Everglades National Park

[danh600]

Any of you guys go down there with your bikes?

I am thinking of going in the next month or so. Maybe a weekend trip. I was just wondering if any body had some suggestions on rides, hotels, restaurants etc.

Been past the parks 100s of times, but never really went into the park to do sight seeing. I think due to the bugs and heat Jan and Feb would be about the only months to go.

[v65infla]

I have been in some of it.  LMK, I would like to make the trip also.  Its really just a long day's ride from here but I am not against staying over night.  Hell, I haven't been out of town for a weekend since...............this past one.   

[danh600]

We do a day ride that's a loop through the Indian Reservation. We haven't been all the way down to the park yet. I am think we might go some weekend in Jan. It's really just a long days ride for us too. We can shoot down 27 to the east entrance in a couple hours. A little longer to the west side.

[v65infla]

You must be talking about Loop Road??

That is where I met this guy about 6 years ago.

[dt]

Wow! Can't believe I look on the site tonight and you guys are talking about touring the Everglades. I'm heading into the park tomorrow morning for the day! Maybe more if it's real cool in there. I rode the sportster down to the Keys and spent the past two days there bombing around and am now in Florida City...seemed to be a good launch point into the Everglades. There are a bunch of small, cheapo hotels (Comfort Inns and the like) right around where you enter the lower part of the park; on and near US1. I'm doing the lower part of the park in the morning, shooting down from Florida City to Flamingo along 9336 (I hope it's paved  ). Then I'm coming back out the same way and taking 41 and 94 through the middle of the park back over to the west coast. Certainly I'll have more information on the park when (if) I get back...gators and other critters, ya know. Dang...more irony on bikerflorida. 

[v65infla]

Check out Loop Road for sure.  You putter along at about 15mph for about 13 miles or so but you see some real cool stuff in there.  You guy's need to get over to the thread about the Florida Get Together I am putting on, we have updated some info on a location. 

[danh600]

Cool DT. Check out the best places to stay. Secure bike parking and all that.


Jamie
The loop we do doesn't quite go all the way to the park. We shoot down US27. Then go west for a ways on I75 to Snake road(833). That road goes north through the Indian reservation and back up to US27 coming out west of Clewiston. It's a nice ride for us.

They have motocross racing on Sundays in the Reservation. Kind of fun to watch. Also the tourist trap Swamp Billies or whatever it's called has a decent restaurant.

Parts of 833 are pretty scenic.

[v65infla]

Cool DT. Check out the best places to stay. Secure bike parking and all that.


Jamie
The loop we do doesn't quite go all the way to the park. We shoot down US27. Then go west for a ways on I75 to Snake road(833). That road goes north through the Indian reservation and back up to US27 coming out west of Clewiston. It's a nice ride for us.

They have motocross racing on Sundays in the Reservation. Kind of fun to watch. Also the tourist trap Swamp Billies or whatever it's called has a decent restaurant.

Parts of 833 are pretty scenic.

Taking SW 8 St which is also Tamiami Trail or HWY 41 out west from I75 or the Turnpike, Loop Road keeps going straight west at the big right hand almost 90 degree sweeper near the western edge of the park on the very northern side.  This is also just before you enter into Monroe Co, from Dade.  It then takes a gentle turn left, swings back right then straightens back out due west before a couple of gentle turns right and then takes you straight north to pick up HWY 41 again now in Collier Co.  It is all dirt, hence for the need to putt along at about 15 to 20mph but you see some amazing wild life even on a bike. You also see some homes built on stilts out in the middle of the swamp.  You are in the middle of no where and might feel a tad safer if you are carrying.

I can't do the motocross thing.  I raced with all the old timers there over in Naples, West Palm and Dania before breaking my femur in two places.  I "Jones" too bad too ride dirt again if I am around it.  However, I am in the middle of a pretty serious weight loss program and much to my wife's chagrin it has crossed my mind to starting riding again when I make my goal weight.   

[dt]

One thing is for sure…the Everglades National Park is one long day. The map below shows my route in red. I was flying mostly by the seat of my pants without much planning or mapping on this trip, but I believe I figured out that the Park isn’t riddled through its interior with a lot of roads to move about…at least not roads that you can drive and ride on…it is a big swamp after all. I covered what I could of the Park in two parts: lower and upper, and used Florida Road 997 (runs through Homestead) to get between. Trip points below.




Lower ENP:

I started out in Florida City on US 1, which is the last populated city before US 1 turns into the longest 45 mph road from hell into the Keys. From the Comfort Inn where I stayed, I made my way over to Florida Road 9336 (about 4 or 5 miles west). Florida 9336 cuts into the ENP heading south-west to the lowest point of the Park, called Flamingo (see the Map). Flamingo is not really a town; rather, it’s a large State Park Facility with camping, boating, hiking, etc.

