Please do not enter this protected area. Canoe/kayak launch, trails and picnic facilities are available. Oscar Scherer State Park – Area Recreation. Surrounded by urban sprawl, Oscar Scherer State Park is an unexpected oasis providing visitors with a refreshing escape into natural Florida. Its water features include South Creek and two fresh water ponds, Lake Osprey and Big Lake. If your not into birding there are plenty of other things to do in the park, including Canoeing, fishing and swimming in Osprey Lake. In addition to viewing wildlife, an array of other land-based and water-based recreational activities awaits you. Canoeists and kayakers can paddle along South Creek, a tidal blackwater stream, which flows to a nearby bay. Consumption of alcoholic beverages is prohibited, except during park-sanctioned events where alcohol is permitted within designated areas. This is a popular campground for snowbirds, who reserve sites well in advance, but there are often cancellations as itineraries change, so monitor the reservation calendar at ReserveAmerica carefully. For those looking to spend the day on the water, Oscar Scherer State Park is a great place for canoeing, kayaking, swimming, and fishing. Guided canoe trips are offered every Wednesday and a night paddle is offered once a month. Oscar Scherer State Park is committed to providing a variety of accessible amenities to all of our visitors. Pets are allowed in this park's campground and visitor recreation areas. Please view our events for more information. It's effectively an inexpensive, interactive, high-tech treasure hunt that's a great way to learn geography. View campsite map, availability, and reserve online with ReserveAmerica. Be sure to pick up an animal list and hiking trail map upon entering the park and ask a Park Ranger for more information on wildlife observation. Some caches are easy to find; others are more difficult. The park in particular is noted for its population of scrub-jays, gopher tortoises, and indigo snakes. Pets must not be left unattended, nor taken into restroom facilities or onto playground equipment. These amenities include: Accessible campsites; Lester Finley Barrier Free Trail; Lake Osprey Trail; Beach wheelchair; Fishing dock; Canoe/kayak launch; Nature Center; Lake beach access; Videos with closed/open caption; Picnic pavilions and benches; Grills Please call the park at 941-483-5956 for more information. Throughout Oscar Scherer State Park you’ll find pavilions, picnic tables and charcoal grills, a canoe launch and fishing dock. Contact the Statewide Information Line: It’s fed by an artesian spring, so the water doesn’t stagnate. Inquire at the ranger station for more details. Come out and take a look to see if we are a good fit for you. Due to recent rains hiking trails may be muddy, have standing water or be impassable. Oscar Scherer State Park is a 1400 acre park featuring Florida's rare, scrubby flatwoods and the endangered Florida Scrub Jay. Keep in mind that there are no restrooms or shelters on the trail. Fore more information, visit the Friends of Oscar Scherer State Park. Oscar Scherer State Park is home to the only fresh water swimming lake in Sarasota County. Fifteen miles of trails provide solitude, beauty, challenge and a healthy adventure for everyone. The park provides opportunities for canoeing, fishing, swimming, picnicking, hiking, bicycling, camping and wildlife viewing. Weekly bird walks are also offered. Please call the park at 941-483-5956 to make reservations. There are seven ADA accessible sites, with aprons for parking and concrete slabs for grill and table. Oscar Scherer State Park is located six miles south of Sarasota, in Osprey, FL. Effective Nov. 12, 2020: Oscar Scherer State Park is open (see hours of operation and fee information below). In addition to viewing wildlife, an array of other land-based and water-based recreational activities awaits you. View details about online payments, park  and campground closures, park programs/events and facial coverings. From I-75 North, take exit 36. Heading north on I-75 take exit 195. With over 15 miles of hiking trails and the 12 mile Legacy Trail running through the park, your walking options are wide and varied. Scavenger hint sheets will be available at the ranger station or on the Friends of Oscar Scherer State Park Facebook page. FSP.Feedback@FloridaDEP.gov, Florida Department of Environmental Protection. Canoes and kayaks can be rented. Boat and picnic pavilion rentals are currently unavailable. Oscar Scherer State Park, Osprey: See 316 reviews, articles, and 180 photos of Oscar Scherer State Park, ranked No.3 on Tripadvisor among 14 attractions in Osprey. Oscar Scherer State Park, Osprey: Address, Phone Number, Oscar Scherer State Park Reviews: 4.5/5 The boardwalk will be fully ADA compliant and will provide both a fishing pier and a general recreation focus for the park. Participants use location coordinates to find caches. The boardwalk will allow fishermen to take advantage of the deeper waters of the lake. Park Activities. Be sure to visit the Interpretive Nature Center located in front of scenic Lake Osprey. 