Editing Biscayne National Park (section)

==Activities==
[[File:Biscayne National Park V-kid ranger glass bottom bucket.jpg|thumb|alt=Two people in shallow water viewing the bay bottom|A park ranger shows underwater life to a visitor using a glass-bottomed bucket]]
Biscayne National Park operates year-round. Camping is most practical in winter months, when mosquitoes are less troublesome on the keys. The Biscayne National Park Institute provides half and full day tours in the park that include snorkeling, hiking, paddling and sailing from the park headquarters. Boat excursions to Boca Chita Key and the area's lighthouses are also available. Licensed private concessionaires provide guided fishing, snorkeling, sailing, and sightseeing tours.<ref name=npsbisc40>{{cite web|title=Outdoor Activities|url=https://www.nps.gov/bisc/planyourvisit/guidedtours.htm|work=Biscayne National Park|publisher=National Park Service|access-date=January 25, 2021}}</ref>

===Recreation===
Access to the park from the mainland is limited to the immediate vicinity of the Dante Fascell Visitor Center at Convoy Point. All other portions of the park are reachable only by private or concessioner boats. Activities include boating, fishing, [[kayaking]], [[windsurfing]], [[snorkeling]] and [[scuba diving]]. Miami-Dade County operates four marina parks near the park. Homestead Bayfront Park is directly adjacent to the park headquarters at Convoy Point. Farther south Black Point Park provides access to Adams and Elliott Keys. Matheson Hammock Park is near the north end of the park, and Crandon Park is on Key Biscayne.<ref name=npsbisc44>{{cite web|title=Nearby Marinas&nbsp;— Access for Boaters|url=http://www.nps.gov/bisc/planyourvisit/nearby-marinas-access-for-boaters.htm|work=Biscayne National Park|publisher=National Park Service|access-date=26 November 2012}}</ref>

Although it is a federally designated park, fishing within Biscayne is governed by the state of Florida. Anglers in Biscayne are required to have a Florida recreational saltwater fishing license. Fishing is limited to designated sport fish, [[spiny lobster]], [[Florida stone crab|stone crab]], [[Callinectes sapidus|blue crab]] and shrimp. Tropical reef fish may not be collected, nor may sharks, conch, sea urchins and other marine life. Reef life species such as coral and sponges are also protected from collecting by visitors.<ref name=npsbisc7>{{cite web|title=Fishing and Lobstering|url=http://www.nps.gov/bisc/planyourvisit/fishing-and-lobstering.htm|work=Biscayne National Park|publisher=National Park Service|access-date=19 November 2012}}</ref> Additionally, lobstering is prohibited in the Biscayne Bay-Card Sound Lobster Sanctuary, administered by the state of Florida to protect spiny lobster breeding areas, which overlaps much of Biscayne Bay.<ref name=npsbisc16>{{cite web|title=Biscayne Bay–Card Sound: Lobster Sanctuary|url=http://www.nps.gov/bisc/planyourvisit/biscayne-bay-card-sound-lobster-sanctuary.htm|work=Biscayne National Park|publisher=National Park Service|access-date=21 November 2012}}</ref>

A private concessioner provides tours from the Park headquarters into the bay and to the keys. Most tours are operated during the peak winter season from January to April.<ref name=npsbisc8>{{cite web|title=Guided Tours|url=http://www.nps.gov/bisc/planyourvisit/guidedtours.htm|work=Biscayne National Park|publisher=National Park Service|access-date=19 November 2012}}</ref> [[Personal watercraft]] are prohibited in Biscayne and most other national parks,<ref name=draftgmp12>NPS, ''Draft General Management Plan'', p. 12</ref> but other private powerboats and sailboats are permitted.<ref name=npsbisc9>{{cite web|title=Boating|url=http://www.nps.gov/bisc/planyourvisit/boating.htm|work=Biscayne National Park|publisher=National Park Service|access-date=19 November 2012}}</ref>

===Island facilities===
Most of Biscayne's permanent facilities are on the offshore keys. A seasonally staffed ranger station is on Elliott Key, as well as a campground and 36 boat slips. A single loop trail runs from the harbor to the oceanfront, and a path following the Spite Highway runs the length of the island.<ref name=npsbisc35>{{cite web|title=Elliott Key|url=http://www.nps.gov/bisc/planyourvisit/elliottkey.htm|work=Biscayne National Park|publisher=National Park Service|access-date=26 November 2012}}</ref>  Adams Key is a day-use-only area for visitors, although two Park Service residences are on the island.<ref name=npsbisc26>{{cite web|title=Adams Key|url=http://www.nps.gov/bisc/planyourvisit/adamskey.htm|work=Biscayne National Park|publisher=National Park Service|access-date=26 November 2012}}</ref> Boca Chita Key is the most-visited island, with a campground and picnic areas. The Boca Chita Lighthouse is occasionally open to visitors when staffing permits.<ref name=npsbisc27>{{cite web|title=Boca Chita Key|url=http://www.nps.gov/bisc/planyourvisit/bocachita.htm|work=Biscayne National Park|publisher=National Park Service|access-date=26 November 2012}}</ref>

===Snorkeling and diving===
Snorkeling and scuba diving on the offshore reefs are popular activities. The reefs have been the cause of many shipwrecks. A selection of wrecks have been the subjects of ranger-led snorkeling tours and have been organized as the Maritime Heritage Trail, the only underwater archaeological trail in the National Park Service system.<ref name=npsbisc20>{{cite web|title=Coral Reefs|url=http://www.nps.gov/bisc/naturescience/coralreefs.htm|work=Biscayne National Park|publisher=National Park Service|access-date=22 November 2012}}</ref>  The wrecks of the ''[[SS Arratoon Apcar|Arratoon Apcar]]'' (sank 1878), ''Erl King'' (1891), ''Alicia'' (1905), ''Lugano'' (1913) and ''Mandalay'' (1966) are on the trail together with an unknown wreck from the 1800s and the Fowey Rocks Lighthouse. The ''Alicia'', ''Erl King'' and ''Lugano'' are relatively deep wrecks, best suited for scuba dives.<ref name=npsbisc65>{{cite web|title=Maritime Heritage Trail|url=http://www.nps.gov/bisc/historyculture/maritime-heritage-trail.htm|work=Biscayne National Park|publisher=National Park Service|access-date=26 November 2012}}</ref> The ''Mandalay'' is at a shallower depth and is especially popular for snorkeling.<ref name=npsbisc55>{{cite web|title=Mandalay|url=http://www.nps.gov/bisc/historyculture/mandalay.htm|work=Biscayne National Park|publisher=National Park Service|access-date=26 November 2012}}</ref>