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Safety Updates

Florida State Parks will follow local orders requiring facial coverings or masks to provide for staff and visitor safety. These requirements vary from area to area. Our main priority is the safety of our guests and staff. We will continue to review operations on a daily basis and make additional operational changes as may be deemed necessary for protection of public health. Please review individual park pages for specific information for each location.

View details about online payments, park and campground closures, park programs/events and facial coverings.

HABITAT RESTORATION IN PROGRESS

Effective Nov. 24, 2020: Oleta River State Park is undertaking a resource management project to remove 28.5 acres of invasive Australian pines and other invasive plant species. The area will then be mulched and replanted with native species. Gilligan’s Trail, a popular off-road bike trail, will be closed in December 2020 and Spring 2021.

Limited Visitation at this Park

Effective Nov. 11, 2020: Oleta River State Park is open. Due to local orders, facial coverings or masks are required inside buildings for staff and visitor safety. Visitors are expected to maintain distances of at least six feet apart.

 

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Experiences & Amenities

Back to Oleta River State Park

Park Menu

  • Hours & Fees
  • Experiences & Amenities
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Experiences

Bicycling
Bicycling

Oleta River State Park has more than 10 miles of challenging, intermediate mountain bike trails. For the beginner, there are 4 miles of novice trails and 3 miles of paved trail. The paved trail also offers great conditions for inline skating. Helmets are highly recommended for all cyclists and Florida law requires helmets for cyclists age 16 and under. Bikes are available for rental from our concessionaire, the Oleta River Outdoor Center.

  • Florida Bicycle Trails - A Guide to Florida's Top Paved and Off-Road Trails
  • Bike rental services and prices
Camping, Primitive Group
Camping, Primitive Group

The primitive group camping area is available for organized youth groups 18 and under. One chaperone is required for every 10 youth campers.

There are three primitive campsites that can accommodate 30 campers each. Each site is equipped with two tables, a fire circle, restroom and cold-water shower. There is no electricity in the primitive camp. There is a community pavilion for the primitive group camps to share. Pets are not allowed in the primitive group camp. A group representative must check in before 5 p.m. on the day of arrival. 

  • Call the park for more information and reservations at 305-919-1844.
Fishing
Fishing

Both the fishing pier and the shoreline along the Intracoastal Waterway are popular sites to hook a fish.

  • The fishing pier is currently closed for repairs.
  • All fishing within the park must conform to regulations concerning size, number, method of capture and season. 
  • A fishing license may be required. More information is available at the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s website, Fishing in Florida.
Mountain Biking
Mountain Biking

Oleta River State Park has more than 10 miles of challenging, intermediate mountain bike trails. For the beginner, there are 4 miles of novice trails and 3 miles of paved trail. The paved trail also offers great conditions for inline skating. Helmets are highly recommended for all cyclists and Florida law requires helmets for cyclists age 16 and under. Bikes are available for rental from our concessionaire, the Oleta River Outdoor Center.

  • Florida Bicycle Trails - A Guide to Florida's Top Paved and Off-Road Trails
  • Bike rental services and prices
Paddling
Paddling

Canoeing, kayaking and paddleboarding are extremely popular at Oleta. Your hardest choice will be deciding whether to head toward the calm waters of Biscayne Bay, adventure through mangrove trails or paddle on the Oleta River.

  • Guided paddling tours and equipment rental are available through our concessionaire, the Oleta River Outdoor Center.
Picnicking
Picnicking

Picnic tables and grills are available throughout the park on a first-come, first-served basis.

 

Roller Blading
Roller Blading

A 3-mile paved trail offers great conditions for inline skating. 

  • Helmets are recommended.
Snorkeling
Snorkeling

Visitors can snorkel off of Biscayne Bay in our saltwater lagoon. 

  • Please remember that there are no lifeguards at Oleta. Swim at your own risk.
Swimming
Swimming

Visitors can enjoy the sandy beach and swim in the saltwater lagoon off Biscayne Bay. 

  • Please remember that there are no lifeguards at Oleta. Swim at your own risk.
Walking and Running
Walking and Running

A 3-mile paved trail offers great conditions for walking and running.

Weddings
Weddings

Imagine saying your vows on the beach as the waves come ashore at Oleta River State Park. Soon-to-be newlyweds are welcome to reserve a spot on the beach and may also choose to reserve one of the park's pavilions for their reception. Additional fees may apply.

  • All wedding and pavilion reservations must be made in advance in person.
  • Oleta River State Park Wedding Information
Wildlife Viewing
Wildlife Viewing

As a 1,000-acre oasis in the shadow of Miami, this park has a vast array of wildlife. Look for wading birds like great blue herons and roseate spoonbills. Keep a watchful eye for a dolphin or manatee swimming in the waters near the park. 

Amenities

Accessible Amenities
Accessible Amenities

Oleta River State Park is committed to providing a variety of accessible amenities to ensure that all visitors can enjoy the park.  

Those amenities include:

  • Beach wheelchairs
  • Beach access by mobi-mats
  • Canoe/kayak launch
  • Grills
  • Fishing pier
  • Portions of the butterfly garden
  • Picnic pavilion and benches
  • Restrooms
  • Cabin #1

Service animals are welcome in all public areas of the park.

