Experiences & Amenities
Experiences
Myakka offers bicyclists an opportunity to explore diverse Florida ecosystems. Seven miles of paved road wind through shady hammocks, along grassy marshes and the shore of the Upper Myakka Lake. The North Drive often has less traffic than the main drive. Bicycles are permitted on backcountry dirt roads north of State Road 72 and on the Myakka Island Trail to the Carlton Reserve. Some roads are hardpacked and grassed-over; others may be sandy, muddy or dug up by feral pigs. Roads are often flooded in summer.
Maps are available at the ranger station. Helmets are highly recommended for all cyclists and Florida law requires helmets for cyclists age 16 and under.
Myakka is a wonderful place to see birds of all kinds. Myakka's 37,000-plus acres provide wonderful habitat for wading birds, raptors, songbirds, migratory birds, and ducks. Whether you are a professional or amateur birder, you won't be disappointed.
Check out the Wings Over Florida program. Bird lists are available in the ranger station. This is a great, self-driven program for those who love observing Florida's natural beauty.
From November through mid-April, there is a bird naturalist at the Birdwalk most days of the week from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. Call the ranger station ahead of time at 941-361-6511 to see if they are on duty the day you plan to visit.
Every day, flat-bottomed boats take visitors on a ride around the Upper Myakka Lake. See wildlife up-close and learn all about Myakka River State Park. Don't forget your camera!
Tours run at 9 a.m., 11 a.m., 1 p.m., 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. No reservations; tickets are sold on a first-come, first-served basis. Tours may be cancelled due to weather conditions.
Fees
- $22 plus tax for adults.
- $12 plus tax for children ages 3 to 12.
- Free for children 2 and under.
The tour is 45 to 60 minutes long. The seating is covered but not enclosed; please be prepared to be outside for this length of time. Cash and credit cards (except American Express) are accepted. Special arrangements and rates are available for groups of 25 or more people.
Please call 941-923-0220 for more information.
The park features three campgrounds with 90 campsites. Each site is equipped with 50-amp electrical service, water, a fire ring and picnic table. The sites in Palmetto Ridge also have sewer hook-ups. A dump station is located near Old Prairie Campground. Laundry facilities are available to all campers in Old Prairie and Palmetto Ridge campgrounds. All campsites are located within 40 yards of restroom facilities with hot showers.
Sites in Old Prairie and Big Flats are dirt-based. The sites in Palmetto Ridge are gravel-based, except for four ADA paved sites adjoining restrooms. Old Prairie and Big Flats do not have vegetation buffers.
The Big Flats Campground is located near the Upper Myakka Lake, Myakka Outpost and Wi-Fi.
Old Prairie and Palmetto Ridge campgrounds are located near the State Road 72 park entrance, the Myakka River, the campfire circle and Myakka Friends Gift Shop. Well-behaved pets are welcome in these three campgrounds, up to four per site.
- Hammock camping is permitted on campsite numbers 7, 8, 11, 15, 23, 27, 33 and 48. A limited number of hammocks are designated on each of these sites based on number of appropriate trees available.
- Reservations can be made up to 11 months in advance. For reservations, visit the Florida State Parks reservations website or call 800-326-3521 or TDD 888-433-0287.
There are six primitive campgrounds (Mossy Hammock, Bee Island, Honore, Panther Point, Oak Grove and Prairie) located along the hiking trails for backpackers. These rustic settings provide campers with a fire pit and post to hang items. Each campground has three campsites, and a maximum of four people may be on each site. Only Bee Island, Oak Grove and Prairie have water pumps. Water at these sites is not potable; it requires boiling/chemical treatment. Other sites do not have water; you must bring your own. The terrain is primarily prairie, and dehydration is possible even on the coolest days.
