Surrounded by palm trees and meandering through South Beach, this trail (also known as the South Beach Trail) is nestled in one of the country's most popular destinations. Both of the trail’s endpoints are located in Miami Beach, not far from the Atlantic Ocean. As it draws closer to central South Beach, with its popular bars and hotels, the trail starts to bustle with foot traffic.
There are large, grassy areas with exercise spots and volleyball courts, people longboarding, street artists, and plenty of individuals using the trail for access to the wonderfully bathtub-like Miami ocean water.
The southern endpoint starts at South Pointe Beach and Pier—Miami Beach’s southernmost tip—where you can walk out over the water and take in beautiful views of the Atlantic. Just behind the pier is an artfully laid out small park, with a winding trail and a small ice cream shop in the middle. Heading north, the smooth, red–orange-patterned concrete trail becomes increasingly dotted on the left with shops, hotels, bars, and restaurants. Interesting sculptures, rocks, and places to stop and rest pepper the length of the trail. You’ll also pass frequent water stations for washing off beach sand and a several public restrooms.
Past the busy stretch of Central South Beach, large segments of the trail turn into what is known as the Miami Beach Boardwalk, where bike riding is prohibited. Along the way, behind a series of buildings, are a few unfinished segments of trail; however, these segments quickly give way to paved pathway.
The boardwalk ends just above Mid-Beach, and the trail continues with its smooth, pattern-painted concrete for about a quarter-mile before it ends at a small roundabout at Indian Beach Park.
The pathway is part of two much larger projects: the Miami LOOP, a developing 225-mile trail network throughout Miami-Dade County, and the East Coast Greenway, which is connecting trails from Florida to Maine.
To reach the South Pointe Pier trailhead from I-95, take Exit 2D toward I-395 E/Miami Beach (0.9 mile), which merges into FL A1A/Macarthur Causeway (0.4 mile). Continue on FL A1A for 3.1 miles to Miami Beach, which turns into 5th St. for about six blocks. Turn right onto Washington Ave., and continue to Inlet Blvd. (about seven blocks). Turn left onto Inlet Blvd. Parking is available along the street and at the S. Pointe Park and Pier, as well as at the end of the road and where the trail starts.
To reach the Indian Beach trailhead from I-95, take Exit 4 to merge onto I-195 E, and continue for 4.7 miles, crossing the bridge to Miami Beach. Continue onto W. 41st St. for 0.7 mile, and turn left onto Indian Creek Dr. (Collins Ave). Follow Indian Creek Dr. for about 0.3 mile to the start of the trail on your right at Indian Beach Park (along the back of the beach). There is a large parking lot in front of the park, along the road.
This trail is site seeing for people, a whole culture with locals intermixed with vacationers. Trail is substantially longer than listed, about 7.5 miles now and a new stretch currently under construction. It’s a busy stretch so speed is a slower pace, but the people, workout areas, ocean, historic buildings, condos and resorts make this a fun day. Parking can be a challenge and we found it easier to park in the street near the south end and use their pay to park app.
I ride this trail several times a week. Since June 2021 it now stretches up 79th street and has many updated sections. It has very nice ocean views and generally good pavement. A few small sections have some bumpy bricks which isn't ideal if you're on a skateboard. After rainstorms it can be covered with sand and puddles in the morning, but city crews are pretty good about keeping it clean. There's not much shade so sunscreen is a must. The further south you go, the more congested it gets. Watch out for tourists on rental bikes in the south and stray cats in the northern half. At times, there can be lots of pedestrians so don't expect high speeds on this route.
I've cycled this gorgeous trail 3x, roundtrip in 2018/2019 from Haulover Marina/Beach to South Pointe Pier for a total of about 24 miles. I stumbled on it one Saturday morning in 2018 before construction started on the Miami Beach boardwalk (sad face) in 2020, and fell in love with it. I had no idea I could cycle that far and was blown away by the trail's beauty.
This was an awesome ride. Several people walking, biking and rollerblading. Certain areas were a bit congested but over all had a great ride.
excellent trail at night, not too many people. inline skating.
We wanted to take this trail at its northest point near Indian Beach Park, just north of 41st street and go southward. Not possible. Bikes are not allowed on the boardwalk. Large signs posted by the city of Miami Beach. We had to turn around.
its a very short ride and i was expecting that because it says so in the description but what they dont say is half of the path is on wood deck and cobblestone, it caused $180 worth of Damage to my bike.
Fun to see people, beach and more. Concrete but cute ride.
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