Plan a Relaxing Day at Matheson Hammock Park

One of Miami-Dade’s most treasured county parks, Matheson Hammock Park, sits on a peninsula that extends into Biscayne Bay. The park spans 630 acres of coastal Miami just south of Coral Gables, surrounding parts of Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden. It first opened to the public in 1930, after William J. Matheson donated prime waterfront property to Miami-Dade County.

Nature By Design

The park includes vast stretches of Florida mangroves and hardwood forests, as well as planned green spaces designed by landscape architect William Lyman Phillips. Along with Matheson Hammock Park, Phillips designed Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden in 1938.

The park is thoughtfully laid out. Phillips worked closely with the Civilian Conservation Corps to design a park that would feature South Florida’s beautiful water views and offer a welcoming atmosphere for visitors. Its winding road was designed to take visitors through three important Florida landscapes, starting with swamp and dense mangrove forests and ending at an open cove overlooking Biscayne Bay.

Matheson Hammock Park’s natural backdrop also makes it perfectly suited for special occasions, such as outdoor weddings.

The Atoll Pool at Matheson Hammock Park

Spend a day at Matheson Hammock Park to enjoy the natural beauty of Miami. Relax by the manmade “atoll pool,” a bayfront pool naturally filled by the tides of Biscayne Bay, surrounded by limestone, coral and a circular sandy beach with swaying palms and perfect views of the Florida coast. Because of the atoll pool’s calm waters, it has become a safe, popular place for young children to swim.

Matheson Hammock Marina

If you love being on the water, the north end of Matheson Hammock Park also has the full-service Matheson Hammock Marina with a dock, wet slips, powerboat lessons and the Castle Harbor Boating School. There are opportunities for kiteboarding, a fishing pier and even a concession stand where you can rent stand-up paddle boards (SUP), canoes and kayaks to spend hours paddling across Biscayne Bay. Just want to relax? Grab your beach chair and join the visitors lounging on the white sands of Matheson Beach.

Dining at Matheson Hammock Park

Visitors to the park can dine at Coral Gables’ only waterfront restaurant—Redfish by Chef Adrianne, which opened in 2019, replacing the iconic Red Fish Grill which closed after being damaged by Hurricane Irma two years earlier. Stop in for New American-style seafood dishes in this casual restaurant that offers an outdoor terrace with a beautiful view. The restaurant is helmed by Miami celebrity chef Adrianne Calvo of Chef Adrianne’s Vineyard Restaurant & Wine Bar.

Park Amenities

Coral rock pavilions and picnic areas with charcoal grills and benches can be found throughout Matheson Hammock Park, including by one of its scenic lakes—the perfect place for a picnic lunch with family, friends or that special someone.

As you explore the park, hop on one of its nature or bike trails, or go birdwatching for rare birds such as sulphur-bellied flycatchers, black-throated gray warblers and Townsend’s warblers.

In the middle of the park, there is a playground where young children can burn off some energy.

When You Go

Matheson Hammock Park is located at 9610 Old Cutler Road, Miami, FL 33156. The park is open from sunrise to sunset daily, and both the office and Matheson Hammock Marina are open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is charged.