Myakka River State Park

The wild and scenic Myakka River flows through this state park’s 37,000 acres of diverse natural areas, a river, and two lakes. From the rare Roseate Spoonbill to the American Alligator, there’s a ton of wildlife that lives here.

Let’s talk about those gators for a second. Despite their size, they are more afraid of you than you are of them. You’ll quickly see that they want nothing to do with you. That said, they are large animals and should be respected and given their space (so we advise you to never get off the boat).
That said, don’t let them stop you from paddling the river. A kayak or canoe is the perfect vessel to see these modern dinosaurs up close. If you’d like a bit more boat between you and the alligators, the park also has boat tours. Sadly, the historic airboats no longer operate in the park. We still recommend the ride out to Deep Hole, where you’ll be able to watch hundreds of alligators sunning themselves next to the spring.

Hike above the trees on the canopy walkway. It’s a super cool suspension bridge that gives you an entirely different view of the park. Back on the ground, make your way through the saw palmettos to the park’s five palm log cabins, built in the 1930’s by the Civilian Conservation Corps. Don’t worry, they’ve been updated with all the modern amenities.

However big or small your adventures, Myakka River State Park will leave a large impression on you for life!