The clean, accessible restrooms have hot showers and laundry facilities. Several guided tours of the park are offered throughout the year. Fore more information, visit the Friends of Oscar Scherer State Park. The birds are abundant in this 1,381-acre park. Oscar Scherer is a hidden gem surrounded by housing developments and major highways, and the park plays an invaluable role in the preservation of Florida scrub-jay habitat. Geocaching is an outdoor game using hand-held global positioning systems (GPS) devices. Pets (other than service animals) are not permitted in any of the restroom facilities. Please do not enter this protected area. Oscar Scherer State Park 's award-winning Lester Finley Barrier-Free Nature Trail--the first ADA-compliant hiking trail in the state park system when it was built by the all-volunteer Friends of Oscar Scherer in 1996--is a half-mile path meandering through a … Please view our events for more information. Osprey, FL 34229 (941) 483-5956 View campsite map, availability, and reserve online with ReserveAmerica. Come out and take a look to see if we are a good fit for you. Come hike our trails or hop in a canoe or kayak and explore the brackish waters of South Creek. Some caches are easy to find; others are more difficult. Helmets are highly recommended for all cyclists and Florida law requires helmets for cyclists age 16 and under. Event is free with paid park … Fishermen can also catch ospreys, which are also a bathing destination within the park, and freshwater and saltwater fish can be caught in the streams. A bathhouse sits near the parking area. Please use caution will hiking in the park. Its over 1,300 acres are covered with pine and scrubby flatwoods, mangrove forests, ferns, and palms. The park also has access to the Legacy Trail; a paved rails to trails; suitable for walking, biking, jogging, or rollerblading which runs from Venice, Florida to Sarasota, Florida passing through Oscar Scherer State Park. Please review individual park pages for specific information for each location. Please call the park at 941-483-5956 to make reservations. So bring the friends, bring the family and enjoy an outdoor cookout at these sites (1-104) just south of South Creek. The other is an ADA-compliant canoe kayak launch at South Creek Picnic Area. Canoe/kayak launch, trails and picnic facilities are available. Paddles and life jackets are included with watercraft rental; please call the park for more information. The Legacy Trail runs directly through the heart of Oscar Scherer State Park. They must be well-behaved and kept on a six-foot, hand-held leash at all times. A fishing dock located off of the Lester Finley Trail is a great place to fish. Birding and wildlife viewing area also really nice here. Weekly bird walks are also offered. A visitor center has exhibits and videos about the park’s plants and wildlife. Oscar Scherer State Park offers 104 fully-equipped campsites for tent or RV camping with electric and water hook-ups. The Lester Finley Barrier Free Nature Trail, located in South Creek Picnic Area, is accessible to those with sight, hearing or mobility impairments. There is always something to do at Oscar Scherer State Park. Oscar Scherer State Park, Osprey: Address, Phone Number, Oscar Scherer State Park Reviews: 4.5/5 Boat and picnic pavilion rentals are currently unavailable. There are about 15 miles of marked hiking and biking trails. Oscar Scherer State Park is located on U.S. 41, six miles south of Sarasota. Oscar Scherer State Park is a hidden oasis on the Florida Gulf Coast. Keep in mind that there are no restrooms or shelters on the trail. Edit Blog Post Delete Blog Post The boardwalk will be fully ADA compliant and will provide both a fishing pier and a general recreation focus for the park. Contact the Statewide Information Line: Oscar Scherer State Park is a great option instead of going to the beach. The park provides opportunities for canoeing, fishing, swimming, picnicking, hiking, bicycling, camping and wildlife viewing. If your not into birding there are plenty of other things to do in the park, including Canoeing, fishing and swimming in Osprey Lake. At the Lake Osprey Picnic Area, a bathhouse with inside cold water showers is available to all visitors. In addition to viewing wildlife, an array of other land-based and water-based recreational activities awaits you. Paddlers can rent canoes or kayaks for $15 per hour and paddle out onto South Creek. Florida state parks provide habitat for many rare, threatened, or endangered plants and animals. The park offers two launch areas. From I-75 North, take exit 36. We will continue to review operations on a daily basis and make additional operational changes as may be deemed necessary for protection of public health. Our beautiful picnic areas are host to many weddings each year. The 1,400 acre park has parking, restrooms, camping, picnicking, hiking, fishing, playground and kayaking/canoeing on South Creek or Lake Osprey, the main recreational area. Canoeists and