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Latest update: January 2024

Trails... Everglades National Park, Florida

3 Paved Bike Trails... E-Z Maps, Photos Galore (scroll down page or use links below)

Color-coded in blue on map (*scroll in to view)...
Flamingo & Guy Bradley Trail, short bike, hike, via south entrance
Gulf Coast Visitor Center, trail is across street, plus 2 tiny towns to explore
Shark Valley Trail, Top 10 FL Trail, bike with alligators, north entrance

Unpaved Trails & Levees... "Eco-biking"

Color-coded in green on map...
Everglades Eco-biking, for a list of hiking and fat tire biking options in Everglades National Park. Check out photos along two historic roads and dirt and gravel levees just outside the National Park.

Trails Overview... Everglades National Park, FL

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South Florida... Everglades National Park

3 Paved Trail Options in or adjacent to Everglades National Park. Please note: while the Park Service lists the main Park road between Coe Visitor Center and Flamingo as an option for cyclists, we do not recommend biking or hiking on the main Park road (other than within Flamingo itself).

Flamingo Visitor Center - Guy Bradley Trail

This is not a primary destination for biking (unlike Shark Valley for example). But even limited biking and hiking (about 3 miles round trip) can be a fun part of the overall experience. We have found bicycles to be a great way to cruise around Flamingo - at a slightly faster pace, which helps to avoid the mosquitoes.

Guy Bradley Visitor Center (Flamingo)

The Guy Bradley Visitor Center offers parking, restrooms, gifts shop, information, brochures and exhibits. The Flamingo Lodge and Restaurant on site has food and accommodations, and the Flamingo Campground has walk-up and RV sites, and eco-tents). Marina and marine store, a public boat ramp, boat tours, nearby hiking and paddling trails. Bicycle rentals are available, along with kayak and canoe rentals.

Location: Everglades National Park-Flamingo (See map)
Mileage: Various around the visitor center and marina; 1 mile at the campground
Surface: Paved
Related Resources: Everglades National Park - Guy Bradley Visitor Center (Flamingo)

Guy Bradley Trail

This is a scenic 0.6 mile paved path along the waters of Florida Bay, between the Visitor Center and campgrounds. The Park Service lists the trail as 1 mile by including a wide roadway connecting the camping/recreational area along the Bay to the main campground entrance. From the opposite end of the path, we note an additional half-mile, going past the Visitor Center and through a large marina area with two launches, saltwater on one side, freshwater on the other.

Gulf Coast Visitor Center - Chokoloskee Causeway Bike Path

Park at the Visitor Center, the 3 mile path is across the street. It begins in Everglades City (pop. 426) and ends in Chokoloskee (pop 359) at the marina. The new bridge along the causeway has a separated walk/bike lane, always a nice feature. While the trail isn't long, it offers water views, great sunsets, plus small laid-back towns at either end of the causeway offer additional miles of casual biking, sightseeing, history, and seafood. Fun Fact: Riding from Everglades City onto the causeway, you first enter Big Cypress Preserve. About half-way along the causeway, you enter Everglades National Park (the waters and islands on both sides).

Location: Collier County by Everglades National Park, Everglades City (See map)
Mileage: 3 miles, plus 2 small town rides
Surface: Paved
Nearby points of interest: Museum of the Everglades (Everglades City), Smallwood Store (Chokoloskee)

Related Resources: Everglades National Park - Gulf Coast Visitor Center

Gulf Coast Visitor Center

Everglades Gulf Coast Visitor Center

Temporary Visitor Center

Marina

Tour boat

Chokoloskee Bay

Picnic

Kayak launch

Chokoloskee Causeway Bike Path

Leaving Everglades Gulf Coast Visitor Center

Along the path, leaving Everglades City

Approaching the Bridge

Chokoloskee Bridge

Along the path, Chokoloskee Bay

Along the path

Kayak launch along causeway

End of path at Chokoloskee - boat ramp (fee)

Everglades City

Everglades City was designated a "Trail Town" by the Florida Office of Greenways and Trails for its biking and paddling trail access. While there are no dedicated bike paths within the town center, the entire town is an enjoyable ride. Located at the mouth of the Barron River at Chokoloskee Bay, the city is a throwback to Old Florida. No chain hotels or stores, just as we like it. Dubbed as the "Stone Crab Capital of the World," there are several good restaurants - serving of course stone crabs, but also some of the best grouper sandwiches we've had.

Everglades was founded in 1895 and served as the county seat of Collier County from 1923 to 1960. Extensive damage from Hurricane Donna in 1960 caused the county seat to be moved to East Naples. In 1965, Everglades became Everglades City. Several historic buildings still exist.

Chokoloskee Island

Chokoloskee Island lies in Chokoloskee Bay, the only access by land is over the Causeway. Once past the Causeway, there are no dedicated bike paths but the entire town is bikeable. Fishing and boating in the Ten Thousand Islands and Gulf of Mexico are the main pastimes. Chokoloskee also is popular with paddlers, a launch point for the 99-mile Wilderness Waterway, Turner River and the Ten Thousand Islands.

Inhabited by the Calusa for about 1500 years before the first Europeans arrived, the current site of the town of Chokoloskee dates to 1874. Smallwood Store was opened by Ted Smallwood (the postmaster) in 1906 as a store, post office and trading post to serve the needs of the community. Placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1974, it stayed open until 1982. All the goods remained in the store, the family still retains ownership and reopened it as a museum in the 1990's.

Shark Valley Visitor Center

Shark Valley Visitor Center - The Shark Valley Tram Trail (a Top 10). This is truly one of the most unforgettable bicycle rides in America. Located entirely within Everglades National Park (north entrance), west of Miami off the Tamiami Trail (US 41) beside the Miccosukee Indian Reservation, the Shark Valley Trail is a 14.5 mile paved loop traveled by bike, foot, or Park tram. Bikes can be rented at the Visitor Center, or bring your own. You will typically see far more wildlife along the canal on the west side. The most expansive views are on the east side. Best in cool weather, you will soon get used to riding past and at times around - unless you wait for a tram - alligators of up to 10 or 12 feet long. No worries. They will hiss like a cat if you get too close. Bring a camera and plenty of water.

Please see full page trail report -- Shark Valley, Map, 45+ Photos

More Information and Resources

Nearby Biking:

Everglades Eco-biking - unpaved "fat tire" biking at Everglades National Park
South FL Overview - all 3 South FL Regions, with Regional Overview Map

Nearby Paddling:

Kayaking at Everglades National Park at PaddleFlorida.net

Related Resources:

National Park Service - Everglades National Park
Everglades National Park - Bicycling
Everglades National Park - Hiking