As far as this ride, consider this road like a dead end…you go in on 9336 and you come out on 9336…about 40 miles from the Park Entrance ($5.00 fee) to Flamingo. The road is weathered and very rough, but it is paved. Although only 40 miles in, there are a number of off/side roads to expand your ride…the best was a road called Mahogany Road. You’ll know the ones you can ride on…LOL. Like 9336 itself, many of them (not all) are dead end…but the scenery is spectacular…many places to stop…many ponds. You need to work this ride and explore…make sure you go all the way to the end of 9336. It looks like it’s over at the visitors center, but it keeps going. No gas stations in there…heavily patrolled by the sheriff’s so watch your speed…not that you’ll be going fast; rather you’ll be rubber necking so much you may just loose track.

In between lower and upper:

I road back out 9336 and picked up Florida 997 (Krome Road) north to US41 Tamiami Trail…about 25 miles. This was kind of a pain having to get back on main roads, but I can’t see how else to do this. I even asked a ranger at the park entrance if there was a way to cut north up to 41 inside the Park…nope. Although it will seem further to get to, Florida’s Turnpike might have been faster than 997. Anyway…

Upper ENP:

Once on Tamiami Trail (US41) you enter the Miccosukee Indian Reservation and parallel the Tamiami Canal for the longest time. This must be the longest, straightest road in the entire state of Florida…and it has one (yes ONE) gas station; see the map. I put three gallons in my three and a half gallon sporty there, accompanied by a big sigh of relief. There are a number of off roads, but right about where the canal stops running along the Tamiami Trail, you’ll find the Loop Road (Something 92; Florida, US, still not sure). This is what I call a “white knuckle road” better suited for a good Enduro. I clocked 25 miles, 20 of which was pure dirt road…not soft like sand, but lot of gravel. Stay off the front brake or you’ll wash out in this stuff. NOT a place to fall or be stranded! Back on Tamiami west, you’ll come to Big Cypress Reserve. This place was pretty cool…more dirt roads! Overall, there are many decent side roads back to the north of Tamiami in this area…and more terrific scenery. Actually, there’s terrific scenery all along Tamiami, but you need to get off onto the side roads to really get the feel of the place.

There was more to see, I believe, on the west side of the Park. Right near where US29 intersects Tamiami Trail, I noticed that there was another Park entrance to the south. At that point I was beat and took US29 north. Then I caught I 75 back to Tampa. I really wanted to cut the Interstate miles as much as possible on this trip, but having done 750 miles in three days, I punked out and took the last 150 on the fast road.

[dt]

Photos, of course:

Just a side bar, but before you get into the Park on 9336 (lower end), you’ll go through some endless looking farm land. This just seems to stretch forever.





Here’s photos from the Park:

[dt]

More…

Oh hey, let’s go hiking in here…lol



Snake bight  >>


Obligatory photo with a gator (big sucker too!)




He was just a little guy.


All the dirt roads are white, chalky…my bike is sooo dirty!
















HOPE YOU ENJOYED!  

[danh600]

Excellent report!! Now I really want to go.

There was more to see, I believe, on the west side of the Park. Right near where US 26 intersects Tamiami Trail, I noticed that there was another Park entrance to the south

.

You mean US29 south? That would have taken you to Everglades City and Chokoloskee. There are actually towns there more like fishing villages. Lots of charter boats, but there are restaurants and lodging. 

[v65infla]

Most excellent you found "Loop Road".  It is the only part I have been on as I was on a different trip then but I loved it.  I am glad Dan brought up Chokoloskee as we had stopped for lunch there on our trip.  Nice little village.  

Nice to see a "Harley" rider not afraid to get his bike a little dirty.   

[dt]

You mean US29 south? That would have taken you to Everglades City and Chokoloskee. There are actually towns there more like fishing villages. Lots of charter boats, but there are restaurants and lodging. 

Yeah, my bad…fixed it^^. I definitely saw one of the Park Entrance signs pointing south, but I can’t remember if it was just pointing down US29. I would have scouted it, but it was just about dark at that point…and the only thing worse than the seat on my Harley is its headlight.

[danh600]

Went down to Everglades City and Chokoloskee this last weekend. Pretty nice area. We went down US27 and I75 to get there, but came home on the back roads. I think the back roads are just about as quick and much more fun to ride.

We stayed at the Parkway Motel in Chokoloskee.


Normally when we travel we don't eat in chain restaurants. We also try to find Mom and Pop lodging if we can. This place was great. Only four rooms in that building and a few trailers down by the marina. The owner was very nice. Almost like staying with old friends. Had a great meal at the Havana Cafe. One of only two restaurants in Chokoloskee, but it was good.

Parkway Marina.


It is a nice area. Would be and even better area to take a dual sport. Lots of nice looking rock roads to ride.
 Now I just have to see Flamingo. Thinking about going camping there in the next couple of weeks.

[v65infla]

Is JT's still the other one?? 

Looks like a nice time.

[dt]

Sounds like a great trip Dan. We all need to get together and compare notes and then do that place top to bottom. 

[danh600]

Is JT's still the other one?? 

Looks like a nice time.

Yep, that was the other one. We didn't go by there. We went back to Everglades city for our other meals.

[v65infla]

6 years ago.