Distance from Trailhead | Arrival Time: Minimum Number of Hours before Sunset | Water Available at Site (NOT potable) | Bicycling to Site Permitted | |
Mossy Hammock | 2.2 mi | 2 hours | No | Yes |
Bee Island |
5.4 mi | 3 hours | Yes | Yes |
Honore | 8.7 mi | 5 hours | No | No |
Panther Point | 8.6 mi | 5 hours | No | No |
Oak Grove | 9.5 mi | 7 hours | Yes | Yes |
Prairie | 14.1 mi | 9 hours | Yes | No |
- No pets or alcohol allowed.
- Primitive camping is $5 plus tax per person, per night.
- See the site locations and trail map. Please choose your site before you reserve!
- To reserve one our primitive campsites, call the ranger station at 941-361-6511. Have date and site requests prepared.
Fishing is permitted in the park for those with a Florida freshwater fishing license. Fishing licenses are not sold at the park. You can purchase at MyFWC.com or local retailers.
- Do not dispose of fishing line or other materials in the water.
- Do not feed or disturb the alligators.
- Brown hoplo, blue tilapia, vermiculated sailfin catfish and walking catfish are exotic/invasive species. If you catch them, please do not release them live in the water. Dispose of them properly.
- Cast-netting is permitted for exotic species catch only. No cast-netting from structures.
- Crabbing, frogging, spear fishing and bow fishing are strictly prohibited.
Myakka does not have a specified fishing pier, but anglers are welcome at the Upper Myakka Lake and Myakka River. Good spots to fish include behind the South Pavilion, Log Pavilion and nearby the Clay Gully Pavilion. Many people choose to fish from the bridge; please be aware of overcrowding and traffic conditions.
Geocaching is an outdoor game using hand-held global positioning systems (GPS) devices. It's an inexpensive, interactive, high-tech "treasure" hunt that's a great way to learn geography. Participants use location coordinates to find caches. Some caches are easy to find; others are more difficult. The biggest reward is the thrill of the search and the discovery of a place where you have never been. Geocaching should have minimal impact to the environment and conscientious land-use ethics should be followed.
The Myakka Trail includes a 38.9-mile hiking loop trail maintained by the Florida Trail Association. Backcountry roads crisscross the trail, allowing hikers to shorten or lengthen hiking trips. Discover shady live oak/palm hammocks, sandy pine flatwoods, sunny dry prairies, and marshes teeming with life.
Hiking at Myakka offers visitors relief from life's daily hassle and a chance to get away from it all. Late fall, winter and early spring are ideal hiking seasons. Summer hiking, especially on the shadeless prairie, can be extremely hot, and hikers should beware of heat exhaustion and dehydration. Insects may be a problem at any time. Trails are often flooded during rainy periods and may be overgrown in the summer and early fall.
Always carry water, a map, and compass or GPS. Wear appropriate sturdy footwear. Maps are available at the ranger station.
Myakka has 12 miles of designated horse trails. If ridden together, it becomes a 15-mile journey. Upon arrival at the park, riders must bring proof of negative Coggins test to the ranger station for all horses on state park property. The ranger station will provide the gate code for access to the horse trails.
Please see our Horse Trail brochure for more information.
The 66-mile Florida Wild and Scenic Myakka River flows through 58 square miles of wetlands, prairies, hammocks and pinelands, starting in northeast Manatee County and ending in Charlotte Harbor. Fourteen miles flow through Myakka River State Park. The river and its two shallow lakes attract a myriad of wetland creatures, making birding, canoeing, fishing and wildlife observation popular activities. Canoeing and kayaking south of State Road 72, within the park, is limited access and requires a permit from the ranger station.
Paddlers should be aware of water levels. During the dry season, portaging may be required in many places along the river. During the wet season, the river current becomes very strong and the river widens into nearby hammocks, potentially causing navigational difficulties. Please be sure to check weather and wind conditions before planning your trip.
If you plan to canoe or kayak during your visit, you can bring your own vessel or rent from the outpost located within the park.
