Where can South Florida backpackers head during deer hunting season? Myakka River State Park offers three or four days in more than 58 square miles of prairie and oak hammocks with no worries about wearing orange.
There are six designated primitive campsites along the route, two added at the far end of the chain of loops since I backpacked here myself.
That speaks to the popularity of getting out into the backcountry east of Sarasota. Most of South Florida’s backpacking is along the Florida Trail, where deer hunting affects your plans.
To backpack at Myakka River State Park, you must reserve your campsites in advance. Call 941-361-6511 once you’ve decided on when to go. It costs $5 per night to camp.
It’s a small price to pay for immersing in the beauty of the Florida prairie. I shot these images on slide film during a backpacking trip in 2003. We had a very wet winter that year.
Although they’re old, they’ll give you an idea of the wide open spaces you can expect along this one-of-a-kind hiking trail. You can download a map through the link for the trail, below.
You’ll find details and maps for backpacking Myakka in my book 50 Hikes in South Florida. (Amazon affiliate link)
Myakka River State Park
With tall waving grasses, saw palmetto, and the sound of birds, Myakka River State Park is Florida’s Big Sky country, blanketing more than 28,000 acres east of Sarasota
Myakka Hiking Trail
For immersion in the vast central prairies of the Florida peninsula, the 39-mile Myakka Hiking Trail is a serious backpacking destination in South Florida near Sarasota
Hi Sandra,
Do you know if the trail kiosk or park entrance has maps of the Bee Island loop trail?
I’d like to day hike that one, but can’t seem to find a trail map online anywhere. I’ve never been out there, and don’t want to get lost on the 39 miles worth of trails in the park! LOL
Thank you
Does anyone know if there are any reliable sources of water along the outer backpacking loop in Myakka? Could just be a wetland…doesn’t have to be a pump? I can’t seem to get an answer anywhere. I’m talking about dry season – going next week in the middle of Feb 2017
NE corner of the loop went along a stream that flooded onto the trail when I backpacked it. Call the park, their rangers should know current conditions. It’s high and dry on the SE side.
Hello Sandra. I was thinking about doing a very short overnight with my son, and the hike to Bee Island is about the distance we would like to travel. Any thoughts on what we could expect on this specific section? We’ve been family camping at the developed campsite in Myakka a number of times and love the park, but have not yet visited the back country camp sites. Any advice, suggestions, etc. would be much appreciated!
Bee Island is a spectacular place to camp. You’ll want to check with the park staff ahead of time for your permit – they do get very crowded in winter – and to be sure the pitcher pump that is the water source there is in good shape. You’ll need a water filter, of course. I’d suggest hiking clockwise from the trailhead. If you’re going to hit wet stuff – again, worth asking the rangers first – there’s a creek at that side of the loop that will flood over the trail. The loop to Bee Island includes a spectacular 2-mile-wide prairie before you get to the turnoff for the campsite. You might hit some wet stuff on the return loop depending on recent rainfall. We waded a good bit but that was a very wet winter. Be sure to bring warm clothes / change of socks / warm sleeping bag as being damp + cold is no fun, and it can get pretty cold in Florida in the winter. You might want something to sit on, too, once you get to camp. Have fun out there!