Lake Manatee State Park – Bradenton, FL
As we continued our trek down the Gulf Coast of Florida, we found ourselves staying at another location in the Bradenton area – Lake Manatee State Park.
Manatee? No. Gopher Tortoise? Yes!
Because of its name, you may think that there would be manatees here, but there are none.
The lake was made by building a dam across the Manatee River in the 1960’s. This dam blocks the manatee’s entrance to the lake. However, there is plenty of other wildlife here to see.
One particularly fascinating inhabitant of Manatee State Park is the gopher tortoise. They are the only tortoise that burrows under the ground, very similar to the behavior of a gopher, which is how they got their name.
These tortoises also help the environment. The soil they turn up from their digging provides a fresh place for plants to grow. Their burrows can also provide a home for other wildlife.
When visiting the campground, you are more than likely to run across one of these guys. We were fortunate to spot one while hiking a trail, and then later right at our campsite!
A Sunny Spot to Camp
We stayed at Lake Manatee State Park for three nights. The first night was spent on Loop 2, Site 55. It was a great site, with lots of vegetation all around. However, there were no shade trees, so during the sunny afternoon it got pretty hot.
I enjoyed a walk down the road to Lake Manatee, and it was very scenic and peaceful. Gentle ripples lapping at the lakeshore, Spanish moss hanging from the trees, and gorgeous blue skies.
I spied some animal prints on the shoreline, and I’m guessing they were racoon. There was a storyboard showing all of the animals who come to the lake for a drink. One of them was a bobcat! Although the sign said that the bobcats are elusive, I surely did not want to meet one up close and personal.
We were treated to a gorgeous sunset right from our campsite, and enjoyed sitting around a campfire under the stars. We’re talking the first week of February. Isn’t that amazing?
A Rustling in the Grass – Run???
Our second day, we moved camp down the street to Site 55. This was also a beautiful site, and we were lucky enough to have some shade trees.
It was so exciting to be staying in one site for two nights! We even put out our carpet for the first time and strung lights on our canopy, making ourselves right at home.
Today Walt walked down to the lake with me. Instead of taking the road back to our site, we took the trail. I was too chicken to do it alone yesterday, especially after reading the bobcat sign! It was on this trail that we spied our first gopher tortoise.
They do a prescribed burn in this area from time to time, and it was interesting to see how the vegetation was growing back after the latest burn.
After another fantastic sunset, we were sitting around the campfire looking up at the stars and moon. Reminder that the sites are separated by a lot of dense vegetation and it is very dark. A rustle in the brush caught our attention. Then it happened again a minute later, only closer. The third time, really close, was too much for me – I practically flew into the RV, knocking over my chair in my haste! I had images of that elusive bobcat coming to share our s’mores.
Walt, being the brave soul that he is, remained outside. As I peered out the screen door, I saw him poised with my chair and a fire poker, lion tamer style, ready to take on whatever was coming.
It was a very tense moment…and then he laughed. Our predator was none other than a harmless armadillo! He had been foraging for his dinner through the shrubs, and the quietness of the nighttime had amplified his every move crackling through the underbrush. After a quick look at Walt, he continued slowly on his merry way.
Danger gone, I was still a little spooked and decided to call it a night. It’s one of those experiences that is not at all funny at the time, but turns into the most hysterical story later. We have laughed about that night many times since as we’ve sat around a campfire.
Amenities and Experiences
We had a relaxing visit at Lake Manatee State Park, but if you are looking for more experiences, there are plenty of opportunities here.
There is a 2.5 – mile paved interior road, perfect for biking from the campground to the lake, as well as off-road cycling trails.
The park boasts excellent fishing, and has a boat ramp and fishing dock. You may bring your own canoe or kayak as well to explore the 2,400 – acre lake.
I highly recommend the campground, which has 60 sites with water and 30-amp electricity. When we visited in 2022, the cost was $ 39.18 per night.
There is also a playground, a pavilion, and numerous picnic tables available.
And let’s not forget the wild (or not so wild) life!
https://www.floridastateparks.org/parks-and-trails/lake-manatee-state-park