Fifty-eight square miles of protected nature allow visitors to see an abundance of thriving wildlife. Bobcats, otters, alligators and 100-plus species of birds can be seen at Myakka. The Florida dry prairie, a globally imperiled ecosystem, comprises more than half the park. This is the second most biodiverse ecosystem in North America, and it is full of diverse plants.
Amenities
Myakka River State Park is committed to providing a variety of amenities accessible to all of our visitors.
These amenities include:
- Myakka River boat tours.
- Pink Gator Café.
- Myakka Gifts and Boutique.
- Interpretive exhibits.
- Campsites with concrete pad, picnic table, ground grill and nearby restrooms. Picnic facilities with tables and grills.
- Historic cabin.
- Parking.
- Restrooms.
Service animals are welcome in all areas of Florida State Parks.
Nearby the Log Pavilion, Myakka River State Park has an amphitheater. Permanent benches face a speaker's podium with a screen available for slideshow viewing. There is also a large campfire pit nearby (to the left of the screen). During season, rangers give campfire circle presentations at the amphitheater about the park's history and resources. It is a wonderful place for school groups, Scout troops, book clubs, speakers and others.
The amphitheater is surrounded by a lush oak/palm hammock, immersing visitors in nature and providing privacy from busy park activity. The log bathroom (shared with the Log Pavilion) is nearby.
The amphitheater is approximately 1/4 mile from the park entrance on State Road 72. There is a small parking area shared with Log Pavilion visitors nearby.
Myakka has a boat ramp near the concession area. All motorized boats must pay $4 to launch (payment accepted at the ranger station). Trailer parking is nearby. Boats must observe strict minimum speed/no wake regulations.
Myakka does not have strict motor size restrictions, but seasonal water level variation prevents some engines from operation. During especially dry times, Myakka may close the ramp to all vessels. For current conditions, please call the ranger station.
To access areas of the park south of State Road 72, boaters must have a wilderness preserve permit. Only 30 people are allowed south of 72 per day, and all people going must register at the ranger station on the day they would like to go.
Myakka River State Park is sometimes visited by manatees. We are closely monitoring their behavior. If you see a manatee, please let the ranger station know. Please try to have the location of the manatee, time of sighting, any distinguishable markings (scars, size, etc.) and pictures if possible.
To fish at the park, you must have a Florida freshwater fishing license. These are not sold at the park. You can purchase a license at www.MyFWC.com or local retailers such as Economy Tackle and Walmart.
Stay the night in a log cabin at one of Florida's oldest and largest state parks. Built by the Civilian Conservation Corps between 1934 and 1941, each of the historic palm log cabins includes a bathroom with shower, fully equipped kitchen and a large common room that sleeps up to six guests. A porch and fireplace add to the charm of these historic cabins. Linens, light thermal blankets, kitchen utensils, coffee pot and microwave oven are provided.
- For the guest's relaxation, televisions, phones and Wi-Fi are not provided.
- Reservations can be made up to 11 months in advance. For reservations, visit the Florida State Parks reservations website or call 800-326-3521 or TDD 888-433-0287.
- Pets are not permitted in cabins.
- There is a minimum two night stay in cabins on weekends and holidays, either Friday and Saturday night, or Saturday and Sunday nights.
The park features three campgrounds with 90 campsites, each equipped with 20/30/50 amp electrical service, water, a fire ring and picnic table. The sites in Palmetto Ridge also have sewer hook-ups. A dump station is located near Old Prairie Campground. Laundry facilities are available to all campers in Old Prairie and Palmetto Ridge campgrounds. All campsites are within 40 yards of restroom facilities with hot showers.
Sites in Old Prairie and Big Flats are dirt based. The sites in Palmetto Ridge are gravel based, except for four ADA paved sites adjoining restrooms. Old Prairie and Big Flats do not have vegetation buffers.
The Big Flats Campground is located near the Upper Myakka Lake. The Myakka Outpost, wildlife tours and Wi-Fi are also nearby.
