Visit The Amazing Shark Valley Bike Trail and Vistor Center – Everglades National Park
Want to visit Everglades National Park – Shark Valley bike trail and visitor center? Perfect! Shark Valley is the perfect place to spend one day in Everglades National Park.
I want to start by saying I have an irrational fear of alligators. They terrify me! I wanted to conquer my fear and visit the Everglades Shark Valley area on our last trip. We started with an airboat tour and then visited Shark Valley Visitor Center in Everglades National Park.
I did not conquer my FEAR! However, Shark Valley Everglades was one of my favorite things we did on our last trip to Florida. I am so excited to share with you all the things to do in the Everglades National Park.
In this post, we will cover logistics, the Shark Valley bike trail, the Shark Valley tram, the Shark Valley Visitor Center, and all the things to do in the Everglades National Park Shark Valley area including airboat tours.
Let’s plan a trip to the Everglades National Park, Shark Valley area!
If you want to save this information for later be sure to Pin this to Pinterest.
This post may contain affiliate links that will give me a commission at no additional charge to you.
Everglades National Park Shark Valley
Everglades National Park is huge! There are 4 visitor centers located throughout the Everglades. We will be focusing on the Shark Valley Visitor Center.
The Everglades span 1.5 million acres in south Florida. It is one of the largest national parks in South Florida. It is the third-largest park in the lower 48 states behind Death Valley and Yellowstone. Shark Valley Everglades is just one section of a massive national park!
Let’s plan a trip and explore all the things to do in Everglades Shark Valley National Park.
Everglades Day Trip From Miami
Shark Valley is the perfect place to take a day trip from Miami to the Everglades. Miami to Shark Valley is a perfect getaway into nature.
How Far is Everglades Shark Valley from Miami?
Shark Valley Everglades is less than an hour away from Miami. Depending on your starting point you should be able to visit the Everglades National Park Shark Valley easily from anywhere in South Florida.
Tamiami Trail
Two major roads cut through the Everglades in South Florida. One is I-75 known as alligator alley. This road connects Naples to Ft. Lauderdale. The other highway is US Highway 41 known as the Tamiami Trail which connects Miami to Tampa Bay.
To get to Everglades Shark Valley Bike Trail and Visitor Center you will want to take US Highway 41. These are the easiest directions to Shark Valley.
Everglades Shark Valley Entrance Fee
Everglades Shark Valley entrance fee is $30 per vehicle. Unless you have one of the following passes.
America The Beautiful Pass
The American the Beautiful Pass is the season pass. It is $80 for the entire year which will allow you to visit all the National Parks in the USA.
4th Grade National Park Pass
If you have a 4th grader you can get a free National Park Pass. This is such a great program that allows all kids in the 4th grade to get outside and visit the National Parks in the US.
Shark Valley Everglades National Park Hours
Everglades National Park Hours – Shark Valley area are:
8:30 am – 6:00 pm
The park is open 24 hours however vehicles are not allowed past the gate beyond 6:00 pm (alligators are more active from dusk to dawn as it is their key feeding time) I wouldn’t want to visit Shark Valley Everglades after 6:00 pm!
Everglades Shark Valley Bike Trail
If you are planning on renting a bike you will need to plan ahead. Bikes must be returned by 5:00 pm.
Shark Valley Everglades National Park Weather
There are two seasons in Everglades National Park. Wet and Dry. The wet season runs from April – to October and the dry season is from November – to March.
Shark Valley Everglades National Park Weather
The Everglades range from 76 degrees in January and hits the 90s during the summer months. November – April will have the best temperatures of the year. During the summer months, it rains a lot!
The Best Time to Visit Shark Valley Everglades National Park
The best time to visit Shark Valley Everglades National Park is the dry season. The Shark Valley alligators and other animals are more active and there are more ranger-led programs. So November – March is the best time to visit the Everglades Shark Valley area.
