Myakka River State Park, located in Sarasota, Florida, is one of my favorite places in the world. The immense state park contains wetlands, prairies, hammocks, and pinelands. Visitors can enjoy a non-developed nature: a rarity in Florida. Hundreds of species of wildlife can be found in their natural habitat, including the American Alligators Florida is so famous for.
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What to Do at Myakka River State Park
Hiking through the trails and backlands of the park is my favorite thing to do in Myakka: it’s the best way to get up close to wildlife! Boating, canoeing, fishing, and biking are all popular activities as well. The park offers guided boat tours, as well as cabin and campground rentals. Visitors also love the wildflower season, during the rainy summer months.
The abundant wildlife is what draws most people to this unique state park. Birders and bird watchers will especially love The Bird Walk: a boardwalk that ends in an open natural area, typically filled with birds. I have personally seen rare Roseate Spoonbills, Bald Eagles, and dozens of other birds here.
Hiking trails go through the entire 37,000 acres of the park and are often rugged due to the flooding that occurs frequently in South Florida wetlands. Trails differ widely, ranging from wetlands, prairies, hammocks, and pinelands with their associated wildlife and plant species. My personal favorite place to hike is Deep Hole: a karst sinkhole that is full of spring water during droughts. When the rest of the river dries up, hundreds of alligators can be seen in the tiny area. They’re practically stacked on top of each other!
The canopy walkway is a visitor favorite. The suspension bridge and connected tower offer views over the tops of the trees of the entire park. The walk is short and easy; just be prepared for mosquitos during the wet season!
Myakka Wildlife
The best way to get up close and personal with the wildlife in Myakka is to get a little adventurous, and potentially dirty. Animals are most often spotted away from the roads, and near unpaved hiking and biking trails. Gators, birds, and water life can be spotted by kayaking or canoeing near mangroves and wetlands. Check out this extensive kayaking guide from the Florida Rambler!
Wildlife can be spotted from the main road as well if hiking or kayaking is not an option. I have seen gators, deer, and various birds just by driving through the park. The Bird Walk and the Canopy Walk are easily accessible as well and great for spotting wildlife.
How to get to Myakka
Myakka River State Park can be easily visited from Sarasota, Orlando, Tampa, and Miami Florida. Located off of I-75 on State Road 72. It only costs $6 per car to enter the park! It’s one of the best places in Florida to see wildlife and natural landscapes that have not been developed by condos and burger chains. Check here for accommodation in Sarasota, and here for flights!
What to Bring
For those interested in hiking Myakka’s diverse trails, there are a few things you should bring. Florida is incredibly hot and humid, so water is a must. All visitors must bring their own water into the park for hiking and camping. Refreshments can be purchased from the Outpost, but I highly suggest bringing a large, reusable water bottle, and filling it before entering the park. Bring as much water with you as you can carry, because you will need it! I suggest a large, insulated bottle to keep water cool; like this one.
A camera is a must to capture the natural beauty and abundant wildlife in the park. For all the photos in this article, I used a Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX80 compact camera. For kayaking and canoeing, I suggest a waterproof GoPro camera for safety!
Bug spray, sunscreen, a hat, and good hiking shoes will make your trip to Myakka much more enjoyable. Florida is beautiful, but the sun, bugs, and terrain can be a pain sometimes! Polarized sunglasses will protect your eyes and allow you to see alligators and other wildlife in the water by shielding the glare. I also suggest a good pair of binoculars to view birds and alligators better, as they are not always right next to the trails!
A hiking backpack is essential to carry water, basic first aid equipment, and camera gear. A large backpacking backpack isn’t necessary. Use a smaller, lightweight pack instead to keep cool. This pack comes with a water pouch already inside the pack!
Myakka River State Park is a must for any visit to Florida. You won’t find a better way to see Florida’s natural, undisturbed ecosystem anywhere else!
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Lovely, totally different to the place s that we usually get to In The uk great to see your native wildlife!
The wildlife and nature found in Florida is unlike anywhere else in the world, including the rest of the United States!