 Photo Courtesy Ben Prepelka
VIEW PHOTO GALLERY
State Park Location Maps:
(click here to zoom and navigate local map)
(click here to zoom and navigate regional map)
View TOPO Maps!
State Park Photo Gallery:
volunteer positions open
State Park Event Calendar:
volunteer positions open
 © Marina Yukho
VIEW PHOTO GALLERY
Nearby Parks:
Oscar Scherer State Park
Lake Manatee State Park
|
|
| State Park Overview: |
 | One of the oldest and largest state parks, Myakka protects one of the state?s most diverse natural areas. The Myakka River, designated as a Florida Wild and Scenic River, flows through 58 square miles of wetlands, prairies, hammocks, and pinelands. Visitors can enjoy wildlife viewing from a boardwalk that stretches out over the Upper Myakka Lake, then take to the treetops with a stroll along the canopy walkway. The park?s river and two lakes provide ample opportunities for boating, freshwater fishing, canoeing, and kayaking; a boat ramp provides access to Upper Myakka Lake. Hikers can explore trails that cross large expanses of rare Florida dry prairie. Scenic lake tours are offered daily on the world?s two largest airboats. Safari tram tours of the park?s backcountry are offered from mid-December through May. Full-facility campgrounds and primitive campsites are available. Five palm log cabins, built in the 1930s by the Civilian Conservation Corps, have been modernized for comfortable lodging. Located nine miles east of Sarasota on State Road 72. |
| Reviews By Park Visitors: |
| Be the 1st to Review Myakka River State Park. You can rate it, post a comment on it, or do both. |
| |
| Camping: |
| Full Facility Camping
76 campsites. All have water and electirc. Most sites have 30 amp service. For a $10.00 refundable deposit, tent campers can pick up an electrical adapter from the ranger station. A wastewater dump station is located near Old Prairie campground. All campsites are located within 40 yards of restroom facilities with hot showers. All sites are dirt base; few sites have vegetation buffers. Pets are prohibited overnight in the park.
RV's
RV's up to 35' are allowed in the park. A dump station is available.
Youth Camping
Three group camping areas accommodate up to 20 people each. Preference for reservations is given to groups with more than 50% of campers under 18 years of age. |
| Trails: |
| Horse Trails
Bring your own horse and register to ride the 14-mile, multi-looped trail. Proof of negative Coggins test is required. There?s an additional fee for use of the horse trail. The trail passes through hammock, prairie, and wetlands and is extremely wet and buggy during the summer.
Nature Trail
Walk through the treetops and then climb a 74-foot tower for an eagle?s-eye view of hammocks and wetlands.
|
| Picnicking: |
| Picnic areas with tables and grills are designated on the park brochure and on the park map (download from right column of this page). Pavilions can be reserved for a fee. Unreserved pavilions are available on a first come basis.
Reservation Fees:
Log pavilion (seats 60 people) $60 +tax
South pavilion (seats 111 people)$60 + tax
Clay gully pavilion (40 people)$30 + tax
Lake pavilion (40 people) $30 + tax |
| Boating: |
| A boat ramp provides access to Upper Myakka Lake.
Canoeing & Kayaking
Fourteen miles of the Myakka Wild and Scenic River flow through the park. Bring your own canoe or kayak, or rent from Myakka River Outpost. A boat ramp on the Upper Myakka Lake provides access to the river and both lakes. Additional canoe launch locations are at picnic areas along the main drive. During periods of low water (winter and spring) it is necessary to portage around the weir at the south end of the Upper Myakka Lake. It may also be necessary to portage along shallow portions of the river or when blockages of water hyacinths occur. |
| Fishing and Hunting: |
| The fishing pier is ADA accessible, this partly roofed platform enhances fishing opportunities where the Myakka River joins with Upper Myakka Lake. The pier is accessible to wheelchairs. You?ll also find an interactive alligator display with sounds of pigfrogs and alligators. |
| History of the Area: |
| The Seminoles called the river, 'Myakka,' translation unknown. From the 1850s to the early 1900's cattle grazed freely on the dry prairie. This vast land of grasses and low shrubs was dotted with thousands of wetlands.
In the early 1900's, most of what is now state park was a cattle ranch. The first parcel of land for the park was purchased from the Palmer family who owned the ranch. Today, visitors can walk the road where the ranch foreman's house once stood.
Between 1934 and 1941, the Civilian Conservation Corps, with help from the National Park Service and Florida Park Service, constructed facilities and developed the park. Myakka River State Park was opened in 1942. Many of the original buildings are still in use today.
Historically, lightning ignited fires across the prairie and wetlands. Plants and animals depended on this natural burning for their survival. Then people suppressed fire. Much of the prairie grew into shrub or treed areas.
