You are here > Home > FL Eco-biking > Everglades Eco-biking> Historic Roads
Latest update: January 2025

Everglades, Miami Area Eco-biking Trails...

Unpaved Biking, Hiking on Historic Roads

These old roads provide some (limited) biking but a lot of history: Loop Road was mapped during a dispute over the route of the original Tamiami Trail, and Old Ingraham Highway was the original road to Flamingo.

Scroll down or use the links below for eco-biking on Historic Roads in or near Everglades National Park...

• Loop Road Scenic Drive
• Old Ingraham Highway

Also visit sites along the Historic Tamiami Trail

Overview Map... Everglades Eco-biking

View Larger Map

Loop Road Scenic Drive

Loop Road (CR 94) is a 24-mile road, 4 miles west of Shark Valley, paralleling the Tamiami Trail (US 41) in the Big Cypress National Preserve. The road starts and ends along US 41, to the east at 40 Mile Bend (because it's 40 miles from Miami), and to the west at Monroe Station (4 miles west of the Oasis Visitor Center). This is a top eco-route - the scenery is unmatched! Watch the birds in the brush and the otters cavorting in the ponds - and the alligators!

Loop Road Scenic Drive

• Loop Road is paved for 7 miles at the eastern end, and for a short distance at the west. The rest is unpaved and bumpy, bikeable (fat tires recommended), but it's a long, often rough ride. Shared with motor vehicles, you may want to drive - generally, 1.5 to 3 hours depending on how many stops you make to take in the views.
• Several hiking paths, including the very end of the Florida National Scenic Trail, are along the road. Be prepared to wade on most, especially during rainy season.
• The best wildlife viewing is generally at the culverts, also good for fishing.
• The Gator Hook Trailhead near the western end has a welcomed restroom and picnic tables.

** CLICK FOR FULL DETAILS AND MORE PHOTOS **

Old Ingraham Highway

Old Ingraham Highway, the original road to Flamingo in the 1920's, runs within Everglades National Park, off the road to the Royal Palm Visitor Center. Follow the access road about 1.5 to the trail start at Gate #15. Parking is along the side of the road. From here, the trail continues on the old highway roadbed.

Old Ingraham Highway Trail

• The first section past the gate is shaded and rough, then the trail opens onto the sawgrass prairie - no shade here. The old roadbed has some smoother spots, but still rocky with overgrown sections. The trail is bikeable on mountain bikes, but not enjoyable eco-biking for recreational bikers like us - hiking is a better option.
• There are no facilities along the trail, bring water, snacks, sunscreen, and insect repellent - due to the mosquitoes, visiting in the cooler months is recommended.
• The trail may be flooded in rainy season.

** CLICK FOR FULL DETAILS AND MORE PHOTOS **

Touring Along Tamiami Trail

The Tamiami Trail (US 41), completed in 1928, runs 284 miles from Tampa to Miami. The section here forms the northeastern border of Everglades National Park, then continuing through Big Cypress National Preserve. This is a scenic route, but we do not recommend biking on this busy 2-lane road, with cars traveling at high speeds.

Several stops along the way provide information, showcase natural areas, and tell history. See full history

Here we tour along Tamiami Trail, making stops from east to west:

Oasis Visitor Center

4.5 miles east of Monroe Station. Parking, restrooms, information, exhibits, shop, bookstore, boardwalk along a waterway filled with alligators. Florida Trail ends here.

Oasis Visitor Center

On the boardwalk

 

Alligators

 

 

Florida National Scenic Trail

 

Originally a private airport in the 1960's, an airplane sat on the roof. Later a service station, the building was acquired by the Park Service in the 1980's and converted to the Visitor Center.

Kirby Storter Roadside Park

At about the midpoint of US 41 through Big Cypress, 3.5 miles west of Monroe Station. Parking, restroom, picnicking and one-mile round-trip scenic boardwalk.

Kirby Storter Roadside Park - picnic

Onto the boardwalk, restroom

Sawgrass prairie

 

Cypress swamp

 

 

 

Kirby Storter oversaw construction of the Tamiami Trail and other south Florida roads for the State Roads Department.

H.P. Williams Roadside Park

Parking, restroom, picnic tables, 650-foot boardwalk along a waterway with views of cypress swamp. 7 miles west of Kirby Storter Roadside Park.

H.P. Williams Roadside Park

To the boardwalk

Parking

On the boardwalk

 

View of waterway

Homer P. Williams was an engineer in charge of the construction of the Tamiami Trail in the 1920s.

Turner River Paddling Launch

Turner River paddling launch, 0.5 mile west of H.P. Williams Roadside Park. Parking, restrooms, picnic. Paddling drop-off, 8.5 miles south to Chocoloskee Bay (link below).

To launch, picnic, parking

Restrooms

To the launch

Onto canal to the river

Ochopee Post Office

The Ochopee Post Office, 2 miles west of the Turner River bridge, is the smallest post office in the U.S. at 61 square feet. Tourists stop for photos and to get their letters postmarked.

 

 

Originally a storage shed on a tomato farm, the building was converted to a post office in 1953 when the original burned down.

Nathaniel P. Reed Visitor Center

Parking, restrooms, information and exhibits, store, boardwalk, auditorium. Located 2 miles west of Ochopee Post Office, and 2.5 miles east of SR 29 (the road to Everglades City).

Nathaniel P. Reed Visitor Center

 

To the boardwalk

On the boardwalk

 

View from boardwalk, alligator

Off-road Vehicle Exhibit

Nathanial P. Reed was a leading environmentalist at the Federal and State levels, and a champion of Everglades restoration. His accomplishments are too lengthy to list here, read more.

Note: Not shown here but a worthwhile stop is the Clyde Butcher Big Cypress Gallery. Butcher is world renowned for his large-scale black-and-white landscape photography, with his Everglades work best known. The gallery offers a variety of items for sale, and conducts swamp walking eco-tours to educate the public on the beauty of the swamp.

More Information and Resources

Nearby Biking:

Everglades Area Eco-biking
- Inside the National Park
- Historic Roads
- Canal/Levee trails

Paved biking at Everglades National Park

South FL Overview - all 3 South Florida Regions, with Regional Overview map