Overview: If there is one spot that comes to mind when thinking nature and Florida, it's this place, Everglades National Park. And Shark Valley is probably the closest point to access the park for most people. Shark Valley sits about 25 miles west of Florida's Turnpike, and the drive along SW 8th, aka Tamiami Trail, aka U.S. 41, really is part of the destination, especially west of Krome Avenue. The road parallels a canal that is a magnet for wading birds, alligators and turtles. Beyond the canal lies the Everglades and Francis S. Taylor Wildlife Management Area, which is a stop on the Great Florida Birding Trail. Along the highway, you'll cross over several long bridges built as part of the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan to allow more water to flow into the park.
The first thing you'll notice about Shark Valley is that it's flat as a pancake, or seemingly so. Second thing you'll notice is that there is nary a shark to be seen. So what's with the name? There is indeed a valley running roughly between Miami and the Immokolee Ridge near Florida's west coast, albeit with a gentle, imperceptable slope to it and this part of the Everglades is in the heart of it. Sharks? No, but the sloughs, ponds, marshes and canals you'll see are the headwaters for the Shark River, which runs into Florida Bay. The name dates back to the 16th century Spanish explorers who named the river El Rio de Tiburon, River of Sharks, when they encountered the toothy predators while sailing its waters. Shark Valley indeed.
Shark Valley itself offers a 15-mile Loop Trail, paved and perfect for hiking or biking (bikes can be rented there), and two short trails, the Bobcat Boardwalk and the Otter Cave Hammock Trail. The Otter Cave trail moves through a tropical hardwood hammock and some interesting geological features called solution holes, or as we call them, nature's potholes. There is an observation tower at the seven-mile mark of the Loop Trail that offers spectacular view of the surroundings. Don't feel like hiking or biking the 15 miles? There are two-hour tram tours available. The western side of the Loop Trail parallels a canal that is home to more than a few alligators. There's nothing between you and them, so a bit of caution is advised when approaching the bank.
If you go, a hat, sunscreen and bug repellant are essential. There isn't much in the way shade at Shark Valley, and the place can be buggy, especially toward evening.
History: The history of Everglades National Park dates back to 1916 and the creation of Royal Palm State Park — Florida's first state park — thanks to the efforts of the Florida Federation of Women's Clubs and one May Mann Jennings. Jennings, whose husband was a former Florida governor and former speaker of the Florida House, helped mobilize support for Everglades preservation at a time when it was viewed as useless swamp that needed to be drained. In 1934, Congress authorized the establishment of Everglades National Park; when ENP opened in 1947, Royal Palm State Park's 4,000 acres effectively was its nucleus.
In 1946, the Humble Oil Co., now known as Exxon, drilled exploratory oil wells within Shark Valley. They found nothing, or at least not enough to make drilling economically viable. When Humble couldn't find a buyer for the land, the oil giant donated it to the feds to be incorporated into Everglades National Park. Humble left behind the west side of what's now the loop road, a canal and a number of so-called borrow pits where rock and fill were taken for the road's construction. In 1965, the Nationa Park Service built a 70-foot observation tower that noted architect Edward M. Ghezzi designed as part of Mission 66, a commemoration of the founding of the NPS. The Shark Valley entrance opened in 1966.
What You'll See: One of the first things any ecotour guide learns is not to promise that any particular animal species will be seen. Parks and preserves aren't zoos, and animals in the wild are unpredictable. However, there's a pretty fair chance that you will spot an alligator or two, especially along the canal that borders the western side of the Loop Trail. In fact, odds are you'll see a lot of them. Caution and common sense apply. Along the eastern section of the Loop, you will see miles and miles of marsh, the famed River of Grass. Water does flow through these lands, though slowly.
There is a bounty of life here, wildflowers, some of which you won't see anywhere else on the planet, animals like the snapping turtle shown below. Hawks, herons, vultures, anhingas foraging. Maybe a swallow-tailed kite soaring above or something rare like a great white heron, a snail kite looking for some escargot. They're here. Just keep your eyes and ears open.
Amenities: Parking is limited. During busy days, especially on weekends and holidays during winter and early spring, wait times to get into the park can be an hour or more. The park suggests arriving either before 10 a.m. or after 3 p.m. to avoid long lines. There are restrooms at the visitor center and portables at the base of the tower at the far end of the loop trail. There is drinking water as well as vending machines within the center. A private vendor offers tram tours and bike rentals; probably one of the best ways to experience Shark Valley is by bike.
Nearby: As noted earlier, the Everglades and Francis S. Taylor Wildlife Management Area is directly across SW Eighth Street, aka U.S. 41, aka the Tamiami Trail, from Shark Valley and may be accessed at several points along the highway. Big Cypress National Preserve is to the west along U.S. 41. You can get to the Homestead entrance of the park via Krome Avenue but it is a loooooong drive. We've done it.
Links: The Great Florida Birding Trail's page for Shark Valley is here. The Institute for Regional Conservation has an inventory of plants for Everglades National Park but not specifically Shark Valley. You'll find it here. Click here for information on tram tours. The same concessionaire rents bicycles and offers bicycle tours. Info is here.
Of Note: The entrance fee to Everglades National Park is $35 per vehicle or vessel for a seven-day pass as of this writing (April 2025). Click this link for updates and a complete fee schedule. The Shark Valley Entrance to the park is open every day of the year from 8:30 a.m. until 6 p.m. The park remains open; however, cars do not have access.
