Myakka River State Park, 13208 State Rd 72, Sarasota, Florida, USA

Myakka River State Park is a Florida State Park, that is located nine miles (14 km) east of Interstate 75 in Sarasota County and a portion of southeastern Manatee County. The state park consists of 37,000 acres (150 km2), making it one of the state's largest parks. It is also one of the oldest parks in the state. It was delineated in the 1930s by the Civilian Conservation Corps. A small portion (1,920 acres or 7.8 km2) of the park was the gift of the family of Bertha Palmer to the state. The park is named after the Myakka River.

Myakka River State Park is in the southeastern conifer forests ecoregion. Plant communities in areas of the park with drier soils are a mixture of pine forests, scrub, and prairies. Florida longleaf pine sandhills are woodlands dominated by longleaf pine (Pinus palustris). South Florida pine flatwoods are open woodlands of (Pinus elliottii var. densa) with a dense ground cover of grasses and shrubs. Florida peninsula inland scrub consists of sand pines (Pinus clausa) growing amid shrublands of evergreen oaks. Florida dry prairies are flat, nearly treeless plains with dense cover of grasses and saw palmetto (Serenoa repens).

Wetlands in the park include marshes and cypress domes. Floridian highlands freshwater marshes are prairies composed of different herbaceous plant communities that vary based on water depth. Southern coastal plain nonriverine cypress domes are small wetlands of pond cypress (Taxodium ascendens) notable for their dome-shaped appearance.

A karst sinkhole named Deep Hole is located on the northwest bank of the Myakka River in the Wilderness Preserve. The sink is 41 meters deep though no evidence of a spring was found by a 2011-2012 research team.

Rivers in the park support hammocks and floodplain forests. Near the floodplains of spring-fed rivers grow southern coastal plain hydric hammocks, dense forests of evergreen and deciduous hardwood trees. Blackwater rivers support southern coastal plain blackwater river floodplain forests of baldcypress (Taxodium distichum) along their banks.

The park is noted for its wildlife and some of the rare birds seen only in Florida, such as the roseate spoonbill, frequent the park. Native flora flourishes in the park. There are many species of fish, amphibians, reptiles, and mammals to learn about and enjoy watching as well.

Myakka River State Park has an excellent system of hiking trails. Walking trails crisscross the eastern side of the park.

Six primitive campgrounds are accessible by trail throughout the park: Mossy Hammock, Bee Island, Panther Point, Honore, Oak Grove and Prairie.

Horseback riding and biking is permitted on certain designated trails and roads in the park. This part of the park is dominated by expanses of very low vegetation, fields of palmetto, that make a transition to islands, or hammocks, of tall pine and oak trees.

A good portion of the park is accessible by automobile. Myakka River State Park's main road, a 6.5-mile drive between the North and South ends, leads visitors to a boardwalk out to the river and a lake that is excellent for bird watching.

The main drive is also popular with cyclists, runners, and skaters. Bicycle traffic can be heavy, especially on weekends and holidays.

A short walk from the main road reveals Myakka's Canopy Walkway, a novel suspension bridge and tower providing researchers and visitors with 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 native sabal palms.

Credit for the data above is given to the following website:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Myakka_River_State_Park

Taken in: United States / Florida (show map)

Taken on: January 1, 2019

Tags:

Myakka River State Park

13208 State Rd 72

Florida

USA

nature

wildlife

birds

trees

lakes

rivers

clouds

water

vacation

longleaf pine

pine flatwoods

hiking trails

Picnic areas

canoeing

boat tours

reflection « less

Sets appears in: • Florida's Beautiful Parks, Beaches, Lakes & Gardens

Groups appears in: • Parks • Rivers more » • sky & clouds • Water... Oceans, Lakes, Rivers, Creeks • Road Trip USA • - I LOVE NATURE - • Seas, Oceans, Rivers and sun • USA, Travel • Nature and Landscapes • Rivers and Streams • Lakes And Rivers Of The World • Awesome Nature • Nature Heals the Soul • Rural View (Nature, People, Places) • Deep South Nature Pictures - SC, GA, AL, FL, MS, LA • .Southern Photographers - Southern Images • Rivers & Creeks • Nature, wildlife, and the great outdoors • Road Trip USA (and Canada too) • USA - UNITED STATES OF AMERICA • Florida State Parks (Unofficial) • All Things Nature • Florida's state and local parks • Nature...Anything Goes • NATURE'S BEST • ~*Nature Pics That *WoW* Us*~ • Florida Public Beaches, Gardens & Parks [directory] • Landscapes, cityscapes and nature • Beach, sunsets, rivers and lakes. Playas, atardeceres, ríos y • *Nature Pics* • Parks in the world • Nature pictures for everyone! • The Story of Florida's State Parks • Anywhere, USA • Nature Through My Eyes • Nature of the World Unlimited (9000+ Invite your friends!) • All U.S. State Parks • Nature Photographs! Submit one photo, Invite one! • Nature Rocks! • NATURE RULES!!! • ! * The Beauty of Nature/ NO people! NO single buildings! P1/C2 • THE BEAUTIFUL WORLD OF NATURE PHOTOGRAPHY! • Beauty of the USA • Nations State Parks • USA Landscape Photography • Big rivers • FLorida Freelance Nature Photographers • PLANET EARTH WILDLIFE AND NATURE • Rivers, streams & creeks • Nature Fine Pictures Gallery • Rivers, Rapids & Waterfalls of the Americas • Everything Nature • Nature and all that is beautiful • America's Nature • Nature & Geology of Florida • Everything That Is Nature • Spectacular Photos of Nature and Wildlife • The Sunshine State • USA in Pictures • US Rivers, Creeks, Waterfalls and Lakes • Water, oceans, seas, lakes, rivers, streams, waterfalls, clouds • We love Nature and Geology • Rivers and Lakes of the world • USA - Pictures (No 30/60 limit) • Florida Nature Photography « less

Stats: 5,886 views / 9 comments

Link to this photo view:
Link to this photo large view: