Overview

Myakka River State Park is one of the oldest and largest state parks in Florida, encompassing 37,000 acres. It is well known for its abundant wildlife. This park has numerous ponds, marshes, swamps and streams, and the 7,500 acre wilderness preserve is like the Florida discovered by early explorers. The Myakka Hiking Trail meanders through hammocks of live oak and cabbage palm, across open palmetto flatwoods and along small marshes. The trail traverses broad open prairies up to two miles across, a preserved remnant of Central Florida’s original grasslands. The trail has six campsites: Bee Island, Honore, Panther Point, Prairie, Oak Grove, and Mossy Hammock. Each provides a pitcher pump for water but you must treat all water before using.

Deer, turkey, otter, wild hogs and bobcats inhabit this park, but hikers have to be lucky, quiet, and knowledgeable of animal habits to see them. There are also eagles, sandhill cranes, ospreys and alligators along with most types of Florida waterfowl. Florida panthers still live in this area, but the chance of coming across one is remote. There are poisonous water moccasins and pygmy rattlesnakes in the park, so use appropriate caution. All wildlife in the park is protected, including snakes.

The park headquarters has a museum, native programs, a boat ride and brochures on the park wildlife. There are remains of pioneer settlements and old cattle camps in the park.

Map

Myakka River State Park is located off SR 72, approximately 15 miles east of Sarasota. Follow the main park road back to the trailhead parking as indicated on the park map.

 Disclaimer: While FTA strives to maintain accurate information and is constantly updating its geodatabase, the trail and development along the trail corridor is constantly changing. The data has been collected from a variety of sources and accuracy varies. FTA provides this data for recreational purposes only and does not intend the data as a survey. 

Centerline data Florida Trail System (c) 2007 Florida Trail Association, Inc.

Trailheads

Get the lock combination and location from the ranger station when you enter the park. Look for a sign on the gate: "Backpacking Trail - Register at Park Office."

Features

Boardwalks

Campsites

Bee Island

Honore

Panther Point

Prairie

Oak Grove

Mossy Hammock  

History

Pioneer settlements

Cattle camps

Conditions

The footpath is well cared for. The terrain is flat and seasonally wet, with pine and palmetto landscape, oak hammocks and sloughs  

Precautions

The best time to hike Myakka is in the late fall and early spring, the drier seasons in this part of Florida. Hiking the trail when it is flooded is not recommended. Well water is available at primitive campsites but must be treated. Potable water is available at the park headquarters.

Restrictions

 There is a $3 per person per night fee charged for the primitive campsites. The primitive campsite also can and should be reserved up to 11 months in advance and you will have to specify which campsite you will be staying at each night. Only 12 people are allowed in each primitive site. Make reservations with the park at 941-361-6511.  

Resources

Myakka River State Park

South 2 Loop Trails

Hiker’s Guide to the Sunshine State

50 Hikes in South Florida

Sarasota Tourism