Cover Photo: A great blue heron flies low over the River of Grass. Second Photo: An American alligator, of course, the iconic animal of the Everglades and all of Florida, really. Third photo: the tram tour of Shark Valley. This is the easiest way to experience Shark Valley. Sit back and relax as a naturalist does the driving and explaining.
The first thing you'll notice about Shark Valley is that it's flat as a pancake, or seemingly so. Second thing you'll notice is that there is nary a shark to be seen. So what's with the name? There is indeed a valley running roughly between Miami and the Immokolee Ridge near Florida's west coast, albeit with a gentle, imperceptable slope to it and this part of the Everglades is in the heart of it. Sharks? No, but the sloughs, ponds, marshes and canals you'll see are the headwaters for the Shark River, which runs into Florida Bay. The name dates back to the 16th century Spanish explorers who named the river El Rio de Tiburon, River of Sharks, when they encountered the toothy predators while sailing its waters. Shark Valley indeed.
Shark Valley itself offers a 15-mile Loop Trail, paved and perfect for hiking or biking (bikes can be rented there), and two short trails, the Bobcat Boardwalk and the Otter Cave Hammock Trail. The Otter Cave trail moves through a tropical hardwood hammock and some interesting geological features called solution holes, or as we call them, nature's potholes. There is an observation tower at the seven-mile mark of the Loop Trail that offers spectacular view of the surroundings. Don't feel like hiking or biking the 15 miles? There are two-hour tram tours available. The western side of the Loop Trail parallels a canal that is home to more than a few alligators. There's nothing between you and them, so a bit of caution is advised when approaching the bank.
If you go, a hat, sunscreen and bug repellant are essential. There isn't much in the way shade at Shark Valley, and the place can be buggy, especially toward evening.
History: The history of Everglades National Park dates back to 1916 and the creation of Royal Palm State Park — Florida's first state park — thanks to the efforts of the Florida Federation of Women's Clubs and one May Mann Jennings. Jennings, whose husband was a former Florida governor and former speaker of the Florida House, helped mobilize support for Everglades preservation at a time when it was viewed as useless swamp that needed to be drained. In 1934, Congress authorized the establishment of Everglades National Park; when ENP opened in 1947, Royal Palm State Park's 4,000 acres effectively was its nucleus.
In 1946, the Humble Oil Co., now known as Exxon, drilled exploratory oil wells within Shark Valley. They found nothing, or at least not enough to make drilling economically viable. When Humble couldn't find a buyer for the land, the oil giant donated it to the feds to be incorporated into Everglades National Park. Humble left behind the west side of what's now the loop road, a canal and a number of so-called borrow pits where rock and fill were taken for the road's construction. In 1965, the Nationa Park Service built a 70-foot observation tower that noted architect Edward M. Ghezzi designed as part of Mission 66, a commemoration of the founding of the NPS. The Shark Valley entrance opened in 1966.
What You'll See: One of the first things any ecotour guide learns is not to promise that any particular animal species will be seen. Parks and preserves aren't zoos, and animals in the wild are unpredictable. However, there's a pretty fair chance that you will spot an alligator or two, especially along the canal that borders the western side of the Loop Trail. In fact, odds are you'll see a lot of them. Caution and common sense apply. Along the eastern section of the Loop, you will see miles and miles of marsh, the famed River of Grass. Water does flow through these lands, though slowly.
There is a bounty of life here, wildflowers, some of which you won't see anywhere else on the planet, animals like the snapping turtle shown below. Hawks, herons, vultures, anhingas foraging. Maybe a swallow-tailed kite soaring above or something rare like a great white heron, a snail kite looking for some escargot. They're here. Just keep your eyes and ears open.
Amenities: Parking is limited. During busy days, especially on weekends and holidays during winter and early spring, wait times to get into the park can be an hour or more. The park suggests arriving either before 10 a.m. or after 3 p.m. to avoid long lines. There are restrooms at the visitor center and portables at the base of the tower at the far end of the loop trail. There is drinking water as well as vending machines within the center. A private vendor offers tram tours and bike rentals; probably one of the best ways to experience Shark Valley is by bike.
Nearby: As noted earlier, the Everglades and Francis S. Taylor Wildlife Management Area is directly across SW Eighth Street, aka U.S. 41, aka the Tamiami Trail, from Shark Valley and may be accessed at several points along the highway. Big Cypress National Preserve is to the west along U.S. 41. You can get to the Homestead entrance of the park via Krome Avenue but it is a loooooong drive. We've done it.
Links: The Great Florida Birding Trail's page for Shark Valley is here. The Institute for Regional Conservation has an inventory of plants for Everglades National Park but not specifically Shark Valley. You'll find it here. Click here for information on tram tours. The same concessionaire rents bicycles and offers bicycle tours. Info is here.
Of Note: The entrance fee to Everglades National Park is $35 per vehicle or vessel for a seven-day pass as of this writing (April 2025). Click this link for updates and a complete fee schedule. The Shark Valley Entrance to the park is open every day of the year from 8:30 a.m. until 6 p.m. The park remains open; however, cars do not have access.
Cover Photo: A great blue heron flies low over the River of Grass. Second Photo: An American alligator, of course, the iconic animal of the Everglades and all of Florida, really. Third photo: the tram tour of Shark Valley. This is the easiest way to experience Shark Valley. Sit back and relax as a naturalist does the driving and explaining.
