The yellow line indicates the route from the parking lot to the beach. It's about a 200 yard portage.
Cape Florida, also known as Bill Baggs State Park, is located at the southern end of Key Biscayne. Launching your kayak from the beach was prohibited until recently. It's about 200 yards from the parking lot to the beach, so a kayak cart is strongly recommended.
Directions: Get on Key Biscayne however you like. Take Crandon Blvd south past Carndon park, through the hamlet of Key Biscayne (drop your speed to 30 mph here) and on to Bill Baggs State Park. After paying the entrance fee, make the first left turn into Lot A, then turn left again and head all the way to the north end of the lot. (Follow the signs to the kayak launch) There is a sidewalk followed by a recycled plastic boardwalk over the dune. No stairs. You need a KAYAK CART for this unless you have a very light kayak or 2 people. The beach by Boardwalk 1 at the north end of the lot is the only approved launch spot from the beach. The is a "V" of orange buouys to mark the spot.
Entrance fee/parking: $1.50 toll to get onto Key Biscayne, $3 (1 person) or $5 (2 or more) entrance fee to Bill Baggs State Park
Facilities: Restrooms with showers. There is a restaurant by No Name Harbor. I believe they closed the kayak rental concession.
Put-in/Take-out: Launch from the beach. The beach by Boardwalk 1 at the north end of the lot is the only approved launch spot from the beach. There are orange marker buoys. You are allowed to launch in No-name harbor, but this requires launching from a seawall with no dock. It's about a 3-4 foot drop.
Route: North takes you along the hotels. If you head south, the Cape Florida Lighthouse is about 1 mile up the beach. 1.25 miles southwest of that takes you to Stiltsville, a collection of wooden houses built on the flats south of the Key. In order to get to Stiltsville, you will be crossing a deep and busy boating channel with a lot of cross-chop from the seawall. Do not attempt this if you are not capable of self-rescue after capsizing. The current is frequently about 1mph or more straight in or out.
The yellow line indicates the route from the parking lot to the
beach. It's about a 200 yard portage.
The boardwalk to the beach.
Cape Florida Lighthouse. You can see Stiltsville on the left.
Map of Crandon Marina if you don't want to go all the way to Cape
Florida. Kayak vehicle parking is on the grassy shoulder by the
trees in the marked spots.
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