The Shark Valley Visitor Center at Everglades National Park

I LOVED this place on my recent trip to Miami. It’s an hour away from the city. We tried to do the 15 mile bike ride but we got there too late and we could only rent the bikes for an hour. The crocs were everywhere though and the scenery was beautiful. I highly recommend this place.

If you are in Southern Florida and at all interested in nature and/​or wildlife you absolutely, positively should visit. There are lots of beautiful birds, flowers, alligators, turtles, trees, etc. to be seen. That said…
If you want to take the tram tour out to the observation tower you should book in advance. We didn’t know this and were almost shut out — we went to Shark Valley on the first day of our Florida vacation and they had one (1!) tram with availability on the last day — which we booked and later enjoyed.
But even if you don’t want to take the tram and just want to walk and/​or bike on the trails of the park you should get here as early as you can. The parking lot fills quickly and once that happens you are stuck in line waiting for cars to leave before you can enter. Also, this is Southern Florida and neither you nor the wildlife you wish to see particularly enjoy the midday heat (except of course for the reptilians).

Will certainly be one of the most memorable places I’ve experienced with my now 13 year son– Nory.
I recommend that everyone visit this beautiful slice of the Everglades. If you have the strength certainly up for the bike ride if not take the tram to the end and view the surroundings from the observation tower.
I’ve been twice and loved each visit. It’s only about a half an hour drive west of Miami and certainly worth the experience.
I’m sure Nory will agree that we had some of the best bonding father and son time ever in this magnificent place.
If you have a young child (5 – 15) I highly recommend you make this a must visit destination in South Florida. The park also offers a Junior Park Ranger program that the kids will really enjoy.
Sure to bring plenty of water, sunscreen and bug spray. Very hot out there so have a hat in the appropriate clothes especially if you’re planning on riding a bike to the observation tower and back.

I love National Parks! The Everglades was great. We TRIED to walk the 15 miles… Did not make it… Anyway. Make sure you plan your trip here. Parking is very very limited. So you may have to wait. If you don’t want to… You can park out side the entrance and walk/​bike in. Make sure you’re with your group though.
Be sure to look out for little gators! And bring bug spray. I don’t want you or anyone to get ZIKA!

What a great experience! recently I decided to bike ride here, you are riding along the 50 mile trail (which I made only about three miles) but saw about three gators I can truly say I will be coming back more often!
Caution it gets extremely hot during summer time bring sufficient water!

