Oleta River State Park protects 1,043 acres of mangrove forest, tidal flats, and river habitat in the northern part of Miami-Dade County, making it the largest urban park in Florida. Kayaking through the mangrove tunnels is the best way to see it — rental kayaks and canoes are available at the park entrance, and the routes through the narrow channels are genuinely beautiful at any time of year.
The park also has mountain bike trails through the forest, a sandy beach on the bay side, and a picnic area. Manatees are frequently seen in the river, especially in cooler months when they congregate near warm water outflows. Egrets, ospreys, and roseate spoonbills are common. This is a very different Miami from the beach and nightlife — more subtropical wilderness than resort city.