Myakka: E-Bike Safari & Canopy Walkway with Wildlife Stops

4.93

(361 reviews)

What’s the experience like?

I still laugh thinking about how our guide, Marcus, greeted us at the Myakka River State Park gate — he handed me a helmet and said, “Don’t worry, even gators can’t catch you on these bikes.” The e-bikes looked high-tech but not intimidating; after a quick demo (and a slightly awkward start on my part), we rolled out into this wild Florida sprawl. There was this earthy smell from the damp grass and palmettos — kind of sweet and sharp at the same time. I kept hearing birds I couldn’t name. Marcus pointed out deer tracks in the mud, and I pretended I could see them too.

The ride itself felt easy — you can crank up the assist if you want to coast or keep it low for a bit of a workout. We stopped more than I expected because Marcus would spot something: an egret stalking in shallow water, or once, a gator sunning itself far enough away that nobody got nervous. There’s this moment where you glide past tall grass and suddenly everything goes quiet except for the tires humming over sand. It’s weirdly peaceful. At one point another group passed us; their guide waved and called out something about “prime alligator season,” which made everyone laugh (nervously).

The canopy walkway is honestly something else — you climb up through oak and palm branches until you’re 25 feet above ground, then cross this narrow bridge that sways just enough to make your heart beat faster. The view from the 74-foot tower is huge: wetlands stretching forever, treetops below like green clouds. Marcus told us about local researchers who use this spot to study birds; we actually saw a hawk swoop by so close it startled me into dropping my water bottle (no harm done). Coming down felt like stepping back into regular life after floating for a while.

By the end I was sweaty but not exhausted — those e-bikes are magic. We finished with cold bottled water under some shade trees while Marcus showed us photos he’d snapped along the way (he got my good side somehow). It’s funny how quickly you forget about your phone out there; I didn’t expect to feel so far away from everything else so close to Sarasota. If you go on this day trip from Sarasota to Myakka River State Park, just remember sunscreen…and maybe practice your balance before tackling that canopy bridge.