Shark Valley Bike Trail Everglades National Park 1

Shark Valley Bike Trail Everglades National Park

Shark Valley Bike Trail Everglades National Park 2 “Crikey!” To quote Steve Irwin, that’s how I felt yesterday while doing a 15 mile bike trek at Shark Valley in the Florida Everglades National Park.  Shark Valley is located in the Northern most part of the Everglades 30 miles west of Miami and about 75 miles east of Naples on US 41 (Tamiami Trail.) It’s the third largest National Park in the Continental US.

It was definitely worth the hour and some change trip. We arrived a little after 12:30 PM. It cost us $10.00 to enter the parking lot near the 15 mile loop paved trail. The ticket is good for 7 days into any entrance in the National Park. How freakin’ cool is that? They also offer Tram tours but I recommend either walking part of the trail or best of all biking (if you’re able.) You can also catch numerous Air Boat Tours off of Tamiami Trail.

Tram tours are controlled and walking the trail or biking gives you a more up close and personal view of the Sawgrass Prairie and wildlife along the trail. Be sure to bring plenty of water, sunscreen, bug spray, and maybe some snacks. Whatever you do don’t feed the wildlife! That is a big no no.

Children under 10 are required helmets just FYI. Oh, and don’t rent the park’s bikes. Every mile or so someone was fixing either a broken chain or had tire problems.  They’re pretty rickety.

The trail closet to the Visitors Center and entrance to the parking lot is the one you will want to start out on.  I’ll get to the reason why later.  Immediately when we entered the parking lot I had already spotted a huge Alligator on the other side of the marsh. Shark Valley Bike Trail Everglades National Park 3 I made TZ drop me off so I could snap a few photos while he unloaded our bikes from the back of the truck.  Nice girlfriend huh?

It was the perfect day for the trip.  We’ve had an unseasonably cool Winter here in south Florida this year and luckily there was no humidity and best of all no biting bugs to contend with. The sun was shining in almost clear blue skies. Everything was so green and vibrant. Shark Valley Bike Trail Everglades National Park 4 While TZ snapped this photo, me and the tourists behind me were checking out a baby gator. Cute as all get out! Shark Valley Bike Trail Everglades National Park 5 Not much further down the trail we spotted a Mama gator with about six of her youngins. Shark Valley Bike Trail Everglades National Park 6 Some were taking a swim close to Mom while others were hitching a ride on her head and back. Shark Valley Bike Trail Everglades National Park 7 How cute is that?

Other wildlife was just as plentiful. Here you can spot three turtles in a row and I’m not sure what type of bird this was but it wanted in the photo. Shark Valley Bike Trail Everglades National Park 8

Here are a few other photos of birds which I’m not sure what they were. Shark Valley Bike Trail Everglades National Park 9This is where a tour guide would have come in handy. Shark Valley Bike Trail Everglades National Park 10 If anyone might know please feel free to drop some knowledge on me. At first I thought these were Pink Flamingos Shark Valley Bike Trail Everglades National Park 11 but after Googling a question I came up with either a Pink Ibis or Pink Spoonbill. Anyone know? Anyone?

Not far down from these birds we spotted this gator which appeared to be doing a death roll in the water, Shark Valley Bike Trail Everglades National Park 12 but I think it was just trying to eat some small fish around it really. Kids, don’t try this at home. It’s important you respect the Alligators and their environment. Note the piece of dead Sawgrass on the gator.  In an attempt to get a better photo of the gator, someone who shall remain nameless *cough cough Me* threw a piece of dead sawgrass into the water to get the gator to come up out of the water. This gator hissed at us so we hauled ass out of there moved forward in a pretty damn fast manor.

Seriously, respect all the wildlife in the park.  It’s important to remember that these are wild animals who can strike at any moment. Make sure to keep a safe distance. Remember that the trail is surrounded by gators on both sides. If you’re snapping photos have someone look around or if alone pay attention to what is around you. I think in this situation the buddy system is always best.

Halfway through the bike trail there is a 64 foot observation deck to view the breathtaking Prairie and wildlife from another perspective. Shark Valley Bike Trail Everglades National Park 13. To the right of TZ was a lovely marsh area adorned with lily pads. Shark Valley Bike Trail Everglades National Park 14 Swim anyone? Anyone?

While walking up the observation deck we spotted a Snapping Turtle in the water below.  Shark Valley Bike Trail Everglades National Park 15 Well at least that is what someone else said it was. Once up on the deck I zoomed in on a group of sunbathing gators. Shark Valley Bike Trail Everglades National Park 16 On the way back down I snapped this photo of the vast land which reminded of an African Safari. Shark Valley Bike Trail Everglades National Park 17Although, I’m not sure, but I think I can see an Indian Casino at 1:00.

