Bear Cut Preserve Nature Trail

The Bear Cut Preserve Nature Trail is a set of short nature trails inside Crandon Park on Key Biscayne, at 6767 Crandon Blvd, Key Biscayne, Miami-Dade County, Florida. The 165-acre preserve protects coastal hammock, mangrove and tidal pool habitat on the bay side of the island. The preserve is reached by car or rideshare over the Rickenbacker Causeway, where a toll applies, and the Marjory Stoneman Douglas Biscayne Nature Center sits at the preserve entry; visitors should confirm that the center is open before going. Park entry and parking fees apply, and the details should be checked on the Miami-Dade County parks website. No permit is needed for the trails. The distances are short; the exact length should be confirmed at the center. A visit takes about 30-60 minutes. The terrain is essentially flat, with under 10 ft (3 m) of elevation change, and the trail is classed as easy. The surface is a mix of packed dirt, boardwalk and sandy path, with good shade under the hammock canopy and more open sections near the mangroves and tidal flats. Walkers can see mangrove roots, small fish in tidal pools, crabs, and shorebirds, and the nature center provides interpretive exhibits about local ecology. There are no formal summit or viewpoints, so turn-around points are chosen by the visitor, usually at the end of a loop or at the shoreline. Restrooms and water are available around the nature center and park facilities, but not along the trails. Mosquitoes and biting insects can be heavy, especially from May to October, and closed-toe shoes and repellent are advisable.