Myakka River State Park
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Myakka River State Park | |
Designation | State Park |
Location | Florida |
Nearest City | Sarasota, Florida |
Year of Establishment | 1934 |
Myakka River State Park is a Florida State Park, located east of Sarasota and southeast of Bradenton. The park's area is split between Sarasota County and Manatee County. The park is named after the Myakka River. It is one of the state's largest (at 37,000 acres), and oldest, as it was built in the 1930s by the Civilian Conservation Corps.
[edit] Things to do
Myakka River State Park has an excellent system of hiking trails. Walking trails crisscross the Eastern side of the park. Six primitive campgrounds, each equipped with a pitcher pump to provide water, dot the area. Horseback riding and biking is permitted on other trails and roads in the park. This part of the park is dominated by expanses of very low vegetation, fields of palmetto, that transitions to islands of tall pine and oak trees.
A good portion of the park is reachable by automobile. Myakka River State Park's main road takes visitors to a boardwalk out to the river and lake, excellent for bird watching. Another short walk from the main road reveals Myakka's Canopy Walkway, a suspension bridge and tower providing researchers and visitors views of the forest canopy and a spectacular above the treetops view of the entire park. Picnic areas, canoeing, boat tours, and developed campsites are available. The park even has five cabins that were built not with logs, but with the trunks of sabal palms.
[edit] External links
- Myakka River State Park's official site
- Myakka River State Park at Florida State Parks
- Myakka River State Park at State Parks
- Myakka River State Park at Absolutely Florida
- Myakka River State Park at Wildernet