After spending the first half of my day at the Homestead area of Everglades NP, I wasn’t ready to «say goodbye» and decided to head over to the Shark Valley portion of the park. Here, the 15 mile narrated tram ride thru the marsh/​swamp is the highlight of Shark Valley.
I arrived at 3pm, and the parking lot was completely full! So they had a policy of when a car exits the park, a car can then enter the park. I waited about a half hour in line. That was disappointing and my recommendation would be to come to Shark River early in the morning, obviously… lol. Once I parked, they had one more tram tour for the day leaving at 4pm. The tour was full and all I was able to do was put my name on a stand-​by list in case anyone with reservations for the tour didn’t show up. Since this part of the park is so popular… I’d say make a reservation! Fortunately for me, I was able to buy a ticket for the last tram ride of the day. The ticket costs $ 24 and the commute lasts roughly 2 hours. You ride about halfway of the 15 miles to an observation platform where they give you 15 minutes to walk to the top for photos and views, and then it’s back on board for the remainder of your journey. You have a tour guide throughout and they point out wildlife, explain about the geographical areas, tell stories about the park and provide entertaining and useful info into Everglades. Mu guide was named Tami «from Miami». She was a wonderful guide. She jumped into the swamp water and picked up a snake for everyone to see (just like Crocodile Hunter Steve Irwin, lol) and even picked out carnivorous eating plants for everyone to touch and hold. She was very interactive! All this while it was raining!
The observation platform was nice. It’s a short ramp walk to the top. The sights though, weren’t as good as people had raved about from Unilocal.It overlooks an entire stretch of swamp and grass area without any obstructed views. It’s a virtual replica of Clingmans Dome in Smoky Mountains National Park if anyone’s ever been there.
One issue people mention are the insects and mosquitos being unbearable. I went last week in the middle of March and didn’t have any bites. From mid December till mid April is the dry season and I think that’s what keeps the mosquitos away… so try not going in the wet season where I can imagine the heat and humidity bringing out the insects! Also, if you don’t feel like riding the tram or walking, they do have bike rentals. It’s $ 9 an hour and they recommend it takes 2 — 3 hours to complete the 15 mile path. So, it’s roughly right in line pricewise whether you choose the tram or feel like getting exercise with a bike. I preferred the tram because having a tour guide helped enhance my experience as compared to riding or walking on your own. But any option you choose would be worthwhile.
There are 2 hikes that were recommended. BOBCAT BOARDWALK is right behind the visitor center. It’s a half mile one way. Self guided. Right as I exited the trail, there was an enormous gator just sitting on the side of the road hanging out. It was an unexpected surprise! The other hike is called OTTER CAVE HAMMOCK TRAIL and unfortunately that day it was flooded and not passable.
Overall, it’s a very nice time spending a few hours at the Shark Valley area of Everglades National Park. One more thing, on your drive to the park, you do pass lots of gator farms where they offer air boat rides. This is another good way to expose yourself to the heart of the swamps and wildlife of South Florida.

A very helpful young lady at the Rookery in Naples turned us on to this place. We got up very early on Sunday morning for the 40 minute drive down 41. A nice ride, little traffic at that time. Not a lot of people when we arrived, although it was very crowded when we were leaving. We got two of the last handful of rental bikes. These things are WW II surplus, very rickety, with the only thing new on them being the tires. F you’re local, bring your own bike. It’s a fifteen mile roundtrip ride, with a stop at the observation tower at the midway point. Saw lots and lots of birds and gators. Osprey, ibis, egret, cormorant, anhinga. Well maintained asphalt trail, partially flooded for long stretches because of their wet January. This also meant the gators were literally in the road in a few places.
Bring water. It’s a long ride on crappy bikes. There’s a parking fee, and the bikes are $ 9 an hour. But this was a FANTASTIC thing to do on our trip.

GO HERE! Awesome state park. I wasn’t quite sure what it was before we came, but its a huge loop that you can walk around (would take ages), get on a people-​mover tour or rent bikes! We rented bikes for two hours and I don’t think we even got half way around… BECAUSE OF ALL THE AWESOME wildlife!!! There are swamp lands in the middle of the loop and canals on the side of this cement road where there are tons of alligators! It was a hot day, in the winter and the Rangers said not many alligators were out, but we say 6 adults in the water one was at least 8 ft long! Two smaller adults out of the water! and probably 15 baby gators in total at two different spots! It was amazing! There were also really cool birds ! Really a fun time for our family! And if you have someone over the age of 65 in your car they can get a special membership and get your car into the park for just $ 10!