kayakers can paddle along South Creek, a tidal blackwater stream, which flows to a nearby bay. The boardwalk will allow fishermen to take advantage of the deeper waters of the lake. Lake Osprey is a perfect place to cool off during the hot summer days. This three-acre freshwater lake has a sandy beach front and is located at the Lake Osprey Picnic Area. View details about online payments, park and campground closures, park programs/events and facial coverings. Snorkeling is allowed in Lake Osprey, our fresh water swimming lake. Consumption of alcoholic beverages is prohibited, except during park-sanctioned events where alcohol is permitted within designated areas. The biggest reward is the thrill of the search and the discovery of a place where you have never been. Campfires are allowed in the campground but only in the "ground grill" provided. Please call the park at 941-483-5956 for more information. Trail map of Oscar Scherer State Park. The boardwalk will be fully ADA compliant and will provide both a fishing pier and a general recreation focus for the park. The South Creek Picnic Area and Lake Osprey Picnic Area each provide visitors with picnic tables, charcoal grills, pavilions, and a playground. Oscar Scherer State Park is located on US 41, 2 miles south of Osprey, FL. Oscar Scherer State Park, Osprey: See 319 reviews, articles, and 188 photos of Oscar Scherer State Park, ranked No.3 on Tripadvisor among 14 attractions in Osprey. Canoe and kaya… The donations are used to help support the park through special projects and improvements to park facilities. Primitive camping and youth camping sites are also available. Best trails in Oscar Scherer State Park, Florida | AllTrails Canoes and kayaks can be rented. Park Activities. This park’s large acreage of scrubby flatwoods makes it one of the best places in southwest Florida to view Florida scrub-jays, an imperiled species found only in Florida. Located in a fairly densely populated area between Venice and Sarasota on the Florida gulf coast, you would... Added: 2/14/2015. Paddlers can rent canoes or kayaks for $15 per hour and paddle out onto South Creek (January 2020 prices). Its water features include South Creek and two fresh water ponds, Lake Osprey and Big Lake. Service animals are welcome in all areas and buildings of the park, as required by law. One third of this two acre lake has a sandy beach. There's also an Interpretive Nature Center with nature exhibits about and from Oscar Scherer Park and a children’s playground near the Nature Center. Be sure to visit the Interpretive Nature Center located in front of scenic Lake Osprey. Collecting of firewood is not allowed, however campers can bring in their own firewood or obtain it at the Ranger Station for a donation to the park's Citizen Support Organization the Friends of Oscar Scherer Park, Inc., whose members work at keeping firewood available. In addition to viewing wildlife, an array of other land-based and water-based recreational activities awaits you. During our recent trip to Venice we spent a lot of time walking the beaches looking for shark teeth, so this park gave us a different perspective of the area and a chance to see something different. Oscar Scherer State Park With electricity and water as well as picnic tables and grills, not only are Oscar Scherer campgrounds a home away from home, but a kitchen away from home! Guided canoe trips are offered every Wednesday and a night paddle is offered once a month. There are seven ADA accessible sites, with aprons for parking and concrete slabs for grill and table. Inquire at the ranger station for more details. Pick up a bird list and explore the over 200 species of birds that live or frequent the park. Canoes, single kayaks and double kayaks are currently available for rent and are launched from our ADA accessible South Creek Picnic Area. Oscar Scherer State Park – Area Recreation. Visitors will take a picture of the clue they locate. Ranger-led canoe programs are available every Wednesday with guided night paddles once a month. This 12-mile paved trail runs from the beaches of Venice up to Sarasota with Oscar Scherer State Park right in the middle. Pets must not be left unattended, nor taken into restroom facilities or onto playground equipment. Bicycling The park offers several marked trails with a combined length of approximately 15 miles. Each of the five bathhouses in the Family Campground are equipped with restrooms and hot water showers, and are for registered campers only. The picnic tables and grills provide a kitchen away from home. Oscar Scherer has temporarily closed portions of the Green Trail until further notice due to the annual American bald eagle nesting season, per national protocols and regulations. The park in particular is noted for its population of scrub-jays, gopher tortoises, and indigo snakes. Reservations may be made up to 11 months in advance through, Canoe and Kayak Rentals $15 + tax per hour ($16.05). Launching during low tides is difficult. The Legacy trail