Awesome, a great trip if you’re in the area! Rent the bikes or bring your own and bike down to the observation tower. What a view!

The views are great. They should run tram everyday. We went on the day the tram was not running. They offer us bike rentals. Which we rented. Was nice hot bike ride.

Hi. On last Sunday, I had an emergency with my bike in the Observation Tower parking, and in less of a half hour the smart Shark Valley staffs were helping me. I am so proud of our National Park Service.

Shark Valley trail is AMAZING!! It is a 15 mile bike path through the Everglades to this observation tower that over looks the Everglades. It has stunning views especially at sunset! We absolutely loved this!! You will see tons of wildlife, including a wide variety of birds, snakes, turtles and Gators galore!! Go ride your bike here, and climb the tower. You will love it!!

At the mid point of the trail the observation deck is a great place to escape the heat and take in the view. Unfortunately you can not go to the very top due to the stairwell being permanently blocked off. It is a magnificent view of the glades and a large water pond below. If you are lucky you will see a giant water turtle down below. We were lucky enough to see it lazily swimming around. There are also restroom facilities, drinking fountains, and a water bottle fill station here which made it a wonderful escape from the heat and biting flies which plague the trail.

Great experience taking the tram tour with Richard and Rick. A wonderful time altogether.

Worth the 12+miles we hiked to get here (our 2nd visit)! What a nice spot in the heart of the Everglades this is. Truly recommended.

You can walk,.bicycle or take the tram tour to get here. Its well worth the effort to see the everglades from an aerial perspective. There is s ramp to the observation deck that may be steep for some. Just take your time to enjoy the view. You never know what youll see. We were told about a female crocodile (yes singular crocodile, not alligator) that lives in are; we didnt see it.

Rent the bikes or bring your own. It’s too long to walk. Sun protection and water are a must. Probably food too. Don’t ride your bike into a gator. It’s beautiful and stunning. See it now before it’s underwater. The people who work there were a bit unorganized.

I love to be able to ride my bike while enjoying nature. It is always kept clean and I always see something new.

Amazing place. Make sure you take plenty of water because its a 16 mile trail

Nice open air tower to get a 360 degree view of the Everglades. Though there was no water to drink or no shops that sold anything. Shop might have been closed due to government strike but the park was open so I really dont know what the deal was. If you are interested in visiting the park via bicycle, Please you must have plenty of water and snacks. If you can carry, you will really get energized.

We are glad that we came here to see the Everglades. Two important things to note: excellent place to bike ride, but go in the morning due to the heat. If you dont bike ride, plan to ride the tram, the tour is worth it and you dont have to walk. It is a long walk to the Tower

We went at the perfect time. Mid-November, temperature in the 70s, dry season had started. Lots of gators were out, some with their babies. Also saw lots of birds. The guided tram tour to the observation tower is well worth the $25. Our Ranger guide was very knowledgeable and made frequent stops for pictures.

Breathtaking 360 degree view of the Everglades just a few miles from an easily accessible and main road. Bike there and climb the relatively low tower to get a birds eye view of sawgrass, swamp life, and true, undisturbed Floridian nature. Any time of day is good, though in the summer the sun can get heavy and the mosquitoes burdensome, so might be worth a morning visit or waiting until the winter months.

Beautiful view on top of the tower, if a little flat. The actual trail getting there is a little boring being a straight path, but is peppered with alligators laying along the bank through out it.The second trail to get back is a little more fun with some mild bends in the course.Also, bring plenty of water. Its hot.

I think its very important for all people to know the history of the area and contribute to its preservation. The ride and the excursion were very good, I learnt lots of very interesting facts and saw at least 20 alligators (including those with their hatchlings), one crocodile and many beautiful birds. The ride costs $25 each and takes 2 hours in total.

Great place and really amazing view. The tourist and driver were amazing, and very knowledgeable. As for the tower, it was great, however the bathrooms and water fountains were a little run down. Besides that everything was amazing!!

I enjoy biking, but would appreciate a little shade to break up the ride.

We took the tram ride. It was great ! The views of everything was so interesting. And our guides Forrest and Cristine( I think ) were absolutely wonderful. They knew everything to show us. So many Gators and birds. Highly recommend. Will be returning and recommending to everyone else, very glad that I read the reviews on Everglades site . Headed to the Keys

Lovely place to disconnect yourself from society & technology.

Incredibly worth biking or taking the tram here. Gorgeous and unique view of the park. Only rating four stars because when I went the bathrooms (there were portapotties) and water fountains were out of order (pretty big deal after 7 miles of biking) and the very top of the tower was closed (but maybe that part is normal).

