Spending the Day with Chuck
When we asked our friend Chuck to come up with a ride suggestion for while we were in the area visiting, not only did he plan our ride, but he filled our day. He started by treating us to an airboat ride before hitting the gravel trail on the levy nearby. As we sped across the marshy water, our airboat driver/tour guide slowed whenever he saw an alligator – we spotted three. He explained to us that they hunt at night and rest during the day to restore their energy for the next night’s search for food.
From the airboat ride, we changed into our biking gear and rode from the parking lot onto the levee trail. After the ride we drove to TacoCraft in nearby Coral Springs for a delicious dinner and margaritas. It was a fabulous day spent with a good friend!
Francis S. Taylor Wildlife Management Area
Located within the Everglades in Broward County, the Francis S. Taylor Wildlife Management Area is a popular hiking, running, and biking trail. A part of Florida’s Greenway system, the Conservation Levee Greenway is a 27-mile dirt and gravel loop trail. The trail is easily accessible from Coral Springs (via the Sawgrass Trail), Sunrise (from Markham Park), and Weston (beginning at Sawgrass Recreation Park).
About the Ride
We let Chuck be our tour guide and skipped loading a Ride with GPS route onto our bike computers. After an easy first two thirds, it was a tougher ride than I had expected with larger rocks and rough terrain during the final third of the ride. Described by AllTrails as a moderately challenging route for hiking because of its length, I’d describe it similarly for biking. If that one section hadn’t been so rough, it would have been a much easier ride. And the funny thing is, it didn’t look very rough.
We were in full sun the entire ride, nothing that we hadn’t been warned about, but not being acclimated to the heat made it a little tougher. A liberal layer of sunscreen kept us from burning and two bottles of water each kept us hydrated.
From where we hopped on the trail we rode counter clockwise, covering the smoother small gravel trail first, unintentionally saving the bumpy terrain for last. If we were to do the ride again, we’d ride it in reverse.
When things started getting uncomfortable on the saddle thanks to all the bouncing, I geared down and rode standing much of the time during the last 90 minutes. To say I was happy to see the finish would be an understatement, but tough workouts are the memorable ones and the ones that make you feel accomplished.
Ride Overview
- • Location: Everglades Wildlife Management Area at Sawgrass Recreation Park
- • Course Type: loop
- • Course Surface: gravel, dirt, and grass
- • Bike: Salsa Warbird
- • Distance: 26.44 miles
- • Time: 2:27:24
- • Average Speed: 10.8 MPH
- • Maximum Speed: 16.6 MPH
- • Elevation Gain: 108 feet
- • Elevation Range: -7 to 73 feet
- • Weather: 77° and mostly sunny, climbing to 79°
- • Date of ride: January 30, 2025
Riding Along the Conservation Levee Greenway
From the Sawgrass Recreation Park we rode briefly on a grassy single track, my head on a swivel watching for alligators in the tall grasses on either side.
Once on the Conservation Levee Greenway we rode on double track and could chat as we rode parallel to the North New River Canal and Port Everglades Expressway.
Long before seeing the sign warning of a gun range nearby, we could hear gunshots in a distance. The shooting range was across the canal outside the wildlife management area.
After passing the gun range we turned northeast paralleling the Sawgrass Expressway for about 7 miles.
Chuck pointed out Amerant Bank Arena, home of the NHL Florida Panthers, across the canal.
The marsh stretches for miles on the opposite side of the levee trail from the canal.
The trail surface was very compact and at places resembled old spalled concrete.
A few palm trees broke up the monotony of the power line towers. I timed how long it took me to pedal from one tower to the next, then tried to hit the same time between each tower.
After a short stop to refuel, we followed the trail as it turned west away from expressways and toward a vast marsh. Instantly the surface changed to rough and bumpy and I immediately fell behind the others. The more bumps I encountered the more I noticed the friction building between my bike pants and skin.
My husband stopped to wait for me and once I caught up, he shared his Chamois Butt’r (chamois creme). It helped, but the bumpy terrain was still too much so I geared down and rode standing up for much of the rest of the ride.
With more power standing, my speed picked up and I pulled ahead stopping occasionally to wait or take in the sights.
When I first saw these two birds I couldn’t make out what they were and proceeded cautiously until I confirmed that they were birds and not a boar or alligator.
Chuck was not an exception, the three of us were all smiles as we neared the finish!
Garmin Stats
Post-ride Garmin…
Garmin map and elevation graph…
Final Thoughts on the Rides
This was one of those rides that I was happy to have behind me. It was flat, the scenery didn’t change much, and we saw very little wildlife making it more boring than some of our other rides. We all agreed that if we were to do it again, we’d ride it in reverse in order to get the difficult part behind us first. An earlier start would also be a good idea because the trail can get hot without any shade trees.
Even though the course wasn’t the most exciting and I got whiny near the end, I’m glad we got to experience riding along the levee. And as I mentioned before, you remember your tough workouts, they’re the ones that build character. Most importantly, though, the company was great and we were happy to spend the day with our friend.
Questions
- • Have you visited the Everglades? ~ this was my first visit
- • Have you taken an airboat ride? ~ this was my first
- • Do you stop and relax occasionally to fuel or take pictures, or barrel on through when on a long run or ride? ~ pictures, always pictures, unless I’m racing
What a great mix of adventure and grit!
Chuck really went above and beyond, he made sure you got the full Florida experience! Airboats, gators, gravel, and tacos!
The trail sounds tougher than it looks (aren’t those the sneaky ones?), but I love your attitude—those hard-earned miles really do stick with us. Well done, Debbie!
Thank you, Catrina! Chuck is such a great guy and it’s always a joy to spend time with him.
I think it’s so great that you two keep finding new and exciting places to explore on 2 wheels
Thanks Deborah, and yes, I love it!
That is a pretty boring area, and the trail is not smooth in the least. I’m sure you are glad to have it behind you.
Yes, I’ve been to the Everglades multiple times. I actually used to live not far from where you were riding.
I am all about the photo ops.
Yes, we were happy to have that tough course behind us. And it wasn’t that it was THAT difficult, it was just so different than I’m used to – so many miles of constant bumping. Here on our gravel roads we have crazy steep hills with fast downhills on the backside where your rear tire might slide sideways if you hit a turn going downhill too fast, but at least we get reprieves from the bumpiness.
Chuck is a great guide! When I hear of the Everglades, all I can think of is alligators.
That was exactly what I thought of before our trip. Interestingly, we didn’t see a single alligator on this ride. And yes, Chuck was a great guide and host for the day!
Ouch! The bumps sound a tad bit painful! That would definitely be a character-building adventure
That part of the ride wasn’t very comfortable.