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Latest update: December 2022

Oleta River State Park...

Kayaking a Diamond in the Rough

Located on upper Biscayne Bay, in the middle of the busy Miami metropolitan area, Oleta River State Park is an amazing getaway, offering a variety of outdoor recreational activities. The park is well known for its miles of off-road bicycling trails, but for kayakers, canoeists, and paddle boarders this is truly a diamond in the rough. It offers pristine, mostly clear water padding opportunities, away from the wind and busy boat traffic of the open bay. (Detailed map and photos below.)

Map link...
Oleta River State Park Paddling

Distance: varies
Location: Miami-Dade County
Difficulty: Easy to moderate
Tidal: Yes
Launch points: Oleta River State Park (See map)
Nearby points of interest: The Ancient Spanish Monastery, Greynolds Park, Miami and Miami Beach
Support and Advocacy: Friends of Oleta River State Park

Rentals/Outfitters/Tours:

Oleta River Outdoor Center  (rentals, tours)

 Page Summary:

1. Paddling at Oleta River State Park
   - Personal Craft Launch
   - Paddling trip report
2. Outfitter and Concession
3. More Information and Resources

Paddling at Oleta River State Park... Comments and Photos

Here paddlers will find a 1,200 foot white sand beach (nice stop, pullout to left), a short fishing pier, and canals through mangrove preserve, containing increasingly rare native South Florida plants and wildlife. Water clarity is usually best during incoming tides, as the Park is situated across from Haulover Inlet. Note: during the winter season, the Park and launch area can get extremely busy on weekends and holidays, so plan accordingly.

Personal Craft Launch

The launch for personal craft is located at Parking Lots 5-6, next to the bridge leading to the beach. This is encouraged and highly preferred to attempting to launch from the outfitter site, which can be very crowded with foot traffic and rental watercraft constantly being moved. The outfitter has posted sighns directing individuals to the personal craft launch for those reasons.

Through Canal to Bay

This report starts at the outfitter launch. Take the canal to the immediate left. Prevailing winds are normally from the east, so paddlers can "play" the wind by using this canal when leaving the launch. Then when exiting the canal at the tip of the Park, the wind is at your back on return (passing pier and beach). This path can be reversed based on wind direction. Along the way, paddle through two culverts under park roads and past several picnic areas before exiting onto the bay.

Bay, lagoon, beach, launch/pullout

The canal exits onto Biscayne Bay. Some people paddle to Sandpur Island and its beach area from here. But because this trip involves crossing open water and subject to wind and tide, it is recommended for experienced paddlers only. Due to the wind, we did not make the crossing on this day. Rather, we paddled to the beach and back to the lagoon, which was populated with moored boats and paddleboarders.

Paddling through Mangrove to Portage and Return

We paddled from the lagoon into a mangrove-lined creek, passing Florida International University-Biscayne Bay Campus. Some obstacles through here, including ducking downed trees. We went as far as the portage but did not go over - it's rather long and steep. Instead, we returned to the lagoon and then back to the launch.

Outfitter and Concession

Oleta River Outdoor Center offers rental boards, canoes, and kayaks, and tours. Bicycle rentals, picnic area, snacks and a store are also available. The concessionaire also operates nearby Blue Marlin Fish House (reachable by road or by paddlecraft).

More Information and Resources

Nearby Paddling:

West Lake Park
See FL South Region for more paddling

Nearby Biking:

Oleta River State Park
Miami Beachwalk
Hollywood Beach Broadwalk

Related Resources:

Florida State Parks - Oleta River State Park