As an avid biker, This is honestly my favorite place to bike in south Florida. You get to be away from the city, no cars to hit you (other than a team going 2mph and a gator). Lots of sun, depending on the season you’ll get mosquitos. It’s a 15 mile trail, so make sure you got loads of water (I love to take my camelpak), if it’s the summer then take double whatever you think is too much. You’ll need the hydration! I also recommend a camera for when you walk up the observation tower. The tower is halfway mark, so around mile 7 you get there. I like to bring lunch or fruits and eat up there in the shade. Be sure to bring hiking shoes cause they have about 3 small trails to walk. If you bring your own bike and can’t make the 15 miles (or if your tire pops and you’re stuck, keep their number handy and call. For $ 15 they will drive you back). There’s not exactly a ton of birds here (there’s other parks for bird watching), but you’re guaranteed a ton of gators and maybe 10 – 20 birds. During certain seasons there’s loads of huge grasshoppers. Either way, I love it here. I’m blessed to live only 30 minutes from this escape :)
IF YOU DONT BIKE.
You can rent a bike, or There is a tram! I used to come here every ²⁄₃ days and rented a bike until I was able to buy one. This place simply brings me to peace. I have only taken the tram about 10 years ago when I was a kid. I loved it then, and I will never forget how memorable that experience was. They talk throughout the tram ride.
PARKING
Well I used to pay about $ 8 to park, but this week they were charging a staggering $ 20. Just park on the side of the road for free and pay the $ 8 entrance fee! Or, you can but the shark valley 12 month pass for $ 40, and if you want all national parks in Florida it’s $ 80. I took the $ 40 since I love this park so darn much.

This is my second time completing this 15 mile bike trail and I’ve got to say it’s one of the most relaxing and enjoyable experience. My girlfriends and I completed it in about 2 hours and a half taking a break in between. There were a couple of puddles, not sure why. However, I find it extremely helpful that there’s trams passing that could potentially help you if there’s anything wrong. It’s such a nice place for tourists and the potential you have to get so close to the gators!

What an amazing experience, the day couldn’t have been nicer and Shark Valley was nothing short of incredible! I sort of took the wrong route down there from Broward thanks to the directions on my «no so smart phone». No biggie, I re-​directed on the ride home and probably saved a ½ hr.
We arrived to see all the cars parked along the side of the road on Tamiami Trail and thought we had arrived to late. We continued ahead and even passed the sign that said «lot full» and marched on to the front gate. We’re in luck, paid our $ 20, received our map and proceeded thru the gate. Not taking any chances, we snagged the first open parking spot we saw and there weren’t many. We unloaded the bikes and off we went to the visitor center for more info. We took the advantage advice of a fellow cycler and ride the entire 15 mile loop taking the straight trail on the right in and the curvy trail on the return back.
If you didn’t bring your own bikes, you can rent them there from the kiosk located on the back of the visitor center. Don’t feel like walking or cycling? There’s also a Tram ride around for those nature lovers who prefer a guided and chauffeured experience.
The beauty began the moment we hit the trail. A nice sunny day we were amongst nature, on our bikes in warm 70 degree weather. Welcome to south Florida!
Within minutes we saw our first bird nestled in the tall grass but sitting quietly well onlookers snapped up pics. Along the way we saw plenty of gators, a turtle, lots of birds and beautiful flowers. We trek’d our way down to the observation tower and took a little break. A picnic lunch would’ve been a nice treat but we had to settle for sharing a power snack bar I had in my truck, lol.
The curvy trail back was peaceful and picturesque but not nearly as many gators and wildlife to enjoy. Nonetheless the nature and peace and quiet were enjoyable in their own way.
The visitor center is a must stop at on the way in or out to ask questions of the very knowledgeable Rangers. There’s also some souvenirs to grab for yourself, a friend or family member. Whether you live here or are visiting, I recommend you put this on the list and enjoy this beautiful national park

It was great riding with my family but most of all the scenery was cool. Felt like I was in an animal planet episode, with all the alligators laying out. There was so much to see such as birds and different reptiles. We will be making this an adventure at least once a month if possible. Good way to spend time with your family or friends. Long ride though but well worth the time.

First time in a LONG time since I’ve been to Shark Valley.
Took the family on a little trek this past weekend it was awesome! The cost to enter the park was $ 20 for an SUV, not sure if cars are less. Decided to buy the annual pass for $ 40 since I know I’ll be back. Plus the annual pass gets you into other parks as well so it’s a winner.
We decided to take the west trail /​path which runs along a canal. Besides from being an absolute beautiful day the wildlife was in abundance. Tons of gators sunning themselves on the banks and some on the road-​yikes! Be careful with the kiddos or they’ll become gator bait
There was also plenty of birds, turtles and vegetation for those picture lovers.
The trail ends at observation tower which provides a picturesque view of the river of grass.
We actually returned down the same (west) path which is slightly shorter (7 miles) compared to the east path which is 8 miles.
The park offers bike rentals and a tram for those who prefer an alternative method of transportation. Regardless, bring plenty of fluids. The park is clean and wildlife officers make periodic rounds. There is no shelter so come prepared. Restrooms are located at the entrance of the park and also at the observatory tower.
Have a great time!