It was good. It seems was build for fire watch. It has a good visibility from this place

Do the bike tour up to here. Recommendation: Do it at the end of February or beginning of march. You could even see baby alligators. In addition take some time for the trail. The one directly next to the observation tower is quite an adventure. Dark and sometimes blocked by wild animals. Enjoyable!

It was a great experience. Me and my husband took the bike trail. The loop is about 15miles and they charge 9$ an hour for the bike rentals. It take about 2-3 hours to cover the entire loop. We spotted about 50 alligators. It was fun

A great vantage point for the Everglades. We looked down at turtles and alligators in the pond below and enjoyed the far reaching vistas. It took about a 50 minutes to get there on the Shark Valley Tours train including stops to see wildlife on the way. The route back was a bit quicker on the road built by the oil company when they were exploring the area. Well worth a visit.

Nice easy walk. Great panoramic view.

Very interesting. Great tram tour. Make sure to come an hour or so early to get on the tram after you make reservations.

Good places to enjoy with children. And sit on the driver side if you select tram tour.

Great bike trail! Perfect for birdwatching!

Great bike ride in the everglades. Me and my wife had a fantastic time.

The Everglades is a majestic beauty and a national treaure. The diversity of the birds is incredible. The storks, herons, ibis and spoonbills take flight throughout this park. The alligators are the stars of the water, with the turtles lazing around while the fish are jumping.The tower lets you reflect on the breathtaking vast view. Its a stunning place.

Great 360° views of the Everglades. Dont know why the top part of the tower was blocked off.Nice, easy sloping ramp to get up to the observation deck.

The employees are super great. That makes all the difference.

Crazy! Alligators everywhere, my family really enjoyed it. Bring lots of water, sunscreen, a good hat, and sunglasses. What a great ride.

After a lengthy tram ride through the Everglades you will arrive at the site of the observation tower. There’s barely enough time to scoot to the top of the tower, take a few pictures, view the vastest of the Everglades and see the alligator(s) in the pool below. The trip back is speedier on the straight road built by the oil exploration company decades ago but you will see more wildlife, especially birds. Sit on the left side if you are a photographer.

Great views of the Everglades. We biked out which was really fun.

Beautiful views. Worth the climb if you want to really see the everglades from above, and you probably should if you came all the way out there. I mean there really arent steps, its just a giant ramp. Going up the ramp was really cool as it feels youre spiralling up towards the clouds!

You should start your Everglades experience from this point. Rent a bike and make couple of miles loop. Bike costs 9 USD per hour. 3 hours is average time to make a loop.

This is the best place to get a good look at what the Everglades are about. Because the terrain is so flat you can see the features from a birds eye view.

Fantastic view.... We biked the whole loop... Kinda wish we had gone back the straight path but it was an incredible visit.... Bike ride is the way to go! We saw so many alligators and birds!

Obviously great views of Everglades. 7 miles from entrance so you need tram or bike really. I like the fact that it is an easy ramp not steps. Alligators at the base.

We started this ride wondering if you would see an alligator or two along the ride within 5 minutes we started to see tons! It was a little scary how many we saw and how close they were to our bikes. The rental bikes were also tough for a 15mile loop but overall it was a really really fun spot to stop. Also the electric car charging was a nice surprise.

Id love to give this a higher rating but $30 a car for a sidewalk and tower is to expensive. Other parks offer so much for a few bucks. The nature is great but a bit of shade & water fountains would be nice. Plan accordingly, bring suntan lotion & water for the ride or hike. Tram is available to but its not the same.

The Tram tour was informative and our guide was very personable. Loved seeing all the varieties of wildlife. So many birds and alligators. Highly recommend.

The shuttle ride is a must! We saw lots if different birds, plants, alligators, etc..... the guides are very knowledgable about the Everglades and the inhabitants. We had already taken an airboat ride that morning, but enjoyed this much better.

Great place to enjoy the weekend. Ride bike and explore Florida wildlife. I come here usually once a month so getting the annual pass is a bargain! Staff are super friendly. Last time we saw a ton of alligators which always amaze me.

Great visit to the treasure, this was a great tour on the trolley, a little windy can be cool until sin warms you? We saw all kinds of wold life including Alligators!

Get a good view of the national park. Tram stops for 15 min usually.

The tower was awesome, to be able to go up and get a look at the glades from there was great.

