park ranger gives a presentation to a theater full of people. Paintings decorate the walls and a picture of an invasive lionfish is up on the screen.
NPS Photo 3: Houston: A ranger looks at a small boy as the small boy points out towards Biscayne Bay.
NPS Photo 4: Houston: A group of artists and a park ranger smile at a camera in front of two palette knife paintings, one depicting the invasive fish species Oscar and the other depicting the invasive Island Apple Snail's eggs.

Join us as forgotten phantoms from fathoms below and decades ago wash upon our shores!Schedule:2:00-4:00 PM Fishing Clin...
10/08/2026

Join us as forgotten phantoms from fathoms below and decades ago wash upon our shores!

Schedule:
2:00-4:00 PM Fishing Clinic (Pick up tricks to hooking those salty slimy treats with forlorn fishermen)

4:00-6:00 PM Trick or Treat (Keep your treasure safe from swindling sailors searching to satisfy their sweet tooth, play games as you earn treats)

6:30-8:00 PM Spooky Campfire and S'mores (After walking the planks of our boardwalk, warm up by the fire as the thrills and chills of our stories run down your spine!)

Costumes, especially marine themed, are encouraged.
Pirates, sharks, sailors and mermaids are welcome.

All activities and entry are free to this family event.

NPS FLYER: Image is for Park After Dark presenting Jeepers on the Jetty of an unrolled aged scroll with flaming edges with text in front. Text contains information for fishing clinic, trick or treat, campfire and s'mores activities. The edges of the flyer have a border of faded imprints of fish skeletons and pirate faces with an eye patch and pirate hat.

Ever wondered what it's like to be a scientist in a national park? Through the Scientists in Parks program, participants...
09/15/2026

Ever wondered what it's like to be a scientist in a national park? Through the Scientists in Parks program, participants gain hands-on experience conducting research, monitoring natural and cultural resources, and helping protect some of America's most treasured places. These experiences help build the next generation of conservation professionals while supporting the important work of the National Park Service.
Here at Biscayne National Park, our Scientists in Parks members are making a difference beneath the waves—donning their SCUBA gear to restore coral reefs, survey reef fish, and remove marine debris, all to help protect our park's incredible marine resources. Learn more at https://www.nps.gov/subjects/science/scientists-in-parks.htm.
NPS photo 1: A Scientists in Parks SCUBA diver descends into deep blue open water, carrying a tray of coral fragments for reef restoration. A stream of bubbles rises from their regulator toward the surface.
NPS photo 2: A Scientists in Parks scuba diver examines a young coral fragment mounted on an artificial concrete nursery block. The diver is surrounded by corals, reef structures, and other marine life in clear blue water.
NPS photo 3: A Scientists in Parks SCUBA diver swims above a coral reef while checking small cone-shaped collection nets collecting gametes from spawning corals. The blue ocean surrounds the diver and marine habitat.

Explore the delicate balance of South Florida’s biodiverse ecosystems. Join us for a free art reception celebrating the ...
09/14/2026

Explore the delicate balance of South Florida’s biodiverse ecosystems. Join us for a free art reception celebrating the beauty, resilience, and complexity of the invasive species that have made South Florida their home.
Through art, discover how these species can embody both elegance and destruction, challenging us to consider where nature, adaptation, and human influence intersect.

On Saturday, September 19th join us at Dante Fascell Visitor Center located at 9700 SW 328th St, Homestead, FL 33033. Biscayne National Park will be hosting an art exhibition grand opening where you can meet the artists.

Starting at 3pm, this exhibition will be showcasing the works of Palette Knife Artists of Miami," Florida's Invasive Species: Ecological Disruption and Loss" with guest artist Erin Parish. Following a Biscayne National park ranger presentation by Nicole Algarin," Invasive Invasion: Strangers in the Ecosystem".

This free reception will occur as part of our monthly Park After Dark event made possible with The Alliance for Florida National Parks.

All programs are free-ranger led programs:
2-4pm: Fishing Clinic
3-3:45pm: Hors d’oeuvres
3-5pm: Art Reception
“Florida’s Invasive Species: Ecological Disruption and Loss”
4-5pm: Park Ranger Nicole Algarin Presentation
“Invasive Invasion: Strangers in the Ecosystem”
5:30-6:30pm: S’mores
7-7:45pm: Sunset Stroll
8:30pm: Park grounds close

**RSVP is not required**

NPS Event flyer includes information for “Park After Dark” at Biscayne National Park on September 19, 2026, with a bird and flower illustration called,"Borrowed Territory" by Eumelia Castro and event schedule including fishing, art, presentations, s’mores, and a sunset stroll.

Explore the delicate balance of South Florida’s biodiverse ecosystems. Join us for a free art reception celebrating the ...
09/01/2026

Explore the delicate balance of South Florida’s biodiverse ecosystems. Join us for a free art reception celebrating the beauty, resilience, and complexity of the invasive species that have made South Florida their home.
Through art, discover how these species can embody both elegance and destruction, challenging us to consider where nature, adaptation, and human influence intersect.

On Saturday, September 19th join us at Dante Fascell Visitor Center located at 9700 SW 328th St, Homestead, FL 33033. Biscayne National Park will be hosting an art exhibition grand opening where you can meet the artists.

Starting at 3pm, this exhibition will be showcasing the works of Palette Knife Artists of Miami," Florida's Invasive Species: Ecological Disruption and Loss" with guest artist Erin Parish. Following a Biscayne National park ranger presentation by Nicole Algarin," Invasive Invasion: Strangers in the Ecosystem".

This free reception will occur as part of our monthly Park After Dark event made possible with The Alliance for Florida National Parks.

All programs are free-ranger led programs:
2-4pm: Fishing Clinic
3-3:45pm: Hors d’oeuvres
3-5pm: Art Reception
“Florida’s Invasive Species: Ecological Disruption and Loss”
4-5pm: Park Ranger Nicole Algarin Presentation
“Invasive Invasion: Strangers in the Ecosystem”
5:30-6:30pm: S’mores
7-7:45pm: Sunset Stroll
8:30pm: Park grounds close

**RSVP is not required**

NPS Event flyer includes information for “Park After Dark” at Biscayne National Park on September 19, 2026, with a bird and flower illustration called,"Borrowed Territory" by Eumelia Castro and event schedule including fishing, art, presentations, s’mores, and a sunset stroll.

A peek into Biscayne National Park’s underwater world reveals just how alive the reef can be.Surrounded by schools of fi...
08/28/2026

A peek into Biscayne National Park’s underwater world reveals just how alive the reef can be.
Surrounded by schools of fish, this sea turtle moves effortlessly through one of the park's vibrant marine habitats. Moments like this are a reminder that beneath the surface, an incredible diversity of life is always on the move.
Whether you're snorkeling, diving, or exploring by boat, every visit offers the chance to discover something new—and if you're lucky, you might even cross paths with a sea turtle.
NPS Photo: A large sea turtle swims above a coral reef while dozens of small fish move around it in clear blue water. The reef below is covered with branching corals, sponges, and sea fans, and the sunlight filtering through the water highlights the busy marine life throughout Biscayne National Park.

Address

9700 SW 328th Street
Homestead, FL
33033

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5:30pm
Tuesday 7am - 5:30pm
Wednesday 7am - 5:30pm
Thursday 7am - 5:30pm
Friday 8am - 5:30pm
Saturday 7:30am - 5:30pm
Sunday 7:30am - 5:30pm

Telephone

+13052301144

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Biscayne National Park posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Shortcuts

Share

Category