Myakka River State Park
Sarasota, Sarasota County
One of Florida’s oldest and largest state parks, with the Myakka River, prairies, and abundant wildlife.
Myakka is the big one. Established in 1941 and covering roughly 58 square miles, about 37,000 acres, it is among the oldest and largest state parks in Florida and the reason east Sarasota County stops where it does.
The canopy walkway is the thing most people come for: a suspension bridge and tower lifting you about 25 feet into the hammock, the first public treetop trail of its kind in North America. On the lake, guided tours run on the Gator Gal and the Myakka Maiden, among the largest airboats in the world.
For a buyer the park matters twice over. It is a genuine weekend destination fifteen minutes from Lakewood Ranch, and it is also a permanent eastern boundary: development in that direction runs up against it, which is worth knowing when somebody tells you a community will always back onto open land.
- Roughly 58 square miles, about 37,000 acres
- Canopy walkway and tower, around 25 feet up
- Airboat tours on Upper Myakka Lake
- Camping, paddling, hiking and wildlife viewing
Checked against Florida State Parks and Wikipedia for the park’s establishment, size and canopy walkway on October 4, 2026.