Old Prairie and Palmetto Ridge campgrounds are located near the State Road 72 park entrance, the Myakka River, the campfire circle, a small playground and Myakka Friends Gallery & Gifts. Up to four well-behaved pets are welcome in these three campgrounds.
- Hammock camping is permitted on campsites 7, 8, 11, 15, 23, 27, 33 and 48 only. A limited number of hammocks are designated on each of these sites based on number of appropriate trees available.
- Reservations can be made up to 11 months in advance. For reservations, visit the Florida State Parks reservations website or call 800-326-3521 or TDD 888-433-0287.
Paddlers are welcome to launch at the bridge located one mile into the park from the State Road 72 entrance. There are nearby places to park. This launch allows paddlers direct access to the Myakka River. The river flows from the north to the south, and the current is strong when water levels are high.
Visitors may also launch into the Upper Myakka Lake near the concession area. The Upper Lake is a wonderful place to paddle around. In dry seasons, portaging may be required.
To access areas of the park south of State Road 72, boaters must have a wilderness preserve permit (issued daily at the ranger station).
There is no park-provided shuttle system. Please make arrangements as appropriate before you come, or be prepared to paddle back to your entrance location.
Pink Gator Cafe
Enjoy lunch, dessert or a craft beer while taking in the sights of the beautiful Upper Myakka Lake. Try our famous homemade alligator stew, seafood gumbo, hand-breaded gator bites, garden veggie burger or one of our fresh deli subs. Don't forget to stop by the Ice Cream Parlor for dessert. You can also visit Myakka Gifts and Boutique where you can take home a Myakka souvenir. The Nature Gift Shop has jewelry, local art, home décor, Florida books, T-shirts, hats, camp fashions and much more.
Myakka has 12 miles of designated horse trails. If ridden together, it becomes a 15-mile journey. Upon arrival at the park, riders must bring proof of negative Coggins test to the ranger station for all horses on state park property. The ranger station will provide the gate code for access to the horse trails.
Please see our Horse Trail brochure for more information.
From the 1850s through the 1920s, the lands of Myakka River State Park were used for cattle ranching. The last of such ranchers, Bertha Palmer, is memorialized on Ranch House Road. Visitors hiking or biking on Ranch House can visit the kiosk where the original Ranch House once stood.
In the 1930s, the Civilian Conservation Corps came to the Myakka River Valley to make it accessible as a park. Their legacy lives in many of the trails, structures and buildings in the park. The visitor center, South Pavilion, Log Pavilion, five cabins, the boat basin and the weir were built by the CCC.
Canopy Walkway at Myakka River State Park
The Myakka Canopy Walkway provides easy access to observe life in the treetops of an oak/palm hammock. As an outdoor laboratory for research and education, it is a place for discovery and opportunity for visitors to Myakka to see its canopy inhabitants up close. Completed in 2000, this structure is the first public treetop trail in North America. The walkway is suspended 25 feet above the ground and extends 100 feet through the hammock canopy. A tower soars 74 feet in the air to present a spectacular view of tree tops, wetlands and the prairie/hammock interface. You can look down on eagles, hawks, vultures, and the tips of live oaks and palm trees. For park visitor safety, only leashed service dogs are permitted on the Canopy Walkway.
The William Boylston Nature Trail is a self-guided interpretive walk. Along this 0.8-mile journey, visitors can learn about the wildlife and ecology of Florida's oak/palm hammocks. The Canopy Walkway is located on the southwestern portion of the Nature Trail.
Experiencing this thriving hammock is thrilling for adults and children alike. To guide the fun, we have created a scavenger hunt for information. It can be done alone or in small competitive groups.
Domestic pets are welcome at Myakka River State Park, including on trails and in developed campgrounds. Please do not bring pets into buildings (including bathrooms and cabins) or onto structures (including the Canopy Walkway). Trained service animals are welcome.
Pet Rules
- All pets must always be on a leash or physically confined. Leashes may not exceed 6 feet.