Want to see some wild alligators as you bike your way to the Observation Tower? Well this place is it.
Entrance fee: $ 20 per vehicle and parking ticket is valid for the next 7 days at ALL park entrances. $ 9 per hour for bike rental (require ID deposit — driver license or passport). You must return your bike by 5 PM or else you will be paying additional $ 20 late fee per bike. The visitor center also sells tickets for the Shark Valley Tram Tours ($ 24 per adult for 2 hours tour — I wrote a separate review
).
If you want to bike, the entire 15-​mile round trip (7-​mile straight trail + 8-​mile curvy trail) takes about 2 – 3 hours and there’s no drinkable water (there are bathrooms at the Observation Tower, but no water fountain). Inside the visitor center, you’ll find a small exhibit and a gift shop.
A perfect place to explore and observe the wildlife at your own pace, but please do plan ahead of time because Florida has a pretty unpredictable weather pattern.
P. S. — There’s free WiFi inside the visitor center!

We visited Shark Valley on a beautiful December day, bikes thrown in the back of a friend’s truck. It is truly a unique experience and a great way to get close to «the real Florida». The U-​shaped train, goes for 14.7 miles, is 10 feet wide and perfectly paved. It’s a great place to ride your bike, whether you are taking a leisurely «stroll» or trying to push yourself to burn some calories.
There is a great variety of wildlife that exists along the way, including many beautiful birds, large turtles and, of course, alligators. The alligators are definitely not shy and come right up to the paved path at times. They are plentiful throughout the trip, especially on the first part of the pathway.
The path is an upside-​down «U» and the bottom portion is downhill, initially descending about 85 feet (according to my bike tracking GPS app). This means that you start out with an easy ride downhill, but are challenged with an ever-​so-​slightly increasing incline for the last 7 miles back. This can be challenging, especially if the wind is blowing into your face (as it was on the day we visited). Those who don’t have a bike can always take the tram tour. You’re greeted with a nice observation tower at the halfway point, which provides great views throughout the Everglades.
Overall, it’s a great experience and I’ll be back!

It was too hot for any gators to be out but definitely a good time with friends. One person in the group rented a bike for the $ 9/​hr charge and said it was a pretty decent bike other than the fact that the seat was not adjustable. I would suggest bringing your own bike for the ride, if possible.
There is no drinkable water once you start the 15 mile loop so make sure to bring enough.
Can’t wait to go back!

This place is great for people who rather do cardio with a view and not at the gym. Like myself ! Make sure to pack some water bottles before you go because it gets extremely hot !!! I love coming to ride my bike here, you get to enjoy the beautiful view and take a look at some of the beauty’s the Florida Everglades has to offer !!
But if you’re scared of gators don’t even think about coming here because they’re sun bathing all over the place (sometimes even blocking the way) they don’t seem to be harmful to the people though. They also have a great viewing tower that looks over a great part of the Everglades, it’s pretty breath taking !!
Only bad things about this place is the really dirty bathrooms… And the fact that they charge you to pick you up if you cant completely the trail and need rescuing :) so you better pray you don’t get too tired !!!
But other than that if you live in Florida this is a must come to place, it’s very educational and beautiful !
They also rent bikes there for a decent price :)

