Shark Valley Tram Road and Bobcat Boardwalk

The Shark Valley Tram Road is a 15-mile (24 km) paved loop in the Shark Valley area of Everglades National Park, with a short Bobcat Boardwalk near the visitor center. The trailhead is at the Shark Valley Visitor Center, 36000 SW 8th St, Miami, on Tamiami Trail (US-41), about 45 minutes west of downtown Miami. No public transit serves the site, so visitors drive or take a rideshare, and the park charges a per-vehicle entry fee; confirm current rates at nps.gov/ever. No permit is required for walking or cycling. The Bobcat Boardwalk is a short boardwalk of about 20 minutes and is easy. The full loop on foot takes 5-6 hours, or 2-3 hours by bicycle, and is rated moderate mainly because of length, heat and lack of shade rather than gradient. The road is flat and paved, and shared with a park tram that carries visitors to the halfway point. At that point stands an observation tower about 70 ft (21 m) high, which gives a wide view across the sawgrass prairie, the so-called river of grass. Along the road, alligators often rest on the banks of the canal beside the path, and wading birds, turtles and snail kites may be seen. Turn-around points can be chosen at will; many walkers go to a mid-distance point and return rather than finishing the loop. There is almost no shade and no water on the route beyond the visitor center area, so visitors carry at least 2 liters of water per person. Restrooms and refreshments are at the start. Wildlife has right of way, and visitors keep a safe distance from alligators. Heat, sun and afternoon thunderstorms are the main hazards, and summer brings heavy mosquitoes.