Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park occupies the southern portion of Key Biscayne, where more than a mile of Atlantic shoreline meets the waters of Biscayne Bay. The park is best known for the historic Cape Florida Lighthouse, built in 1825 and recognized as the oldest standing structure in Greater Miami.
The park is named for Bill Baggs, longtime editor of *The Miami News*, who advocated for preserving the land from development and protecting part of Key Biscayne in its natural state. Today, the park combines coastal recreation, historic interpretation and habitat conservation in one of Miami-Dade County’s most distinctive public landscapes.
Cape Florida also holds an important place in the history of the Underground Railroad. During the early 19th century, Black Seminoles and people escaping slavery gathered along the coast before departing for the Bahamas, where many established new communities. The site is now recognized as part of the National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom, and interpretive programs help preserve and explain that history.
Recreation and Historic Features
Visitors can swim, snorkel and relax along the park’s sandy Atlantic beach, while Biscayne Bay offers opportunities for boating, paddling and fishing. Canoeing, kayaking, bicycling, hiking and wildlife viewing are also popular throughout the park.
Guided tours of the Cape Florida Lighthouse and keeper’s quarters provide insight into the site’s maritime history, while a visitor center, museum exhibits and interpretive displays explore the broader cultural and natural history of the area.
No Name Harbor, a protected natural anchorage on the Biscayne Bay side of the park, is another well-known feature and is frequently used by recreational boaters.
Wildlife and Natural Habitat
Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park supports a diverse range of coastal wildlife. More than 260 bird species have been recorded in the area, including migratory shorebirds and raptors such as piping plovers and peregrine falcons. The park also supports dozens of butterfly species.
Sea turtles use the park’s shoreline and surrounding waters, with loggerheads nesting on the beach during the summer. Green and leatherback sea turtles forage offshore, while Florida manatees and American crocodiles are also found in the surrounding coastal environment.
The park contains restored native habitats including mangrove forests and maritime hammocks. After Hurricane Andrew removed large stands of invasive Australian pine in 1992, restoration efforts focused on reestablishing native vegetation and protecting several rare and imperiled plant species.
The Cape Florida Banding Station, established in 2002, monitors migratory songbirds and provides long-term data on how restored habitat supports regional migration. Its work has made the park an important site for both recreation and ongoing ecological research.