YES.
This place is a must if you want to get a feel of what South Florida is about.
It’s 15 miles of the Everglades with free roaming alligators, several species of birds and even more so of plant life (and insect life I might add, bees, wisps, horse flies are quite common).
The only real charge here is the parking if you bring your own bike, if not a bike, walking is viable as well! So carpooling is essential.
Actually, I might as well make a list of essentials. Here we go!
–Carpool, it’ll save you money for parking as well as being fuel efficient!
–If you want to complete the 15 miles with ease, byob. Yes, bring your own bike, not beer silly.
–Bring plenty of water and some sunscreen. We applied our sunscreen at the beginning and reapplied at the half way mark. No burns were recorded.
–Sun glasses and a hat, eye protection is a must especially at peak hours of the sun; segue way.
–Come early to avoid the peak hours of the sun, it takes about 2 – 3 hours to complete, depending on your pace and nature stops.
–Camera! You will probably end up a few feet from alligators, don’t worry, they usually stay out of your way. They’re either sunbathing or crossing, leave them be!
–Pull over to the side when the tram is passing by, safe passage.
Have fun!

Big thanks to Paul W. for putting this Shark Valley UYE together, as now I can cross it off my bucket list!
Shark Valley is a GREAT spot for anyone looking to see some of what the Everglades has to offer. I for one was astounded by how many tourists were walking around that were clearly from all over the world.
As others have mentioned Shark Valley is a 15 mile loop that takes you ~7 miles straight out into the Everglades, and then ~7 miles straight back to your departure spot. Now, it’s worth noting that both sides of the loop are quite different, one indeed being perfectly straight, and one being a bit more windy (and I mean that to be curved/​meandering, not a weather phenomenon, although on my particular day there it was both meanings of the word).
We came to bike it, but I did see some people walking the whole way! and lot’s on the tram of course. Not sure if the tram costs extra to do? And I believe renting bikes is $ 9 an hour (we brought our own).
After parking, ($ 10 per car to park inside or $ 5 per person to park outside on the main road) and riding in from the main road, I met up with Paul at the visitor center. Bathrooms are available here, as well as a small gift shop and vending machines.
We opted to do the straight path out from the visitor’s center, stopping for frequent photo ops as really there was a lot to see! Lots of gators and LOTS of birds. Once we reached the famous observation tower we parked the bikes and headed to the top for more pictures. There are bathrooms at the observation tower as well.
The second half of the day was MUCH harder for me, due to the wind being in our faces and it being quite a breezy day. I can’t comment on if this is the typical wind direction, but if it is, I would do the ride in the reverse order than we did (meaning take the windy path out, and the straight path back in, the same way the tram runs). Unfortunately, it hadn’t rained in a while and this side of the park was much drier and barren and there wasn’t as much to see. Not many birds at all, and only a few sad looking alligators in «puddles».
Overall, it was a great day! Of course I managed to find the few spots I didn’t apply my sunscreen completely enough, so make sure you do a better job than I did lol. This is a great spot for tourists and locals alike who are looking to explore the Everglades, reconnect with nature, and perhaps get some exercise at the same time!

This place was so awesome. My boyfriend took me here today to check it out. They charge $ 10 per car for parking.
You can either take a tram or ride a bike around the 15 mile loop. We rented the bikes. They’re not the best but they get the job done. They charge $ 9 per hour per bike and the trip takes about 2 – 3 hours. The scenery here is great. You see a lot of beautiful birds and tons of alligators. There is a tower halfway that provides a better panoramic view.
I would certainly advise people to do the bike rentals (or bring your own). Tons of fun!

Die beste Art und Weise die Everglades auf eigene Faust zu erkunden: per Fahrrad! Man kann sich die Bikes ausleihen oder mitbringen, das Ausleihen kostet pro Stunde, je langsamer man fährt, desto mehr muss man zahlen ;) allerdings lohnt sich da langsame Fahren, man sieht alle paar Meter einen Alligator! Die liegen überall rum, man kann sie in allen Posen fotografieren… Perfekt für alle Naturliebhaber!