is a 12 mile paved trail from the beaches of Venice North to Sarasota with the park located directly in the middle. Oscar Scherer State Park. But there’s way more to see and do here than just spot eagles or the endangered Florida Scrub Jay. Six marked hiking trails provide visitors an opportunity to explore various remote portions of the park. For many years Oscar Scherer State Park has hosted numerous fishing contests, the Kiwanis Fishathon being an annual event. Picnic areas are equipped with grills, and pavilions can be reserved for a fee. Fifteen miles of trails provide solitude, beauty, challenge and a healthy adventure for everyone. The creek fluctuates with the incoming tide and is brackish (a mixture of fresh and salt water). The park span 1,381 acres and is a bird watcher’s haven. The lake is stocked with catfish as part of the urban fisheries program sponsored by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. The birds are abundant in this 1,381-acre park. Canoeing South Creek is one of the more popular recreational activities available at the park. Location: Osprey Length: 0.4 mile (extend with non-accessible but gentle spur walk to 1 mile) Lat-Long: 27.174977, -82.462284 Type: loop Fees / Permits: state park admission Difficulty: easy Bug factor: low to moderate Restroom: at trailhead Swimming is permitted in Lake Osprey at the small beach near the nature center. Heading north on I-75 take exit 195. For those looking to spend the day on the water, Oscar Scherer State Park is a great place for canoeing, kayaking, swimming, and fishing. Restroom availability may be limited. Oscar Scherer State Park is located six miles south of Sarasota, in Osprey, FL. Fifteen miles of trails provide solitude, beauty, challenge and a healthy adventure for everyone. Florida State Parks will follow local orders requiring facial coverings or masks to provide for staff and visitor safety. South Creek provides an opportunity to catch saltwater species. Friends of Oscar Scherer Park About Us. Guided tours are unavailable. Tour of the Oscar Scherer State Park in Osprey Florida with Park Ranger Tony Clements. The Haunted Trails at Oscar Scherer State Park is an event that is fun for the whole family. The creek begins north of the park and is formed by rainfall and freshwater run-off and eventually flows into the Gulf of Mexico. The Nature Centre in the park has exhibits and videos about the natural communities within the park. It has a wheelchair accessible fishing dock, butterfly observation area and drinking fountain. Occasionally alligators and otters can be seen taking advantage of the creek's diverse habitat. Lake Osprey Picnic Area has a bathhouse, two pavilions, and a Nature Center located next to Lake Osprey. Please contact the Ranger Station for additional information, reservations and current rental rates. Oscar Scherer State Park Full Facility Camping Oscar Scherer State Park is a Seasonal Camping Park. As a safety concern we do not allow pets in rental canoes. You may want to wear good hiking shoes, bring drinking water, wear a hat, and use sunscreen and insect repellent. The FOSP is a 501c3 non-profit organization; officially designated a CSO – Citizen Support Organization – by the Department of Environmental Protection. The park features 10 miles of biking trails with the Legacy Trail directly through the heart of the park. Visitors are expected to maintain distances of at least six feet apart. Find Out More - Get Involved friendsofoscarscherer.com. The park is well known for its population of Florida Scrub Jays which can be found throughout the park's scrubby flatwoods plant community. Please stop and chat with one of our wonderful volunteers to learn more about the park. When all the clues are found, photos can be submitted to the Facebook page, where they will be posted. Traveling north from Ft. … Bald eagles nest here in the winter and in the summer Lake Osprey attracts anglers, swimmers and kayakers. The pavilions and Nature Center are each available for rental. There is always something to do at Oscar Scherer State Park. Personal canoes and kayaks must be carried to the South Creek Picnic Area launch. Florida, Locations Comments Off on Camping in West Florida: Oscar Scherer State Park Camping at Oscar Scherer State Park offers full-facility campsites for tent campers as well as RV campers. It is a great location for weddings, family reunions or business meetings. Open most days from 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. To find out if the center will be open during your visit call the Ranger Station at (941) 483-5956 . The center showcases the park's scrubby flatwoods, home of the Florida Scrub Jay, Gopher Tortoise, and Eastern Indigo Snake. A primitive group camp area is available to rent. Both freshwater and saltwater fishing opportunities are available at the park. We lead hikes and Junior Ranger programs, tram tours and field trips. Heading south on I-75 take exit 200. 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