Hike to a Sinkhole Surrounded by Alligators!
Are you ready for an extreme hike south of Tampa? Yep, I thought so!
Sarah Says: Visiting Deep Hole at Myakka River State Park’s Wilderness Preserve is one of my favorite winter and spring hikes!
I love the 2.5 mile walk through the open, dry (and sometimes windy!) dry prairie and the excitement of not quite knowing what you’re going to find at Deep Hole itself! Will there be 25 alligators? 50? 100? or even more than that?!
For those who don’t know, Deep Hole is a 131-foot sinkhole south of the main state park. It’s only visible during the drier months of the year in Florida and alligators absolutely love to hang out there!
Here’s the catch: Only 30 people are allowed to visit the area every single day and permits are required.
I’ve always scored a permit in the 6+ times I’ve visited by following these steps:
Get to Myakka River State Park no later than 7:30 am, especially on weekends. The park opens at 8 am and people can get tense as they line up for the permits!
While you’re waiting in line to get in to the park, pay for your state park entry online. Show your receipt on your phone to the ranger so you can quickly get through into the park.
Take an immediate left past the ranger station and park.
Run, don’t walk, over to the ranger station to get in line for a permit. Every member of your party must be present to get the permit. And remember, everyone is counted individually. So, if you have a party of six, and 26 of 30 permits have been claimed, two people in your party will be turned away.
Know your license plate number! You’ll have to write it down when you fill out information to get your permit.
After you get your permit, take some time to relax and use the nearby restroom.
Then, you’ll actually have to leave the main entrance of the park (by car) and use a code to get into the Wilderness Preserve parking area.
Are you up for this adventure? Let me know in the comments!
Oh, and if you’re feeling really brave, you can actually paddle to Deep Hole too.
I did it once and it was wild. I ran into the “King of the Myakka” while there. Check it out:
