Rickenbacker Causeway / Key Biscayne

Created Feb 23, 2016

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The Rickenbacker Causeway is arguably Miami’s most popular running destination area. This area is referred to by locals as “Key Biscayne” but truth is it is officially known as the Rickenbacker Causeway. When I run this stretch I like to park on the west end at Hobie Beach, which is the first available parking lot on the right hand side after you pass the toll plaza coming from the Miami mainland. Parking is free so you can take your sweet Miami time to go for your run. There are bathrooms and showers along the way and public water fountains to keep you hydrated. Besides the runner’s high you’ll experience from the views the other reason this spot is so popular is that about a mile from where you park there is our Goliath! The “big bridge” or more formally known as the William Powell Bridge will give you the highest elevation in South Florida available to runners. Get ready for 80 feet above sea level! I know that doesn’t sound like much but the grade is challenging enough when combined with our humidity and sun to give you quite the work out. It is about a 700 meter climb so if you add a little bit to the ends you can do mile intervals. It can get a bit crowded on weekend mornings and weekday afternoons. As you pass over the bridge you can continue heading east for several miles. I suggest you turn around where the sidewalk ends which is near the Crandon Park Marina if you want about 6 miles. If you are feeling a bit more adventurous and you would like to see some of the Magic City’s greener nature then make a left at the crosswalk slightly past the marina and take a curvy run on the Crandon Park Nature Trail. I look forward to this portion of the run because of the tranquil nature and views of a fully restored mangrove habitat. It is a bit quieter and a bit lonelier as most folks don’t even know it exists, so don’t tell anyway! At about 4.5 miles into your run I would turn around and backtrack after you have taken a sip of water at the Majory Stoneman Biscayne Nature Center.

Elevation