Myakka River State Park alligators YES go to alligator bridge! 🌴🐊 Southwest Florida travel blog

Hi there!

Are there alligators in Myakka River State Park?

Yes, there are alligators in Myakka River State Park!

This is one of the many Florida state parks with alligators.

I did actually see alligators in Myakka River!

If you drive through Myakka River State Park on the main road, you will end up at the alligator bridge!

I saw some resting and I saw some swimming here!

👆 Drive to the alligator bridge in Myakka River State Park: Spot the alligators in Myakka River!

When you arrive at the alligator bridge in Myakka River State Park, there is a trail down to the river on one side of the bridge. This is the far side when you are driving from the main state park entry. There is also a parking area on this side.

Right near the parking area and the trail, there is an alligator warning sign.

According to Florida State Parks:

Alligators are present along the trails and waterways of Myakka River State Park.

They usually eat fish, turtles, and other small animals, but may attack larger animals such as deer.

Alligators have been known to attack humans.

Alligators are dangerous.

Do not approach, frighten, or feed alligators.

The alligator bridge is not the only place to see alligators, but it might be the easiest spot you can see alligators in Myakka River State Park!

I did see more alligators at a different waterway too! That was near where the Myakka River boat tours start from. (Although at the time I went, the boat tours were not running because of low water levels.)

Any time you see a waterway in in Myakka River State Park, and especially if you see an alligator warning sign, it’s worth looking around to see if you can spot some alligators!

Deep Hole alligators in Myakka River State Park

The easy way to see alligators in Myakka River State Park is at the alligator bridge.

There is also a spot called Deep Hole in Myakka River State Park that is said to have a lot of alligators.

You need to hike to Deep Hole, and it requires a permit to do so.

I did not do this alligator hike, but online reports are that you get a permit on the same day and they are limited, so you want to get to Myakka State Park early. You can ask for a permit at the state park entry station when you arrive.

Sometimes water levels don’t allow you to hike all the way to Deep Hole.

You can read the reviews of Deep Hole Trail:

• Deep Hole alltrails reviews
• Deep Hole google reviews

I also recommend calling Myakka River State Park to ask about current conditions of Deep Hole and how to hike it in regards to permit etc!

The listed phone number for Myakka River State Park is 941-361-6511.

More alligators in Florida

• Fakahatchee Strand State Park alligators
• Tamiami Trail alligators
• Everglades National Park alligators
• Wakulla Springs State Park alligators
• Lake Louisa State Park alligators
• Lake Kissimmee alligators
• PLUS: Everglades National Park crocodiles

More below about the alligator bridge in Myakka River State Park!

🌴🐊

Alligator bridge in Myakka River State Park

Alligators are wild, so there’s no guarantee that you will see them!

The hotter the weather, the less of a chance you might have for the alligators to be out.

I did see alligators at the Myakka River bridge when I went to Myakka River State Park in April.

When you enter Myakka River State Park from the main state park entrance, you basically keep driving the main road through the park.

You will soon come across a bridge.

Coming from the main entrance, you can keep driving across the bridge, and there is a small parking on the other side.

Then, you can have a walk around the bridge and have a look for alligators on both sides of the bridge!

👆 On this side of the alligator bridge, I did see alligators swimming off in the distance.

👇 On the side of alligator bridge near the parking area, there were alligators resting. You could look down from the bridge to see alligators!

From the top of the bridge was the best view of the alligators, but you could also go down to Myakka River.

Because you know, you don’t want to go down to the river and get too close to the alligators!

👆 Yes, people were fishing near alligators! Proof that if you don’t bother alligators, they won’t bother you?!

After you have checked out the alligator bridge, if you keep driving, you will soon come across the Myakka River State Park canopy walk!

👆 Driving through Myakka River State Park: Keep driving past the alligator bridge and next up is the canopy walk!

Then you can continue driving to the area that the Myakka River State Park boat tours start.

This is also a scenic area with picnic tables.

So even if you don’t have any intention of doing a boat tour, you can have a drive down this way… especially if you want another chance to see alligators in Myakka River State Park!

It was in the waterway of where the boats are docked that I did see more alligators!

Once again, if you see an alligator sign, have a look around!

I saw another alligator sign at a different waterway so I went to have a look… but I didn’t see any alligators!

If you missed it above, watch the Myakka River State Park alligator video on youtube!

And that’s a bit about the easy way to (maybe!) see alligators in Myakka River State Park!

I went to Myakka River State Park in April 2022 and saw alligators. Your experience may vary!

Also see:

• Where to see alligators in Everglades National Park (maybe!)
• Where to see crocodiles in Everglades National Park (maybe!)
• Best things to do in Everglades National Park
• Where to see alligators along the Tamiami Trail (maybe!)

STAY SAFE AROUND ALLIGATORS IN MYAKKA RIVER STATE PARK!