This is probably one of my favorite photos of the gators. Shark Valley Bike Trail Everglades National Park 18

After we came down from the observation deck it was time to head back. We were only mid-way through the trail. We still had 7.5 miles to go. We noticed most everyone was going back the way they came from. The good “rule followers” we are… errrrrr ehemmmm… we went counter clock wise the way the website had recommended.

About 10 minutes later we realized why everyone went back the way they came. This side of the trail was just mostly vast prairie land with almost no sight of gators. Mostly just birds and Sawgrass. It made the ride seem so much longer.

However, we did stumble upon a few loner gators, which still made it worth the trip back. At least that’s what I tried to convince myself.  Shark Valley Bike Trail Everglades National Park 19 At that point I was trying my damnedest not to complain and be positive. I’m not kidding, my rump was sore! I saw no end to that trail in sight.  Only vast land with a few straggler bikers.

The whole trip probably took us somewhere around 3 to 3 and a half hours with exploring, photographing, and resting. I recommend this trip to anyone that is able to sustain. What a great day!

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15 Comments

  1. Absolutely awesome photos. The only gators we have in Kentucky are, of course, in zoos or aquariums.

    http://timkeen40.wordpress.com

    I love Florida, by the way.

     
  2. Thanks Tim. I finally had a chance to try out my new Cannon S95 camera my boyfriend bought me for Christmas. This was the perfect place to do it. I love Florida too. My goal this year is to get out and explore more of it by taking day and weekend trips. Thanks for reading and commenting.

     
  3. Good grief!!! That’s one heck of a bike obstacle course. Have they lost many cyclists??? I don’t know how enthusiastic I would be to cycle there

     
  4. Tony, I have to imagine that they have more than a few bikers missing from time to time. The trail was crowed with people and even children. Most everyone I observed seemed to be respectful and aware of the inhabitants. If me… the biggest scared y cat alive can do it, I bet you could too!

     
  5. HEY GIRL THATS AN ADVENTURE.GREAT PICS .VERY PROUD OF YOU LOL HEY AUBURN COLLEGE FOOTBALL TEAM NO.1 GIRL
    MISS YA

     
    • Thanks Old Friend. It was an adventure that’s for sure. I need to email you. Have so much to catch you up on since we last spoke. Be on look out for an email soon.
      Hugs g/f! Oh, and Yeah Auburn!

       
  6. My children would have to wear a lot more than a helmet if we went there! Do they rent strolling safety cages? Holy bleep!

     
    • lmao Jean, No I didn’t see any strolling cages. Really, I was pleasantly surprised at how calm and unafraid I was. Although, I have to admit a few times as I was whizzing along the trail that out of no where a gator would be inches from the trail, and I would let out a yelp. You really do have to be aware at all times.

       
  7. Did you happen to pass a boneyard, where unsuspecting cyclists were hauled off their bikes by ravenous gators? Perhaps a pile of mangled bikes? Those gators must get cranky when their don’t get their fix of tourists for dinner. Sounds like quite the experience. B

     
    • lol B. No I didn’t see a boneyard of tattered and torn bikes, however I have a theory that those are the bikes they collect and rent out to visitors! Explains why the rentals were always broken down on the trail.

       
      • B, I googled that question and amazingly, there has never been an attack on a human being at shark valley! Can you believe it? Crocs however might be a whole different ball game. They also happen to inhabit the Glades but I have never seen one.

         
  8. This is GREAT! I loved the advice, the adventure and you definitely had me laughing too. I do think there was an Indian Casino in the distance… LOL!

     
  9. Sunny, it always brightens my day or night to see you stop by! Ya know… I’ve lived her in Florida for 4 years now and have never once been to one Casino here. That’s like your brother-in-law who bowled for the first time at age 49. Yay for trying new things before 50! I still have some time 😉

     
  10. You are NUTS to throw something at a gator to get it to pose for you, argh!!! Still, it looks like you had a great time and got some great photos. I think the only way I’d ever get close enough to gators would be by car, rather on bike. Swamps spook me out, lol.

     
  11. Gigi, First let me say, that I didn’t throw it AT the gator. I threw the dead grass in the water near his snout. I knew that they come to the surface and investigate ripples that’s why I did it. Still, in retrospect it wasn’t the smartest thing to do after hearing that hissing noise that I’ve heard on the Discovery channel so many times, I knew it was best to leave.

    I actually googled a question to see if there have ever been any disappearances or deaths in the park from gators and there has never been a one. Not even an attack reported. Really, Alligators don’t see humans as a food source they prefer smaller animals and fish or turtles and birds. Although attacks on humans will happen from time to time and usually its when people are near water not paying attention. However, there are crocodiles here in Florida also and they are VERY aggressive towards people, and do view them as a food source. Luckily I didn’t see one that day, nor do I ever want to. Now those, I’m definitely scared of.

     

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