Parking at Everglades National Park
The parking lot at Everglades Shark Valley is small. There is only 1 lot and it does not have a lot of spots. We had to wait at the Shark Valley entrance for about 30 minutes before we actually were able to proceed to the parking lot.
The park rangers will wait until one car exits before another car can enter. Once we went through the gate we still had trouble finding a spot. There are areas for large RVs and tour buses to park along the street.
How Long Should I Spend at the Everglades Shark Valley Visitor Center and Shark Valley Bike Trail
If you are taking a day trip from Miami to the Everglades plan on spending at least 3 hours at the park. There are a few activities in the Everglades Shark Valley area that may take you more time to complete.
Shark Valley Bike Trail
The Shark Valley bike trail will take 2 – 4 hours to complete. Give yourself enough time to bike and still be able to stop and check out all the wildlife along the trail.
Everglades National Park Shark Valley Visitor Center
Once you have parked you can proceed to the Everglades National Park Shark Valley Visitor Center. Inside there are some cool facts about the Shark Valley alligators in the Everglades and the other animals that call the Everglades home.
Junior Ranger Program
The Everglades National Park Shark Valley Visitor Center is also the location where you will pick up your junior ranger booklets. The junior ranger program is designed for kids. You can complete the book as you visit the national park and then the park ranger will give you a special badge at the end of your visit.
Choose Activities in the Shark Valley Everglades
Inside the visitor center, you can choose if you want to view the 15-mile loop by tram, bike, or foot. We will explore all three options below. You will pay for your activities at the Shark Valley Visitor Center (Yes, this is an additional cost to your Shark Valley entrance fee)
Things to Do in the Everglades National Park Shark Valley
The top thing to do in the Everglades Shark Valley National Park is to check out the alligators. There are so many Shark Valley alligators in the Everglades! In fact, Everglades National Park estimates about 200,000.
Let’s explore the best way to see the Shark Valley alligators in the Everglades and the different activities you can enjoy while observing them. These activities are the perfect way to spend one day in Everglades National Park.
1. Check out the Shark Valley Alligators in the Everglades
Viewing the alligators in the Everglades is the best! The alligators are everywhere. Before we even started our tour we saw two alligators. One was swimming in the water by the parking lot. The other was at the beginning of the Shark Valley bike trail.
How Many Shark Valley Alligators in the Everglades Will I See?
We saw between 20 and 30 alligators in the Everglades on our two-hour tour. We also saw a crocodile! There are only 2 crocs in the entire Shark Valley Everglades.
2. View the Wildlife in the Shark Valley Everglades
There are more than just alligators in the Everglades. There are many birds in Everglades National Park and also fish, turtles, and snakes.
Most Common Birds in Everglades National Park
- Heron
- Turkey Vulture
- Pelican
- Anhinga
My favorite bird in Everglades National Park is the Anhinga. I keep thinking it was a snake. It is a bird that swims! It has a long neck and every time it would come out of the water it looked like a snake ready to strike.
When we made it to the Shark Valley observation tower I was able to get a great look at one swimming underwater and popping up.
Snakes in the Everglades – Python vs. Alligator
There are lots of snakes in the Everglades. 4 of which are poisonous. The snake you might know about is the Burmese Python. The python is an invasive species. They do not belong in the Everglades.
The park ranger said that there have been three known instances where a python and a full-grown alligator have battled. Guess who won? The Alligator! He is still king of the Everglades.
3. Go on a Everglades Shark Valley Tram Tour
Before we jump to the Shark Valley bike trail I wanted to mention that there is a Shark Valley trail tram tour at the Everglades Shark Valley Visitor Center.
The Shark Valley Tram tour is worth it! It was so much fun! It is a two-hour tour around the 15-mile loop. The tram tour is led by a park ranger. The tram will slow down and stop so you can see all the Shark Valley alligators in the Everglades!
Shark Valley Tram Tour Price and Hours
Adults: $28
Seniors: $22
Children (ages 3-12): $15
From December – to April the tours start on the hour. You can purchase your tickets ahead of time or at the Shark Valley Visitor Center. During the other times of the year, tours are not offered as frequently.
