Take A Ride on the Shark Valley Bike Trail

shark valleyThe Everglades is a beautiful, majestic place perfect for you to explore and enjoy in a variety of different ways. If you’re looking for some extra exercise and a peaceful and enjoyable way to experience the park, you should try biking through Shark Valley.

The Shark Valley bike trail is a 15-mile trip that is good for any type of bicycle; this trail is flat and is not a rough terrain. On average, this ride takes bicyclists two to 3 hours to complete. Usually, people don’t bike nonstop on this trail, because they stop to view the beautiful wetland scenery around them.

The bike trail is also used by trams, run by Shark Valley Tram Tours. People ride bikes opposite the flow of tram traffic. The loop starts at the visitor center. People are asked to stop biking when a tram passes, and they can continue once the tram has fully passed them. The speed limit for trams and bicyclists on this trail is 25 mph for safety purposes.

People are allowed to bring their own bicycles, or they can rent them from Shark Valley Tram Tours. Bikes are available to rent on a first-come, first-served basis. The rental bikes are single-gear, coaster brake bikes with adjustable seats. There are also children’s bikes available, as well as bikes with child seats attached. Shark Valley Tram Tours also provides helmets and baskets for people to use with their bike rental. Bikes can be rented and used on this trail from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

On this trail, there are no short cuts. For people who do not want to or cannot complete the 15-mile trip, they are advised to turn around on the road to return. The parking lot for this trail closes at 6 p.m. People can find restrooms and a water fountain at an observation tower at the farthest point on the loop road.

If you’re looking to ride with a group larger than 20 people, you need to obtain a special use permit from a park ranger. Also if you want to bike outside the normal biking hours, you will also have to obtain a permit.

Through the ride on Shark Valley trail, people can get a closer look at bayhead and hammock ecosystems in Bobcat Boardwalk and Otter Cave Hammock trail, which are a couple of unpaved walking trails people can explore along the way.

Being in the middle of the Everglades, there is the chance of seeing wildlife. Feeding or harassing the animals in the park is not allowed, and people are asked to keep their distance from any wildlife they see for their own safety.

Visit the Everglades

Biking is a great way to explore the great outdoors of the Everglades Park. Another awesome way to see even more sights throughout this precious ecosystem is a trip on an airboat. Airboats can bring visitors to places beyond where a walking or biking trail can reach. To book an airboat tour, call Captain Mitch’s Airboat Tours at 800-368-0065 or click here.