You are here > Home > Trails > Everglades National Park > Chokoloskee Causeway Path
Latest update: January 2025

Chokoloskee Causeway Path... Paved Everglades Biking

Scenic FL Bikeway, Everglades City to Chokoloskee Island

Starting just outside the Gulf Coast Visitor Center in Everglades City, the Chokoloskee Causeway Path  runs 3 miles across the causeway to Chokoloskee Island. The causeway was built in 1955, previously the only access was by boat. Riding from Everglades City onto the causeway, you first enter Big Cypress Preserve. About half-way along the causeway, you enter Everglades National Park, and fresh water meets salt water. (Map link and photos below.)

Overview Map... Chokoloskee Causeway Path

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)

Bike Shops/Rentals: N/A

 Page Summary:

1. Chokoloskee Causeway Bike Path... Comments and Photos
   - Chokoloskee Causeway Bike Path
   - Gulf Coast Visitor Center
2. Visiting Everglades City and Chokoloskee
3. More Information and Resources

Chokoloskee Causeway Bike Path... Comments and Photos

Chokoloskee Causeway Bike Path

• Leaving the Gulf Coast Visitor Center, cross the road to the path across the street. The path runs roadside to the causeway. Here it's a bikeable sidewalk passing some businesses.
• The path widens along the causeway, and the bridge has a separated walk/bike lane, always a nice feature.
• The path continues on the causeway, running between Chokoloskee Bay and dense mangrove along a canal that runs between Halfway Creek and the Turner River. Though not long, the path has water views and great sunsets.
• The path ends past the boat ramp and resort at the end of the causeway on Chokoloskee Island.

Gulf Coast Visitor Center

NOTICE: The Gulf Coast Visitor Center is closed through late 2025 as construction of the new Marjory Stoneman Douglas Visitor Center proceeds. The original visitor center and temporary replacement were destroyed by hurricanes in 2017 and 2022. The redevelopment includes expanding the marina basin, constructing a new seawall, and improving the canoe/kayak launch.

• These photos are from a 2022 visit and will be updated in the future.

Visiting Everglades City and Chokoloskee

Everglades City (pop. 384) and Chokoloskee (pop 346) are small, laid-back towns at either end of the causeway, offering additional miles of casual biking, sightseeing, history, and seafood.

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 entire island is a Native American shell mound, and is one of the highest elevations in the Ten Thousand Islands and Everglades.
• 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.

More Information and Resources

Nearby Biking:

Everglades Eco-Biking

Nearby Paddling:

Paddling at Everglades City
More Paddling at Everglades National Park - Overview

Related Resources
Everglades National Park - Gulf Coast Visitor Center