Crandon Park / Key Biscayne
Key Biscayne, Florida · Miami-Dade County
Crandon Park's Atlantic-side flats and Bear Cut sandbar make a scenic, mostly shallow paddle suited to beginner and intermediate paddlers. The one thing to know before you go: if you're bringing your own board, you launch from Crandon Marina, not the beach. Beach launching is reserved for boards rented on-site.
The Paddle
The paddling runs along roughly two miles of Atlantic-side beach, with a shallow sandbar and the mangroves of Bear Cut at the north end. Launching from the marina instead puts you on the calmer Biscayne Bay side. Either way the water stays shallow and turquoise, good for spotting sea turtles, rays, manatees, dolphins, and wading birds as you go. It suits beginner and intermediate paddlers. Aim for a calm morning with low wind and high tide over the flats.
Launch & Parking
Here is the rule that matters most: if you are bringing your own paddleboard or kayak, you cannot launch from the beach. Personal craft launch from Crandon Marina instead. Beach launching is allowed only for boards rented from the on-site concession, or as part of a guided EcoAdventures tour. Parking at the park is paid, per vehicle.
Rentals
A watersports concession near the north beach rents kayaks and paddleboards, and Miami EcoAdventures runs its own rentals plus guided tours. Renting here is also the easy way around the launch rule above, since concession boards are cleared to launch straight off the beach.
Rules & Safety
Watch for wind exposure out on the open flats, boat traffic offshore, and a current that runs along the sandbar. Statewide paddleboard rules apply on this water too; the summary below covers them.
Getting Here
Our closest location is Island Water Sports in Pompano Beach, about 35.5 miles north. That is a haul from Key Biscayne, so treat this as a destination-day paddle rather than a quick after-work session, and plan ahead for gear if you are starting from our side of the county.
Florida paddleboard rules
Outside designated swimming, surfing, and bathing areas, Florida and the U.S. Coast Guard treat a stand-up paddleboard as a vessel, which means basic boating rules apply. Carry one Coast Guard approved life jacket for each person on board, and children under 6 must wear theirs while the board is underway. You also need a whistle or other sound device audible for at least half a nautical mile, and after sunset or in poor visibility, a flashlight or lantern with a white light to signal your position. Inside a marked swimming or surfing area these vessel rules do not apply. Non-motorized paddleboards under 16 feet do not need Florida registration. Rules can change, so check current FWC guidance before you paddle.
Summarized from FWC and U.S. Coast Guard guidance, verified 2026-08-12. Rules can change; check current FWC guidance.
FAQ
Where can I launch my own paddleboard at Crandon Park?
From Crandon Marina. The beach itself is off-limits to personal paddleboards and kayaks; only boards rented from the on-site concession, or used on an EcoAdventures tour, can launch straight from the sand.
Is Crandon Park good for beginners?
Yes. The flats along the beach and the marina-side bay water are shallow and calm, especially on a high tide morning with low wind, which is when most beginners will have the easiest time.
What wildlife might I see while paddling at Crandon Park?
Sea turtles, rays, manatees, dolphins, and wading birds all turn up on the flats and around Bear Cut, especially if you paddle quietly and keep an eye on the shallows.
Nearby paddle spots
Coral GablesOleta River State Park
North Miami BeachWest Lake Park / Anne Kolb Nature Center
HollywoodWhiskey Creek
Dania Beach