Myakka River State Park
As a tack on activity to fill-out our day trip to Sarasota, we decided to pay a visit to Myakka State Park. In the chilly weather and without chairs or blankets, our visit to Lido Key was destined to peter out after our sixty-minute walk up and down the shore. Though, some french fries and vinegar would have helped.
We needed another outdoor activity to fill out the day and the map app was indicating a funny sounding State Park within a half-hour’s drive. And they have a canopy walk.
I had recently discovered a great hiking resource blog called Florida Hikes! and consulted their site for info on Myakka. From a cursory scan while crossing over to St. Armands Circle, I liked what they described so we climbed in the sporty little runabout and headed inland.
There is much to do at Myakka and only a weekend camping trip could provide enough time to experience it all. However, even from our first visit, a fraction of a day trip, I thought there’d be enough to share a few thoughts on the experience.
What attracted me on this particular day was the low entrance fee (I have since purchased a state park pass so our fee will be even lower in the future) and the Canopy Walk–a wooden bridge suspended 25 feet above the earth among the canopy of live oaks and pine. As opposed to wandering a typical nature trail, this seemed like a unique destination activity and I was game. Christa agreed. We were there in under 40 minutes.
Myakka River State Park
13208 State Road 72
Sarasota, FL 34241
Phone: (941) 361-6511
Open Sunday – Saturday
8:00 a.m. to sunset
Fees:
$6.00 per vehicle. Limit 2-8 people per vehicle.
$4.00 Single Occupant Vehicle.
$2.00 Pedestrians, bicyclists, extra passengers, passengers in vehicle with holder of Annual Individual Entrance Pass.
www.floridastateparks.org/park/Myakka-River
Six bucks got us inside and we drove the winding road to the Myakka Canopy Walkway and Observation Tower. On the way, we crossed the Myakka River over a low concrete bridge. Lush grassy banks met the gentle olive and azure flow with a thin border of sand.
Dozens of cars were pulled over to the shoulder and people were crowding the bridge walls, gawking. Through the window, I could see several black logs on a bank some distance away. A small log yawned. Crocogators! There were too many vehicles pulled over at the time for us to stop, but as these were the first we’d seen since we moved down here, I hoped they would still be there when we doubled back.
We got to the parking area for the Canopy Walkway and made our way around the short loop trail to the spot. The circuit is just under a mile of wide, sandy pathway, strewn with crispy oak leaves, that cuts through spindly oaks and sabal palms. Saw palmetto fill out the undergrowth while ferns enrobe the oak branches.
The path opened into a clearing dominated by two stout wooden towers. A narrow wood suspension bridge resembling a length of train track connected the top of the shorter structure to the middle of the taller one. Crossing the span gives pedestrians an up-close tour of the canopy of live oak and palm trees to observe the flora and fauna that thrive in the treetop world.
Colorful and textural air plants, ferns, bromeliads, reptiles, insects (and arachnids), and birds inhabit these worlds above the world and are quite interesting to see. At this time of year and possibly due to the chilled air, all we saw was bark, leaves, ferns and air plants. I’m sure the experience is magnified in the spring.
The walk is suspended with steel cables and it sways and undulates with each step. The motion makes for an enhanced experience which, depending on your particular nerd genes, could remind you of being amongst the Ewoks of Endor or the elves of Lothlorien. Otherwise, think…I don’t know…gangplank to a sailboat? Temple of Doom? Victory Tower! Any Fort Jackson alums?
Based on canopy walks I’ve seen elsewhere, I was expecting something a little more expansive, but as it stood–cheap as chips and with new things to learn–what’s to complain about.
The walk provided a gorgeous view of the surrounding landscape from twenty-five feet in the air, and, for something really grand, the larger tower climbs an additional fifty feet for a startlingly high vantage point over the entire park. The panoramic views are stunning, sweeping over the pine flats, hardwood hammocks, ash wetlands, and prairie.
We made our way around and down the wooden tower stairs and rejoined the trail to complete the short loop. There wasn’t much in the way of wildlife, except for the scampering anoles and cacophonous birds. Upturned earth showed signs of rooting wild hogs. There were more than a few people walking the trails, so I’m sure the critters were wary of showing their faces.
Back in the car, we followed the road a bit further into the park. We wound up at a dead end near the Historic Weir, built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1940s. The dam forms Lake Myakka–a prime pool for bird watching, fishing, and paddling. Along the way, there, and back we saw many birds, including ibis, egrets, herons, and black vultures.
We then returned to the bridge to see if the gators were still lounging. The presence of several gawkers said they were, so we pulled over and walked up to get a look. Two medium-sized reptiles and a juvenile were basking on a bank about 100 feet away (the logs from earlier.) One or two floated aimlessly with the sluggish current.
As we decided to leave, one of the floaters changed direction and headed our way. I wanted to stick around for him to get into good iPhone camera range, but he was moving slower than a fat gator on a lazy river. I need to work on my southern similes; that was too on the nose. On the gator nose…eh? Eh? We gave up and moved on.
Myakka River State Park offers almost 40 miles of loop trails to hike through prairie, scrub, flats, forest, and wetlands. There’s also 7 miles of paved road and access to backcountry dirt roads for bicycling. There are various habitat to watch all types of birds and wildlife and a visitors center is onsite offering films and wildlife exhibits.
Cabins (also built by the CCC) and campsites (both primitive and with electric/water service) are available. Additionally, there are boat and tram tours from Myakka Wildlife Tours. The Myakka Outpost offers bicycles, kayaks, and canoes for rent and features an in-park restaurant–The Pink Gator Cafe.
We did not use any of these activities or concessions other than the canopy walk and the surrounding trail. When we return and experience the other features I’ll write about them, then. Stay tuned.
Our first experience at Myakka River State Park was enjoyable time well spent in the outdoors and we barely scratched the surface. The Canopy walk was informative and offered great views and activity. The surrounding trail was modest but enjoyable–perfect for an afternoon or after-meal stroll. The park drive itself offered opportunities for bird sightings and those crocogators. We agreed it was six dollars well spent and we would come back for more.
Thanks for reading!