Beach
Beach

Relax or play on our beach.

  • Please remember that lifeguards are not present. Swim at your own risk.
Cabins
Cabins

Fourteen quaint little cabins with covered porches and picnic tables provide a great place to relax with the convenience of being near shopping, restaurants and entertainment in Miami. Most cabins are equipped with one double bed, a bunk bed and air conditioning. Exceptions are Cabin 2 with one double bed only and Cabin 3 with two sets of bunk beds. Cabin 1 is ADA accessible. Linens are not provided. While cabins have no kitchens or bathrooms, a restroom with hot showers is located nearby.

For the guest's relaxation, televisions and phones are not provided.

  • Reservations can be made up to 11 months in advance through ReserveAmerica. Book online or call 800-326-3521 (8 a.m. to 8 p.m.) or TDD 888-433-0287. Pets are not permitted in cabins.
  • There is a minimum two-night stay in cabins on weekends and holidays, either Friday and Saturday night, or Saturday and Sunday nights. A single Friday or Saturday night can be reserved only if the following Saturday or Sunday night is already reserved.
  • Cabin rental: $55 per night plus tax, plus a non-refundable $6.70 reservation fee.

Accessible Amenities

Canoe Kayak Launch
Canoe Kayak Launch

Canoeing, kayaking and paddleboarding are extremely popular at Oleta.

  • Visitors on guided paddling tours and those who rent their kayaks/paddleboards through our concessionaire may use the launch across from the Oleta River Outdoor Center.
  • Those who bring their own vessels are requested to launch from the area just west of parking lots 5 and 6.
  • An additional launch will be available when the Blue Marlin Fish House reopens. 
Concession and Restaurant
Concession and Restaurant

The Oleta River Outdoor Center is open from 9 a.m. until 90 minutes before sunset. The concession rents canoes, kayaks, stand up paddleboards and mountain bikes in addition to offering general merchandise, bait and snack items.

The Blue Marlin Fish House, located at 2500 N.E. 163rd St. on the Oleta River, was recently remodeled and will open soon.

Gardens
Gardens

The Oleta River State Park's butterfly garden is a beautiful 0.4-acre area just west of parking lot 6. Thanks to its wide variety of native plants, the garden attracts butterflies year-round. Among the most commonly seen butterflies are the zebra longwing, Gulf fritillary, cloudless sulphur, large orange sulphur and the atala. The garden is most active with butterflies when the sun comes out just after a light rain.

Educational tours can be requested through the park office. The butterfly garden is maintained by the Friends of Oleta River State Park.

Mountain Bike Trail
Mountain Bike Trail

Oleta River State Park has more than 10 miles of challenging, intermediate mountain bike trails. For the beginner, there are 4 miles of novice trails and 3 miles of paved trail. 

  • Helmets are highly recommended for all cyclists and Florida law requires helmets for cyclists age 16 and under.
  • Florida Bicycle Trails - A Guide to Florida's Top Paved and Off-Road Trails
Parking
Parking

Parking is available at various locations around the park.

Picnic Pavilion
Picnic Pavilion
  • Ten covered picnic pavilions are available to rent. The largest pavilion, White Ibis, houses 20 picnic tables and includes electricity and water. The rental rate is $160.50 per day, including tax.
  • Eight mid-sized pavilions each house approximately 10 picnic tables, and one small pavilion has two picnic tables. Water is available at the nearby restrooms. The rental rate for the mid-sized pavilions is $133.75 per day, including tax, and the rental rate for the small pavilion is $53.50 per day, including tax. 
  • There is a $250 refundable cleanup deposit on the White Ibis and a $200 refundable cleanup deposit on all other pavilion rentals that must be in the form of a personal or business check.
  • Certain pavilions are ADA accessible. Contact the park office at 305-919-1846 for pavilion availability. All reservations must be made in person.
Playground
Playground

A playground is available.

Restroom Facilities
Restroom Facilities

Restroom facilities are available at several locations in the park.

Shower Station
Shower Station

Freshwater rinse stations are available at the park.

Wheelchair Accessible
Wheelchair Accessible

Oleta River State Park is committed to providing a variety of accessible amenities to ensure that all its visitors can enjoy the park.  

Those amenities include:

  • Beach wheelchairs
  • Beach access by mobi-mats
  • Canoe/kayak launch
  • Restrooms
  • Elevator for Blue Moon
  • Portions of the butterfly garden
  • Picnic pavilion and benches
  • Grills
  • Fishing pier
  • One cabin

Service animals are welcome in all public areas of the park.

Florida State Parks

Main Menu

  • Plan your visit
    • Accessibility
    • FAQs
    • Fees
    • Rules & Regulations
    • Camping & Lodging
    • Outdoor Florida
  • Find a Park
  • Learn
    • Newsletter
  • Resources
  • Experiences & Amenities
    • Educational Opportunities
    • Programs
    • Research & Collecting
  • Events
  • Get Involved
    • Corporate Partners
    • Doing Business with Parks
    • Work for Us

Have Questions?

Contact the Statewide Information Line:
(850) 245-2157

Or send an email to:
FSP.Feedback@FloridaDEP.gov

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