Boca Chita Key Loop Trail enters the maritime forest, Biscayne National Park

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Boca Chita Key Main Page

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DESCRIPTION
The Boca Chita Key Loop Trail is a short nature trail that circles through the wooded area on Boca Chita Key in Biscayne National Park. There are a few information panels along the way that discuss the natural history of the area.

TRAILHEAD LOCATION
This trail is U-shaped and thus has two trailheads. If your back is to the harbor, follow the retaining wall around to your right to find one of the trailheads. It is marked off by an entrance through a stone wall.

If you are at the camping area with your back to the harbor, the second trailhead can be found at your 2 o’clock position across the field. Walk around to the left of the restroom building and you will find the trailhead to the right of what appears to be a stone-built maintenance building.

Trailhead for the Boca Chita Key Loop Trail near the harbor retaining wall, Biscayne National Park

Trailhead for the Boca Chita Key Loop Trail near the maintenance building, Biscayne National Park

LENGTH
.4-mile of actual hiking trail, but since the start and end points are at different locations on the island, you actually have a much longer walk. If you hike to and from the camping area, you probably have a .6-mile round trip.

TIME
20 minutes

DIFFICULTY
Easy

POINTS OF CONFUSION
There are a number of unmarked trails that branch off of the main trail in order to get to the water, but it is pretty clear as to which is the Boca Chita Key Loop Trail.

TERRAIN
Wide trail with a smooth surface. Some sections are grass, others are a sand and gravel mixture.

Gravel and sand terrain found on the Boca Chita Key Loop Trail in Biscayne National Park

HANDICAP ACCESSIBLE
It is possible, but the trail is not designated as a handicap access trail.

RECOMMENDATIONS
Like all of the hiking trails on the islands that go through the forest, mosquitoes will eat you alive at all times of the year unless you dress properly or lather yourself in bug repellent. All in all, the trail is not very interesting, and I don’t recommend it unless you have nothing better to do with your time.

While I do not recommend hiking the trail in its entirety, if you hike a little ways down the trail along the retaining wall, you can get a nice view of the Boca Chita Lighthouse. This is an ornamental lighthouse built in 1937 by the former owner of the island, Mark Honeywell, founder of the Honeywell, Inc. electronics company.

View of the Boca Chita Key lighthouse from the start of the Boca Chita Key Loop Trail in Biscayne National Park

If you walk to the south end of Boca Chita Key, there is a small beach with a view of Sands Key.

View of Sands Key from Boca Chita Key in Biscayne National Park

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