Biking on Sanibel Island
Sanibel and Captiva islands are a great place to give your car a rest and go for a relaxing bike ride along the trails.
Sanibel Island’s 23-mile bike path takes you just about anywhere you want to go. With an average elevation of four feet, the island’s geography makes biking practically effortless.
Isn’t it time to saddle up into island mode? Take your explorations to the trails and paths for the quintessential island experience. It’s the ultimate green way to get around.
Island Inn Bike Rental Information
Island Inn offers bikes rentals for adults and children. Adult bikes can be outfitted with child trailers, child tandems and baby seats. Youth helmets are available at no additional charge. Choose from our great selection and start exploring the island.
Sanibel Island Safe Biking Video
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Sanibel is a beautiful, sub-tropical barrier island in the Gulf of Mexico, blessed with sunshine, beaches, lush vegetation, abundant wildlife, quiet streets and 25 miles of paved shared use paths and over 8 miles of natural surface paths.
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Sanibel has been designated a “Bike Friendly Community” at the Silver Level by the League of American Bicyclists. Only three other Florida communities enjoy the “Silver” designation.
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Watch this new educational video designed to promote safer cycling and to educate visitors about the ins and outs of riding the Sanibel Shared Use Path.
Explore Sanibel Bike Trails on Google Maps
Tips For Biking Routes on Sanibel
Instead of using your car on Wildlife Drive at “Ding” Darling Refuge, try two-wheeling for a close-up encounter.
The entire loop from the Education Center, through the Refuge and back to the center via the Sanibel-Captiva Road (a.k.a. San-Cap Road) bike path, is about 8 miles, all paved. Or you may want to follow the unpaved shortcut on the Cross-Dike Trail near the Refuge’s entrance.
Nature-lovers bike the “conservation corridor” path paralleling San-Cap Road, which leads to “Ding” Darling, SCCF and other environmental attractions. Here there are few cyclists and driveways, which makes biking more pleasurable than on some of the well-traveled path sections along Periwinkle Way. Try the loop off Sanibel-Captiva Road that runs parallel to Rabbit Road on the backside of its homes, ending at West Gulf Drive. From there you can turn left and circle around on Tarpon Bay Road, past the beach and Bailey Tract (where bikes are allowed, but must be walked in parts), then back to San-Cap Road.
Another favorite by-bike destination along San-Cap Road is Bowman’s Beach, north of the Refuge. At the Blind Pass Bridge to Captiva Island, the bike path ends and pedaling can become a bit treacherous on Captiva’s twisty road, especially in the busy winter season. But if you’re staying in Captiva Island’s “downtown” area, by all means rent a bike to explore the nearby sights and shopping.
