April 7th, 2026
This video is the short video of my 23.6 ride of Loop Road Scenic Drive in the Big Cypress National Preserve just off US Highway 41 with the eastern part of the road roughly 43 miles west of Miami, Florida.
Loop Road Scenic Drive – Big Cypress National Preserve
The Loop Road Scenic Drive offers a raw, unfiltered journey into the heart of the Big Cypress National Preserve, stretching across a 24-mile transition from rugged gravel to paved road.
As you navigate this detour off the Tamiami Trail, the landscape transforms into a prehistoric corridor of towering bald cypress trees draped in ghostly Spanish moss and vibrant air plants. The slow pace is mandatory, not just for the sake of your vehicle, but to spot the abundant wildlife that claims the roadside; it is common to see American Alligators basking on the banks, wood storks wading through the dark “blackwater” strands, and even the occasional elusive otter.
It is an immersive experience where the silence of the swamp is broken only by the chorus of cicadas and the splash of a rising gar, providing a stark, beautiful contrast to the manicured environments of nearby South Florida.
This road, scenery and observing the alligators was the highlight of this trip for me personally.
Day 4 – Change of Plans
The original plan for Day 4 was to ride from Chokoloskee Island, still ride Loop Road Scenic Drive, and then ride to the Everglades National Park Campground and camp for the night. The forecast was still calling for some additional rain and thunderstorms later that evening, plus I wanted to slow down my pace of this trip just a bit. Up to this point of the trip, I felt like I was constantly grinding to catch up on my route schedule and always falling behind. The grind of Days 1-3 was getting to me a little bit. Plus, I am doing all this to ultimately have fun, so, the heck with it.
In the evening of Day 3, April 6th, 2026, I decided that I was going to stay at the Parkway Motel & Marina in Chokoloskee Island another night. However, I discovered the next morning (April 7th) that they were booked up. Disappointed but understanding, I was able to secure a room at the Everglades City Motel (which is where I had planned to stay when I originally drafted this trip in 2025). While not quite as nice as my room at the Parkway Motel & Marina, this was still a nice room, clean and spacious. This motel goes on my list for future visits as well does the Parkway Motel & Marina.
First Unpaved Riding with Bruce
Much of this road was unpaved and is the first time I have ridden Bruce, My 2025 Harley-Davidson Pan America, off pavement. I was very impressed by how this bike handled the gravel, ruts and washouts, washboard, and a couple of slick areas. I was very impressed with this motorcycle.
My former motorcycle Dexter, a 2005 Harley-Davidson Ultra Classic, would have struggled with some areas of this road, namely some of the deep ruts and washboards.
Now, I understand that is road is not very challenging and nothing like some of the fire roads and ruts in the prairie that I had ridden (and dropped) Dexter on in California and Texas. But it was a great road to cut my teeth on and see the potential this motorcycle offers for off pavement.
At present, Bruce’s capabilities far exceed that of its rider, me. I purchased the Pan America in preparation of my Alaska 2028 tour and specifically for the Dalton highway up to Deadhorse (and possibly Telegraph Creen in British Columbia weather permitting).
With my Florida Loop 2026 tour also serving as a test flight for this motorcycle, this road was perfect for testing the bike and myself, taking my first off pavement steps.
Photos From Loop Road Today
Wanderlust Lyfe 