- Do not bring a pet near shallow water.
- Pet owners are required to pick up after their pets and dispose of waste in proper trash receptacles.
- Pets may never be tied to standing objects, even if the owner is present (this includes trees, bushes, tables, etc.).
- Pets must always be well behaved. If a pet is noisy, dangerous, intimidating or destructive, it will not be allowed to stay in the park.
- Pets must be up-to-date with vaccinations.
- Horse owners must show proof of negative Coggins test.
- All captive wild species and barnyard animals (except horses) are prohibited.
Camping with Pets
Florida State Parks welcome pets to stay with the family when camping. Please be aware that this applies only to our developed campgrounds: Big Flats, Old Prairie and Palmetto Ridge. These are sites 1 through 90. Pets are not permitted in cabins, primitive campsites (Mossy Hammock, Bee Island, Honore, Oak Grove, Panther Point and Prairie) or the youth/group campgrounds. All rules for day-visitor pets apply to our overnight pet guests.
- Pets must be confined in your unit during quiet hours, 11 p.m. to 7 a.m.
- Pets may not be left unattended at your site for more than 30 minutes.
- Pets must always be well behaved. You may be asked to board the pet outside of the park or leave the campground if your pet is noisy, dangerous, intimidating or destructive.
- You must leave your campsite clean, including all animal messes. Please pick up after them and place their waste in a trash bin.
There are many informal places to picnic in Myakka with benches and grills. Many large groups enjoy reserving a pavilion for their get-togethers. The park has four reservable pavilions.
Click here for photos and information about each pavilion.
Click here to learn about making reservations.
Pavilions:
- South Pavilion: 110 people max, $80 plus tax.
- Log Pavilion: 60 people max, $80 plus tax.
- Lake Pavilion: 40 people max, $40 plus tax.
- Clay Gully Pavilion: 40 people max, $40 plus tax.
Park entry fees are not waived for groups reserving pavilions. Individuals may pay for themselves upon entry, or the pavilion renter may pay for tallied cars on the day of the reservation. Alcohol is prohibited at the pavilions. All pavilion rentals end at sunset. Everyone must depart the park and the pavilion must be clean by sunset. No after-hours reservations are permitted.
The park features three campgrounds with 90 campsites, each equipped with 20/30/50 amp electrical service, water, a fire ring and picnic table. The sites in Palmetto Ridge also have sewer hook-ups. A dump station is located near Old Prairie Campground. Laundry facilities are available to all campers in Old Prairie and Palmetto Ridge campgrounds. All campsites are within 40 yards of restroom facilities with hot showers.
Sites in Old Prairie and Big Flats are dirt based. The sites in Palmetto Ridge are gravel based, except for four ADA paved sites adjoining rest rooms. Old Prairie and Big Flats do not have vegetation buffers.
The Big Flats Campground is located near the Upper Myakka Lake. The Myakka Outpost, wildlife tours and Wi-Fi are also nearby.
Old Prairie and Palmetto Ridge campgrounds are located near the State Road 72 park entrance, the Myakka River, the campfire circle and Myakka Friends Gallery & Gifts. Up to four well-behaved pets are welcome in these three campgrounds.
- Hammock camping is permitted on campsites 7, 8, 11, 15, 23, 27, 33 and 48 only.
- Reservations can be made up to 11 months in advance. For reservations, visit the Florida State Parks reservations website or call 800-326-3521 or TDD 888-433-0287.
Start your journey at our visitor center. Originally constructed in the 1930s by the Civilian Conservation Corps, our visitor center provides interactive displays about park wildlife and lots of information about park resources. During season, the visitor center is staffed with a knowledgeable volunteer who can answer questions and help you plan a fantastic day.
The visitor center is a wonderful way to introduce children to Myakka. This scavenger hunt can be adapted for large or small groups of children. It's a fun activity to inspire and educate young minds about Florida wildlife.