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Biking Sanibel Island: Bicycle trails take you to all the best spots

Note: Hurricane Ian devastated Sanibel and Captiva Sept. 28, 2022. The island is not yet ready for visitors. The following story was written before the storm.

When you glide around Sanibel Island on its 25 miles of bike trails, you are apt to think: All of Florida should be like this.

Alas, it’s not, which is why biking Sanibel Island is such a treat.

Sanibel, the barrier island off the Gulf Coast from Fort Myers, is more famous for its seashells and its beaches.

Biking Sanibel: By bicycle, you can stop at beach access spots that don't have vehicle parking.
Biking Sanibel Island: By bike, you can stop at beach access spots that don’t have vehicle parking. (Photo: Bonnie Gross)

But Sanibel also has bike trails next to nearly all its roads, trails that provide access to beaches where cars can’t park, past beautiful Gulf-front mansions and through the woods to Sanibel’s pioneer cemetery, which is not accessible by car.

If you can’t bring your own bike to Sanibel, the main drag, Periwinkle Way, has several businesses that rent bikes, including tandems, four-wheel buggy types and trailer-style carriers to pull the kids. (Also, many island hotels have bicycles for guest use.)

You’ll see lots of people of all ages and types on bikes on Sanibel. The trails are separated from the roadways, making them safe for families with children.

Sanibel bike trails are wide, smooth and well-marked.
Biking Sanibel Island on wide, smooth and well-marked bike trails. (Photo: David Blasco)

Sanibel’s bike trails are wide, smooth and well-marked. There are several water fountains along the trails and there are bike racks everywhere.

You do see performance bikers here too. Those interested in speed and distance seem to rise early and use the roads rather than the bike trails for early-morning workouts.

Can you ride an electric bike on Sanibel Island trails? In 2019, Sanibel passed an ordinance that limited all e-bikes to Class I only. Florida statue describes Class 1 electric bikes this mean: “electric bicycle equipped with a motor that provides assistance only when the rider is pedaling and that ceases to provide assistance when the electric bicycle reaches the speed of 20 miles per hour.”

Biking Sanibel Island bike trails map
Sanibel Island bike trails map

Best spots for biking Sanibel Island

Here are a few suggestions on where to go by bike on Sanibel:

The eastern (lighthouse) end of the island is fun to explore on bike because it’s shady and you don’t have to worry about parking in what can be a congested area. Lock your bike and visit the picturesque lighthouse (120 years old; not open for tours) and fishing pier.

Biking Sanibel Island: Lighthouse Cafe is a good way to start the day.
Biking Sanibel Island: The Lighthouse Cafe is a good way to start the day. (Photo: Bonnie Gross)

In this old part of town, several roads remain unpaved. These hard-packed sand lanes end in lovely waterfront sites where cars can’t park.

On our recent visit, we biked about five miles along Gulf Drive, parallel to the beach, to have breakfast at the Lighthouse Cafe, 362 Periwinkle Way. (We’ve been coming here for the famous Granula Nut Whole Wheat Pancakes and Whole Wheat Blueberry pancakes for 25 years.)

The Middle Gulf Cemetery bike trail. East of Casa Ybel Road, the Middle Gulf Drive bike path leaves the roadside. This route goes to Sanibel’s pioneer cemetery, over the river and to the beach at Gulfside Park.

biking Sanibel Island sanibel cemetery1 Biking Sanibel Island: Bicycle trails take you to all the best spots
One Sanibel bike path leads to pioneer cemetery. (Photo via Flickr, courtesy sheeshoo)

Ding Darling bike trails: Wildlife Drive through J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge is a wonderful way to see birds and alligators. It’s a four-mile loop within the refuge that ends three miles from where you started. (It starts and ends on a bike path, so you can ride it as a loop.) The drive, formerly gravel, has been paved for good bicycling. Cyclists pay $1 per person. Here’s a map of Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge.

