The Underline: Miami's Urban Trail Beneath the Metrorail

What Is The Underline?

The Underline is a 10-mile linear park and urban trail being built beneath Miami's Metrorail elevated guideway, running from the Miami River in Brickell all the way south to Dadeland South Metrorail Station. When fully completed in 2026, it will transform roughly 120 acres of previously underused land beneath the rail corridor into a continuous green corridor connecting eight Metrorail stations.

The project is being developed in phases. Phase 1, known as the Brickell Backyard, opened on February 26, 2021, and covers the stretch between the Miami River and SW 13th Street near Brickell station. Phase 2, a 2.14-mile segment extending from SW 13th Street through neighborhoods southward to SW 19th Avenue near Vizcaya station, opened on April 24, 2024. Phase 3, a 7.36-mile segment from SW 19th Avenue near Vizcaya Metrorail Station to Dadeland South, is expected to complete the corridor by 2026.

The Brickell Backyard: Where Most Visitors Start

For most visitors, the Brickell Backyard is the entry point, and it remains the most developed and activated section of the trail. The corridor here is between 70 and 170 feet wide depending on the block, giving it the feel of a proper park rather than a narrow path wedged under a highway. The Metrorail tracks run overhead, and the hum and rumble of passing trains is part of the sensory texture of the place — not unpleasant, more like a low percussion rhythm in the background.

The planting palette in the Brickell section leans into native and subtropical species: sea grapes, palms, ornamental grasses, and flowering groundcovers that hold color year-round. On a weekday morning, the trail fills with joggers and dog walkers from the surrounding high-rises, earbuds in, moving fast. On weekend afternoons, the pace slows considerably. Families spread out on the grass sections, and the fitness stations attract a small crowd doing pull-ups and stretches under the shade of mature canopy trees.

The Backyard section connects naturally into the broader Brickell neighborhood, where the surrounding streets are lined with glass towers, coffee shops, and sidewalk restaurants. The juxtaposition is intentional: the park was designed partly to give Brickell's dense residential population somewhere to decompress without needing a car.

Public Art Along the Corridor

Public art is not an afterthought here. The Underline has an integrated art program that commissions installations, murals, and interactive works along the corridor. In the Brickell sections, you'll encounter large-scale works embedded into the concrete pillars that support the Metrorail above, as well as ground-level installations that change over time as new phases open and programming evolves.

The art skews toward local and Miami-connected artists, which gives the corridor a specific cultural identity rather than the generic public art that fills many urban infrastructure projects. Some pieces are bold enough to anchor a photograph; others are subtle enough that you'll only notice them if you slow down. Early morning, when the light is low and the crowds thin, is the best time to appreciate the works without distraction.

If the public art angle interests you, it's worth pairing a walk here with a visit to Wynwood Walls for a fuller picture of Miami's outdoor art scene, though the two projects occupy very different urban contexts and moods.

How It Changes by Time of Day

Early morning, roughly 6:30 to 8:30 AM, is when The Underline operates at something close to its intended purpose. The air is cooler, the light comes in low and golden under the rail structure, and the population is almost entirely local: serious runners, people walking dogs before work, and the occasional cyclist. The smell of wet grass and morning humidity is strong. This window is the most peaceful the trail gets.

Midday in summer months is challenging. Miami's heat is not a rumor, and the Metrorail guideway provides partial but incomplete shade. Between June and September, sustained temperatures can reach the low 90s °F (around 32–33 °C), and the concrete and pavement in the exposed sections radiate heat. If you're visiting in summer, plan your walk before 9 AM or after 5 PM.

Late afternoon on weekends brings the trail's most social character. Food vendors, occasional pop-up fitness classes, and organized community events fill certain nodes. The stretch near Brickell station becomes noticeably more lively, with the foot traffic from the Metrorail station above filtering down. By early evening, as the temperature drops, it's common to see informal group runs, couples walking, and clusters of people sitting on benches facing the planted areas.

Practical Walkthrough: Getting There and Moving Through

The easiest way to reach the Brickell Backyard is via Metrorail to Brickell station, which places you directly adjacent to the northern end of Phase 1. Miami-Dade Transit's Metromover also serves the Brickell area, connecting to the free automated loop that covers Downtown and Brickell with multiple stops. The trail is designed to improve access to all eight Metrorail stations along the eventual 10-mile route, so it functions well as a walking connection between stations for visitors exploring the corridor.

For those driving, street parking exists in surrounding blocks, but Brickell's density means it can be limited. If you're combining this visit with other nearby attractions like Brickell City Centre, the parking structures there can serve as a base. Ride-hailing via Uber or Lyft drops off easily on the adjacent surface streets.

The entire trail is at ground level with no stairs required, which makes it one of the most genuinely accessible outdoor spaces in Miami. Strollers, wheelchairs, and mobility aids move freely along the paved sections. The surface varies between smooth asphalt trail, paved plazas, and planted grass areas, with the paved sections forming the continuous through-route.

Cyclists are welcome, and the trail functions as part of Miami's broader cycling network. Wear comfortable shoes for walking; the distances are not extreme, but the Brickell Backyard alone covers enough ground that you'll want something more practical than sandals if you plan to explore thoroughly.

Photography and Visiting Tips

The structural geometry of the Metrorail overhead creates strong photographic compositions: repeating concrete columns receding into the distance, light and shadow playing across the planted sections below. The golden hour windows, roughly 7 to 8 AM and the last 45 minutes before sunset, produce the most interesting light for photography, when the sun angles under the elevated structure rather than simply bleaching everything from above.

The art installations photograph well from multiple distances; some are designed as immersive environmental works that require stepping back to see the full composition, while others reward close-up detail shots of texture and material. Overcast days, common in Miami during the wet season, actually produce even, flattering light for both the plantings and the art works.

Visitors who plan to combine a walk here with broader neighborhood exploration can check the Miami attractions overview for ideas on pairing The Underline with other stops in the area.

Who Should Skip This Attraction

If your available time in Miami is very limited and you're prioritizing iconic single-destination experiences, The Underline in its current phase of completion may not rank at the top of your list. It is an urban infrastructure project as much as a park, and parts of the corridor are still under development. The experience rewards time and a slower pace rather than a quick visit for a photo and departure.

Visitors who dislike urban environments or who are specifically seeking natural landscapes will find it less compelling than Miami's genuine nature destinations. The setting is firmly urban: towers on both sides, elevated rail above, city sounds throughout. That said, the planting quality is high and the design is careful, so it doesn't feel hostile or sterile. It simply isn't a beach or a nature reserve.