The Oak Tree
A mighty wind blew night and day.
It stole the oak tree's leaves away.
Then snapped its boughs and pulled its bark
Until the oak was tired and stark.
But still the oak tree held its ground,
While other trees fell all around.
The weary wind gave up and spoke
"How can you still be standing Oak?"
The oak tree said, "I know that you
Can break each branch of mine in two,
Carry every leaf away,
Shake my limbs and make me sway..."
"But I have roots stretched in the earth,
Growing stronger since my birth.
You'll never touch them, for you see,
They are the deepest part of me."
"Until today, I wasn't sure
Of just how much I could endure,
But now I've found, with thanks to you,
I'm stronger than I ever knew."
– Johnny Ray Ryder Jr.
Cache is accessible via main park road, NOT via the campground. Please respect the campers by not parking along the road here or in the nearby campground. There is plenty of parking at the Rock Memorial and restrooms across the street.
Myakka River State Park is one of Florida's oldest and largest state parks popular for hiking, fishing, camping and wildlife observation. If you are going out on the trails, bring plenty of water, bug repellent and sunscreen. Cell phone coverage is unreliable, so a trail map and GPS are highly recommended. Depending on the season, the trails may be wet. To avoid an unpleasant wildlife encounter, watch where you put your hands and feet.
Park Entrance Fees as of January 2020 are:
• Vehicle (2-8 people): $6.00
• Vehicle (1 person): $4.00
• Extra passengers: $2.00
• Motorcycle: $4.00
• Pedestrians & bicyclists: $2.00
Placed with permission of Park Manager Steve Giguere.