Shark Valley Trail Tip
These tours do fill up fast. It was not extremely busy when we went but we still had to wait an hour for the next tour time.
This would make you think that purchasing online would be a better option, but that is not necessarily the case, be aware that you may be waiting 30 minutes just to go through the gate. If you do purchase your tickets ahead of time be early.
Everglades Shark Valley Tram Tour
The narrative from the park ranger is entertaining and informative. The tour stops about halfway through for a 20-minute break. You can get off the tram and walk up to the Shark Valley Observation Tower and look out over the Everglades Shark Valley area. It is amazing!
The entire tour is fantastic! I highly recommend going on it even if you plan to do the Everglades Shark Valley bike trail.
4. Bike the Shark Valley Bike Trail
The Shark Valley Bike Trail may be the highlight of your visit. It is amazing. The Shark Valley bike trail is the same 15-mile loop trail the Shark Valley tram uses. You can bring your own bikes or rent them.
Renting Bikes for the Shark Valley Bike Trail
Prices: $22
You can rent online ahead of time but don’t worry if it looks like they are sold out….They are not. There are plenty of bikes available for those that want to rent at the Everglades National Park Shark Valley Visitor Center.
Important Things to Know Before Going on the Everglades Shark Valley Bike Trail
- Helmets must be worn by those under 16 according to Florida state law.
- Stay a safe distance from wildlife. 10-15 feet.
- Best time to go on the Shark Valley bike trail is in the morning.
Everglades Shark Valley Bike Trail
Renting bikes is a great way to explore the Shark Valley bike trail. Because I have an irrational fear of alligators in the Everglades I wasn’t sold on renting bikes. I wanted to but decided that a tram ride might be a better option if I needed a quick getaway from an attacking alligator.
However, the park ranger said that doing both tours offers great insight into the Shark Valley Everglades area.
The tour will give you plenty of information while the Shark Valley bike trail allows you to take your time and really see all those alligators in the Everglades! Biking Shark Valley is a great way to explore this area.
To each his/her own!
5. Shark Valley Everglade Hiking Trails
The Shark Valley hiking trails are limited. (for good reason)
Bobcat Boardwalk Trail
There is a bridge path near the Shark Valley Visitor Center that you can explore called the Bobcat Boardwalk Trail. As we walked toward the bridge there was indeed an alligator hanging out right in the path.
The trail is very short and ends near an overlook area. We saw an alligator swimming around in this area. The park ranger said that the water in this certain area is deeper and the Shark Valley alligators in the Everglades like it.
This is a great Shark Valley Trail to check out.
Otter Cave Trail
There is another Shark Valley hiking trail near the end of the Bobcat trail. I took one look at it and said no way!
You actually venture into the Everglades forest area. I would not take my chances! (if you have been on this path let me know) Once again my fear of alligators was coming out strong when I saw this path!
15 – Mile Everglades Shark Valley Hiking Trail Loop
If you want to hike the entire U-shaped East Tram Loop, you could do this as well. It is 15- miles in total.
At mile 8 is the Shark Valley Tower which is an observation deck. Personally, I do not think hiking around is the best way to see the Shark Valley Everglades. I think the tram or Shark Valley biking is better.
6. Air Boat Tours Near Shark Valley Everglades
The most common Everglade activity is going on an Airboat tour. Airboat tours are not located inside the Shark Valley Visitor Center in Everglades National Park.
There are several Airboat tour companies just outside the official Shark Valley National Park area that offer rides.
There are three authorized companies by the national park services. They include the following:
- Coopertown Airboats
- Everglades Safari Park
- Gator Park
We went on an airboat tour. It was fun but honestly, I loved the tram ride better. The deeper you go into the Everglades the more alligators you will find.
Shark Valley Everglades Tip
There may be a reason some airboat tours are less expensive. They may know that you won’t see a ton of alligators in the Everglades. Just saying!