Loved the place but... Was mid 80s with low humidity and stiff breeze. Heat of summer with mosquitoes.... Im not so sure!

Awesome views, great history. Take the team tour or you will regret it. Lots to see and learn.

Shark Valley is the place to go to experience the Everglades, there is no other signature location as a show piece of the Everglades, River of Grass, habitat than Shark Valley. The observation tower down 8 miles from the entrance is nice to see. It is the standard government observation tower you may have seen at other Nation Parks, Great Smokies is an example. The new visitor center is nice too, go by and visit the glades.

Awesome spot. Don’t take the train. Rent bikes!

A great bike/walking path leads there with lots of wildlife to see. Alligators, Herrons, even snails! Saw a brood of new born alligators and a crocodile too!

Great place to view the Everglades from a high vantage point. Id also recommend the tram tour if you want to actually learn and hear some interesting facts as opposed to blasting around on an air boat.

Great mid point to sit in some shade or see some views

Havnt Seen sharks but a lot of gators, some turtles, a lot of birds. Very nice

Enjoyed the ride. Went in the late afternoon when it was cooler. Saw lots of Alligators hanging out on the side of path. If I lived closer I would go more often.

Beautiful park. Excellent Park Rangers. Highly recommended.

Provides a destination for this 15-mile loop, and offers perspective to the Everglades. But dont expect to see anything you have already seen getting there. The best collection of birds and animals is found along the canal approach.

It is not easy to get to--a five Mile bike ride or a tram ride. Try to get there at sunset for a very special view. If your super adventurous, make the ride at night during a full moon. (Its legal since its a state park, but you have to park outside the gates).

Beautiful place to experience the everglades. We took the tram tour and we were not disappointed. If you plan on going there are lots of options to check out the abundant wildlife; bike rentals, boardwalks, a 2 hour tram tour, or of course your own legs. Bring a hat sunscreen and bug spray because there are lots of insects and little shade.

The bike ride was fun but some of the bikes are not in very good shape

This is a great place to ride a bicycle. The loop we took was about 15-18 miles. The place is surrounded by swamps and no where to refill your water. Therefore, take a plenty of water with you. Therere few porta potties at a half way where an observatory is located. No other restrooms on the path. There are no shades whatsoever so make sure to wear a hat and/or bring sun block if you are prone to get sunburned.The admission is $25.00 per car, $20.00 per motorcycle, or $8.00 per hiker/biker.Fees valid for 7 days at any Everglades National Park entrance.There are tram tours which are about 2 hours. Tram fees are Adults (13-61) $25.00, Seniors (62+) $19.00, Childrens (3-12) $12.75.

Really great view. Very easy to bike to or take the tram. The day we rode, the VIPs counted 218 alligators and 1 crocodile! The croc was right at the observation tower just a few feet up the ramp. Once on top, the view was spectacular, making the 7 mile bike ride all the more worth it. There was a nice cool breeze and there was full visibility of around 20 miles. The area is well maintained and the structure is beautiful as well. I would highly recommend visiting Shark Valley and getting out to the observation tower.

Great views of the area. Plan ahead for being out in the sun and heat for 15 miles.

The observation tower gives a good view and its especially interesting to look directly below into the deep water there and see evidence of the areas limestone deposits. However the service facility is in poor repair with lots of leaks, pushy crows waiting around for scraps, and a noisy echo which makes for an uninviting and sometimes crowded mid point rest break. Enjoy the tower for its views and if youre on bikes, push on and rest or eat at one of the quiet roadside benches. If youre on the tram oh well, at least youll be back at base camp soon

Awesome view easy walk up 8 miles out in the Everglades..

Shark valley is special to me because it’s been the same for over twenty years! It’s the only thing that has not changed in south Florida.Awesome for locals to bike and explore and get away from the city.Offers plenty for tourists as well - the trolley that drives you the 15 miles and has a guide explain is a great option for many. You can also rent bikes and bike the 15 miles loop (at the end there a 45’ observation tower).Plenty of alligators, sometimes even crocs, you’ll see many birds, frogs, toads, giant crickets, fish, snake, and more! I always find something new in this park. I used to come 3x a week for the nature and exercise. Recently tried going at night and it was magical.

The bike ride from the entrance of the park is a bit long, about 8 miles. But along the way you’ll see lots of beautiful animals such as birds ducks and yes alligators. You’ll even see lots of fish in the water just to the right of the roadway. When you get to the observation tower and go up you’ll see one of the best views in Florida. Just magnificent. Well worth the trip. We go once or twice a year with our bikes and really enjoy the time we spend there.