The longest stretch of bicycle trail is on the western end of the island, Sanibel-Captive Road. You pass Ding Darling refuge and can continue almost to Blind Pass (the division between Sanibel and Captiva.) Along the way, you can stop at the Shell Museum or Bowman’s Beach. Bowman’s Beach, one of Sanibel’s more remote beaches, is known for great shelling. From the parking lot, you walk a quarter mile and cross a wooden bridge over a freshwater lagoon. It’s a fabulous walk west along an unspoiled beach filled with wading birds and shells. You can walk all the way to Blind Pass.

When you are biking Sanibel Island, You can reach prisstine beaches not reachable by car. (Photo: Bonnie Gross)
When you are biking Sanibel Island, You can reach pristine beaches not reachable by car. (Photo: Bonnie Gross)

Can you ride a bike across the Sanibel Causeway? Yes, it is open — and free — to bikes and there is a separate bike lane in both directions. But many bicyclists do not consider it a safe ride because of the volume of traffic. The causeway is three bridges connected by two manmade islands that are developed as popular parks, where you can park for free if you want to start your Sanibel bicycle outing from there. Let me warn you, though: It is windy, the bridges are high and half the time you’ll be biking uphill.

Does Captiva have bike paths? No, Captiva does not have a bike path and the road has narrow shoulders.

Things to do on Sanibel Island:

Bike trails in Southwest Florida:

From Florida Rambler: Best Florida bike trails

Biking Sanibel Island: Late afternoon lighting on the beach.
Biking Sanibel Island: Late afternoon lighting on the beach. (Photo: Bonnie Gross)

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Ed

Tuesday 18th of October 2022

This should not have been published, considering the reality of the situation.

Bonnie Gross

Friday 21st of October 2022

Thank you for your comments. This story was written and published long before Hurricane Ian. There is a notice at the start explaining this and reporting the storm's damages. We do not believe we are misleading readers and we don't think we should remove all past coverage of Sanibel, which will rebuild and will reopen its bike paths. I think the problem you've experienced is that because Sanibel is in the news, some websites and platforms are resurfacing this story now because their algorithms suggest people want to read about Sanibel.

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Leonard haas

Wednesday 2nd of February 2022

Bonnie, thank you for being the first publication to note the ebike restrictions on sanibel Island. You might have also added that you must be 18 years or older to operate an ebike on sanibel ( in Ordinance 19-011). It should also be noted that the paved "bike paths" on sanibel are actually Shared Use Paths, which are used by walkers, joggers, runners, wheelchairs, persons with walking sticks, people walking dogs, birdwatching, hiking, getting exercise, and just enjoying life on sanibel. When you add in all the residents who use their pedal bikes out of necessity to pursue their lives, the SUP can get crowded and congested, and is not conducive to visitors racing around on their fancy, go fast bikes. Please ask visitors to be respectful of the Islands slower pace of life.

Susan

Sunday 27th of February 2022

@Leonard haas

Actually, you have to be 16 years of age to operate an ebike on Sanibel

Leslie Reiner

Wednesday 12th of February 2020

Hi Bonnie, My husband and I love your blog! We use your detailed information to make the most of kayaking, hiking and cycling in Florida. Is there a good (cheap or free) place to park and then ride on Sanibel Island? Leslie

Bonnie Gross

Friday 28th of February 2020

What a good question! I really had to hunt around for an answer. but I think I have one.

After you pay your $6 fee to take the causeway to Sanibel, there are two Causeway Island Parks. There is no charge for parking there (I called the Lee County government.) This would be a good place to use as a base. Details about the facility are here: http://www.leegov.com/parks/beaches/causeway

Parking is expensive on Sanibel: $5 an hour at all the city lots. https://www.mysanibel.com/Departments/Police-including-Emergency-Management/Parking-On-Sanibel

There are probably lots associate with businesses and restaurants where it's OK, but I hesitate to suggest these as I don't know for sure.

Another possibility would to ask at the large visitor center on Sanibel: https://sanibel-captiva.org/sanibel-island-visitor-center/

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