Many endangered plants and animals such as the Florida grasshopper sparrow need the prairie to survive. People also benefit from the stores of fresh water that the prairie provides.
Myakka River State Park is dedicated to restoring the prairie. Methods include prescribed burns and mechanical treatment. The prairie is emerging once again. |
| |
|
| |
| | Note to Park related businesses:
List your vacation cabin, weekend getaway, log cabin rental, romantic cottage, vacation home, resort, hotel, motel, bed and breakfast, country inn, campground, RV park, horseback riding stable, canoe livery, river rafting, outfitting, sporting goods store, guide service, RV rental or any other park related activity, park related attraction or park related service on Google or StateParks.com. (more).... |
|
| Related Links: |
| Myakka River State Park - Myakka River State Park Overview. | | Myakka River State Park - Myakka River State Park is one of Florida's oldest and largest state parks. The "Florida Wild and Scenic Myakka River" flows through 45 square miles of wetlands, prairies and woodlands. Myakka is ... | | Myakka River State Park, Florida - Myakka River State Park, FL University of Florida Aquatic, Wetland and Invasive Plant Information Retrieval System Contributions to the Myakka River State Park picture collection are welcome ... | | Gators On Tap At Myakka River State Park - from Tampa Bay Online - TBO.com News - a comprehensive news and information site from Tampa Bay Online, including breaking ... MARK GUSS/Tribune Alligators are abundant at Myakka River State Park. They are not to be ... | | Myakka River State Park - Central Florida Kayak Trips - Kayak trips in Central Florida. The Myakka River State Park is one of Florida's largest state parks at over 28,000 acres of land and water. The park is home of thousands of big and small... | | Cloudeight Stationery, Free Windows Screen Savers, "Myakka River State Park" - stationery | acpressions | quicknotes | screen savers | wonderscreens | mail list | cloudeight cd | contact us. D. Rusty Rust, artist-photographer, will take you on a virtual tour of this... | | Wood stork at Myakka River State Park - Photo of wood stork copyright EcoFlorida magazine ... Wood Stork at Myakka River State Park | | Killdeer at Myakka River State Park - Photo of killdeer copyright EcoFlorida magazine ... Killdeer at Myakka River State Park |
| Nature Programs: |
| Interpretive Programs
Nature Walk--Saturdays at 9:00 a.m. Join a park ranger for a walk in the park to discover the many secrets of nature. Terrain is moderately rough. Wear comfortable walking shoes. Park entrance fee. Campfire Programs (Thanksgiving through Easter) Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. Sit back and enjoy intriguing stories about the "Real Florida" by the light of a flickering fire. Programs last approximately 30 minutes and are usually illustrated with color slides. Park entrance fee. Beginning Birding (Thanksgiving through Easter) Sundays at 9;00 a.m. Want a fascinating new hobby? Learn the basic skills of birding and discover one of Florida?s premiere birding hot spots. Binoculars and field guides are provided. Easy terrain. Park entrance fee.
Tours
Hop aboard one of the world's two largest airboats, the " Myakka Maiden," or the " Gator Gal" for a scenic cruise on the Upper Myakka Lake. Discover what makes the Myakka unique among America's freshwater lakes. Hear intriguing stories about the alligator, anhinga, and sandhill crane as you become acquainted with the variety of creatures that make their home here. These air-powered vessels venture into the shallow, grassy areas where traditional crafts of such size wouldn't dare to go. The leisurely ride is so safe and smooth you'll have no problem taking photographs to bring home. Tour schedule & prices You don't have to " rough it" to take Myakka Wildlife Tours' special " Tram Safari" into the backcountry of Myakka River State Park. Discover what life in old Florida was like as you see it through the eyes of the early settlers. Learn to detect clues of the presence of resident wildlife as you pass through shady hammocks, majestic pine flatwoods, fertile marshes and sunny prairies. If you want to gain an understanding of the intricate workings of a natural ecosystem in progress, you have to experience it for yourself. Tour schedule & prices Scenic Drive: A 7- mile drive winds through shady hammocks, grassy marshes and along the Upper Lake. |
| Area Attractions: |
| Concessions
Myakka Outpost sells camping and fishing supplies, t-shirts and hats, field guides and nature books, souvenirs, and good things to eat such as gator stew, gator jerky, gator sandwiches, ice cream and snacks. They also rent bicycles, canoes and kayaks.
Birding
The park is famous for birding opportunities. Shallow lakes, thousands of wetlands and the diversity of habitats account for the nearly 100 species of birds listed as common or abundant on the park bird list. Beginning Birding classes are offered Sunday mornings, Thanksgiving through Easter.
|
| Directions: |
| Myakka River State Park is located 9 miles east of I-75 in Sarasota on S.R. 72. |
|
|
| |
|
USA