Well worth the visit. You have to be lucky to see animals though.

Shark Valley, Florida. Surrounded by perfect silence and the beauty of the Everglades, ride your bike and take it all in. You are destined to return, because there is nothing like it anywhere in the world. If an alligator crosses your path, wait until it gets to the other side and continue your journey.

What a view. You can see the entire Everglades from here. Beautiful at day and night. Bring your bug spray and extra water.

The tower in itself isn’t that remarkable but the bike ride there is great!

I go here so often I needed to get a yearly pass. No where else can you ride your bike with such a beautiful view of South Floridas vast everglades. Perfect for a family afternoon. They also have tram tours for those that cannot ride the full 15 miles.

What an awesome place! So so awesome. Ahhh gators everywhere. .and there just hanging around. We seen one with babies like over 15 babies or more it had to have been 15 mile bike ride be prepared for a few hours with things to snack on and plenty of drinks!!!! The first strip is 8 miles to get to the observation tower which is amazing up there and peaceful serenity. Omg. The round back was definitely a kicker added on 7 more messages a total of 15 so just be prepared. Went with thefamily ..my boys are 7 and 8 and they made it through. But once you get to about 6 miles you can see the tower and kind of like the winning point and it gets exciting. Snacks towards the end or beginning. It doesnt up charge like other places very reasonable and they do tours. Have a great time. Check it out it was a wonderful day!

Located in an erstwhile fire tower, this is magnificent. Great views of the Everglades are. Take awesome panorama pictures.

Beautiful experience!15 miles of pure fun!!️️

Rick and Carmen were great tour guides on the tram tour of the trails. Very educational. Got to see some exotic birds and lots of alligators.

This is absolutely a must do. Very crowded so get there early if visiting in the winter. We arrived at about 11am on a Friday and had to wait 50 mins to be able to park as the lot is one car out - one car in.Options are to ride the tram, bike, or walk the 15 mile loop down to the observation tower (We chose to hike it). Along the way you can be no more that 5 feet from dozens of alligators, blue herons, anhingas, snowy egrets, and much more. Great way to experience the Everglades up close.Bring plenty of water. Even in February it can be hot and theres no shade. As of last week, water was still off at the observation tower due to hurricane damage. There is water and vending machines available at the visitors center near the parking area.Allow for 2 hours if riding the tram. 5-6 if planning on hiking.

Half way point through the 15 mile bike ride. Great place to picnic.

About 15 miles round trip .

Awesome view of a great resource. A couple alligators were resting, one close enough to the walkway for a great picture.

Get view. One big alligator that likes to hang around nearby. Try to get there before or after the tram for pictures or it can be quite crowded.

Stunning view of the region. But thats really all there is to this outlook.The ride to this spot/outlook is much more fun, with endless alligators, birds and tortoises to see.

A great way to have fun with the family.

I have been here several times and have never been disappointed plenty of alligators and birds although it seems to be longer than necessary

How Cool. we went for a class trip!

We went on a full moon night, awesome ride, a lil spooky at times but fun.Bring plenty of bug spray, a good flashlight, water (is a long ride).Thanks to the Park rangers that give me plenty of info about park for night riders, park entrance is close but you can walk in anyways, just dont block park entrance with your car.Regards to the very profesional miccosuke police officer that came by, checking things out....and that we were not trespassing, lol.

Great biking, hiking and guided trolley tours

Very nice view of the Everglades

Very nice bike route to the tower. You can spot many alligators along the route as well as near the tower.

We bikes the 15 mile loop. Be sure and have plenty of water and sunblock! We stopped a lot on the 7 miles out and saw so many alligators, turtles, fish, and birds. The was back on the 8 mile side we could see a thunder storm coming so we rode straight back only stopping a couple times for water and big gators.

Amazing birds & gators galore, and all so close, as you bike, walk or tram the 15 mile trail. Love the Everglades!!

Not sure if everyone is aware(at least I was not), user have 2 options here either get into observation centre, take the bus ride / cycle ride to see around the place and watch the alligators which takes about 2-3 hours or get into a boat ride and do the same.

Nice experience, expensive though. 14 miles of path for 15 euros per person walking or in bike. 30 for parking a car. Many alligators and birds. I recommend but just be aware of the mentioned.

Well worth the bike or tram ride. Beautiful spot with long views

Watch out for the vultures! Great views of the Everglades

My family and I had the best time! Took the bike ride to the tower and got up close to the alligators and wildlife! Amazing end to our Florida vacation