![]() Also the alligators bask on the water’s edge soaking up the sun’s warmth during the cooler temperatures. The best time to kayak on the river is when the water level is low (winter & spring) and the wind is calm, which draws more birds to the shoreline. Alligators were present, but not aggressive, just make sure to keep your distance and they won’t bother you. [John’s phone number is 941.266.3614 and his schedule is on the Littoral Society’s website of It was an easy, leisurely paddle downstream (one-way trip). I was with local Sarasota guide and naturalist, John Sarkozy of the Southeastern Littoral Society. Recently, I enjoyed a two-hour kayak trip on the Myakka River beginning at the Upper Lake weir continuing to the South picnic area. The tours travel up an old road (built by the Civilian Conservation Corps) while riders view the wildlife and natural communities of pine flatwoods, prairies, marshes and hammocks.ĭesignated as a Florida Wild and Scenic River, the Myakka gently flows through the park, giving paddlers a chance to see the variety of habitats that flourish there. The adjoining 74-foot tower gives visitors a panorama of the park with a vista of prairies, wetlands and forest.Īlso, consider the Myakka Wildlife Safari tram (available mid-December through end of May). Visitors get a unique and special view of the subtropical hammock forest and its plant communities – especially the bromeliads and lichens. When my son got older, we visited the popular Myakka Canopy, an 85-foot suspended bridge high in the tree top canopy. During the tourist season (winter/spring) you’ll want to go early to secure your ticket, as the tours often sell out. The guide will be on the lookout for wildlife, pointing out alligators, reciting facts, and plenty of Myakka folklore. The scenic one-hour boat ride tours the Upper Myakka Lake, and is led by a knowledgeable captain. The older, rustic boats reminded me of the African Queen (the boat and movie with Humphrey Bogart and Katharine Hepburn). Myakka is a delightful family park. When my son was small we went on the large airboats called the Gator Gal and Myakka Maiden. If you want to see wildlife, consider hiking a trail, riding the airboat, visiting the birding boardwalk, or the weir (small overflow damn) at the south end of the Upper Myakka Lake, where wildlife always seems to be present. The Outpost also has canoes, kayaks, and bikes available for rent. ![]() Continuing along the road, you’ll notice a vast marsh before arriving at the Myakka Outpost where boat rides and tram tours begin. Upon leaving the Visitor Center, a glimpse of “old” Florida welcomes you while driving along Park Drive with towering oak trees draped with moss, and numerous stands of sabal palms, the state tree. The Center provides educational exhibits, videos, maps, and brochures on Myakka and its wildlife – especially alligators, a prime attraction to the park. There’s a lot to do in the park and your choices will depend on what you enjoy the most. The best way to get an overview of Myakka is to stop at the Visitors Center and chat with the ranger. Visitors can hike, bike, fish, bird, boat, enjoy an old-fashioned tram ride, a canopy walk, or camp and picnic – all in the surroundings of one of the State’s most authentic Florida settings. Myakka is a park that has something for everyone. A delightful slice of scenic “real” Florida awaits you on the state’s southwest coast, east of Sarasota.Ĭovering approximately 58 square miles of riverine swamp, wetlands, prairies, hammocks, and pinelands, Myakka River State Park is one of the state’s oldest and largest parks. In the 1930s, the Civilian Conservation Corps was charged with developing the facilities, some of which are in use today. ![]() If you are searching for natural Florida, look no further than Myakka River State Park.
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