Shark Valley

Everglades National Park

136000 SW 8th St, Miami, FL 33194

Introduction

In the heart of the Everglades freshwater marsh, right off Highway 41 you can find Shark Valley Visitor Center and the 15-mile Shark Valley loop. Explore the paved trail by tram, bicycle rental, or on foot. Climb the 65-foot observation tower to get a panoramic view of the surrounding sawgrass marsh. While it’s a great place for some exercise and a view, the trail’s best kept secret is its abundance of Florida wildlife.

Wildlife Highlights

The key to finding all the cool critters here is to keep an eye on the water to the right of the path. Our favorite find here were all the baby alligators, which many people missed because of how well they were camouflaged. There were also a lot of interesting birds, we had our best view of the famous spoonbill here. We also spotted a Florida softshell turtle hiding just under the surface of the water. Wildlife you can expect to see are: American alligators (adults & babies), roseate spoonbills, anhingas, ibises, great blue herons, great white herons, great egrets, Florida freshwater turtles, red-bellied turtles, for a complete species list check out the NPS website.

Baby American Alligator Shark Valley Florida

American Alligator (babies) - The baby alligators here can be hard to spot but once you’ve seen one, you’ll usually start finding a bunch. They usually stay close to their mothers, so the best way to find them is to scan the water for adults first. Once you’ve found the adults, see if there are any babies on the their backs also scan the plants/branches/lilypads, many times you can find groups of them sunbathing. If you are patient and take the time to look, you should be able to find some.

Roseate Spoonbill - One of the most iconic Florida birds, photographers are always on the search for spoonbills. There isn’t much of a trick to finding them, other than being in the right place at the right time. Fortunately, Shark Valley is one of those places with frequent sightings. The spoonbills we found were in the open grass (on the left), about a mile before arriving to the observation tower.

Logistics

Since Shark Valley is part of Everglades National Park, there is a $30/car entrance fee once you arrive. Fortunately, the entrance fee grants you 7-days access to the park (which is gigantic), so if you’re planning to explore more areas of the Everglades over the next week you will not have to pay twice. Park hours are from 8am to 5pm.

As mentioned before, there are three ways to explore Shark Valley, lets explore each option.

Take a Tram Tour - Tram tours are approximately 2 hours, they take you around the loop, and take a break at the observation tower so you can walk to the top. It costs $27 per adult, $14 for children, and $21 for seniors. This option is best for those who want to experience the whole loop at a relaxed pace. The tram is also covered so it keeps you out of the sun.

Bicycle Rental - Bicycle rentals are $9/hour. This is the option we went for, you can cover ground quicker than walking, but you still have the freedom to stop whenever you want (unlike the tram). That being said, 15-miles is a considerable distance, and if you keep stopping to take photos (like us) you may end up renting the bike for longer than you intended. We ended up renting it from opening (8am) to closing (5pm) since we were loving our experience at the park, but in the end it cost us $81/bike. If you have the option to bring your own bike, this would be best.

Walking - The most cost-effective option, walking the path is another relaxing way to enjoy Shark Valley. You’ll be able to stop when you want and not have to worry about your wallet. However, it is unlikely you’ll be able to finish the entire 15-mile loop if you’re on foot. That being said, the scenery does not change considerably throughout the loop. If you’re just want to stop by and spend a few hours on foot looking for wildlife, this may be the option for you.

For further logistics information on Shark Valley, check out the Shark Valley Tram Tours website.