Our tour was cheaper and that is what we found. We saw so many more alligators in Shark Valley Everglades.
Accommodation Near Shark Valley Everglades National Park
If you are planning on visiting the Shark Valley Everglades National Park area you will want to stay in Miami.
Shark Valley Miami Hotels
There are so many nice resorts in Miami. We stayed at the JW Turnberry Resort and loved it.
We also spent a night in a Spring Hills Suites near the airport. The airport is closer to Everglades National Park compared to where the nice resorts are located.
Are You Ready to Visit Shark Valley Everglades National Park?
Hopefully, you are excited to visit the Shark Valley bike trails at Everglades National Park! There are so many fun Everglades activities that we loved.
There are so many things to do in Everglades National Park! I know you will have so much fun exploring the Shark Valley Everglades area.
Let us know how many Shark Valley alligators in the Everglades you see in the Facebook Group!
Facebook Community
If you have any questions be sure to join my Facebook Travel Community. This great community can help answer any questions you may have about your upcoming trips. Plus, I try to add any great deals or promotions that companies send me!
What a cool place to visit! I could easily spend a day exploring – and I love that it’s a bike trail!
The bike trail makes me a little nervous. There are so many alligators just right along the road….
I would definitely enjoy a day here. Alligators are definitely to be respected and watched from a distance. Great info in your blog.
I still am shocked that I actually did this tour.
Thank you for all this info! I’m planning a FL keys trip and have been wanting to research the Everglades
We drove down the keys too! It is beautiful!
Good for you to face your fear! I would love to visit Everglades National Park and explore along the Shark Valley bike trail and visitor center.
It is so amazing! I was suprised at how much we all loved it!
I have a fear of this area too! The whole concept of the critters in the Everglades is too much for me…SNAKES! YIKES!
I know, we didn’t see any snakes but you know they are there!
I admire your courage in visiting the Everglades! I don’t like alligators either. This is a great way to go beyond!
Yes, get out of the comfort zone!
Amazing cover photo! We went to the Everglades two decades ago and I can see now we need to go back. Nothing like it.
It really is amazing!
I’m scared of alligators too, but this post is packed with all the information and tips to make it an enjoyable excursion! Glad you got out unscathed 🙂
I know! I look back and as much as I enjoyed it at the time, it still scares me!
This looks like a wonderful family vacation! I think I would be too much of a scaredy-cat to enjoy, but I bet my husband would LOVE this!!
I know right!
My husband and I love to hike, so the 15-mile hike may not be the best way to see the park, but it is a great way to combine a workout with something fun.
For sure! Just FYI crocs can run as fast as humans HAHA! J/K
Shark Valley sounds like the perfect place to spend one day in Everglades National Park. I would love to check out the bike trail and visitor center as well as the airboat.
So much to do!
That park is amazing. I haven’t been in years, but it is truely a highlight of exploring Florida’s natural habitats.
It is really amazing!
What a great adventure! I also have an irrational fear but of sharks! haha whenever I’m in the ocean I’m always on the lookout for a shark. But that’s so awesome that you put yourself out there and visited some gators. They’re pretty cool from a distance haha.
I have a fear of Sharks too!
Such a wonderful trip! Good for you on tackling those fears!
So scary but so cool!
I love the alligators, at a safe distance. Unfortunately, we have gotten caught up in the hum-drum of working and everyday life and have not had the opportunity to get to the Everglades. We are planning to return to Florida in September, so would love to get down there when we return.
It is so worth it!
We loved shark valley! We didn’t have long to spend there so w did the tram, but I really want to rent a bike next time! I’m so interested in alligators!
We loved the tram!
We want to visit the Everglades sometime soon so it’s wonderful that I came upon your article. Do you happen to know why this place is called Shark Valley?
Yes, There are two rivers the Shark River and the Little Shark river. This area of the Everglades comes from the estuaries from the rivers where it meets the sea.