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. © Copyright 2020 © Copyright 2018 Florida Department of Environmental Protection. You may want to wear good hiking shoes, bring drinking water, wear a hat, and use sunscreen and insect repellent. The park offers two launch areas. There are about 15 miles of marked hiking and biking trails. Mangrove trees, Giant Leather Fern, and Cabbage Palms are a few of the plant species that can be seen growing along the edge of the creek. A primitive group camp area is available to rent. A fishing dock located off of the Lester Finley Trail is a great place to fish. Oscar Scherer State Park is a hidden oasis on the Florida Gulf Coast. Find Oscar Scherer State Park camping, campsites, cabins, and other lodging options. Wading birds such as the Great Blue Heron and Little Blue Heron can be seen feeding in the water while Ospreys soar overhead. Geocaching is an outdoor game using hand-held global positioning systems (GPS) devices. 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. The birds are abundant in this 1,381-acre park. Please contact the Ranger Station for additional information, reservations and current rental rates. This 12-mile paved trail runs from the beaches of Venice up to Sarasota with Oscar Scherer State Park right in the middle. The lake is also open for fishing; however, fishing is not permitted in the designated, roped-off swimming area. Bald eagles nest here in the winter and in the summer Lake Osprey attracts anglers, swimmers and kayakers. Its over 1,300 acres are covered with pine and scrubby flatwoods, mangrove forests, ferns, and palms. Other species of wildlife including bobcats, Bald Eagles, gopher tortoises, white-tailed deer, Eastern cotton-tail rabbits, raccoons and American alligators can be seen at times in different areas of the park. Several guided tours of the park are offered throughout the year. The boardwalk will be fully ADA compliant and will provide both a fishing pier and a general recreation focus for the park. The park features 10 miles of biking trails with the Legacy Trail directly through the heart of the park. Oscar Scherer State Park is located on U.S.41, six miles south of Sarasota. With 1382 acres comprised of pine flatwoods, a blackwater stream called South Creek, and two freshwater lakes, Oscar Scherer State Park is no exception. Non-campers may also use these showers, however, they must register at the Ranger Station and pay an additional fee. Visitors are expected to maintain distances of at least six feet apart. The park span 1,381 acres and is a bird watcher’s haven. 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. The picnic tables and grills provide a kitchen away from home. Find Out More - Get Involved friendsofoscarscherer.com. Tour of the Oscar Scherer State Park in Osprey Florida with Park Ranger Tony Clements. Oscar Scherer State Park offers 104 fully-equipped campsites for tent or RV camping with electric and water hook-ups. As a safety concern we do not allow pets in rental canoes. A bathhouse sits near the parking area. The Lester Finley Barrier Free Nature Trail, located in South Creek Picnic Area, is accessible to those with sight, hearing or mobility impairments. Please, never leave campfires unattended and extinguish them completely with water before vacating the site. Featuring multiple trails for various age groups, trick-or-treating, interactive games and the Nokomis Fire Department's infamous Haunted House. Pick up a bird list and explore the over 200 species of birds that live or frequent the park. Event is free with paid park … Snorkeling is allowed in Lake Osprey, our fresh water swimming lake. Please stop and chat with one of our wonderful volunteers to learn more about the park. So bring the friends, bring the family and enjoy an outdoor cookout at these sites (1-104) just south of South Creek. Oscar Scherer State Park is a great option instead of going to the beach. In addition to viewing wildlife, an array of other land-based and water-based recreational activities awaits you. 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. The Nature Centre in the park has exhibits and videos about the natural communities within the park. They must be well-behaved and kept on a six-foot, hand-held leash at all times. The birds are abundant in this 1,381-acre park. 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. From I-75 South take exit 35B.For more information, contact: Oscar Scherer State Park. The birds are abundant in this 1,381-acre park. The ranger station has a touchless cash box available for day use entries if paying with exact cash. The center showcases the park's scrubby flatwoods, home of the Florida Scrub Jay, Gopher Tortoise, and Eastern Indigo Snake. Heading south on I-75 take exit 200. The park is known for its population of easily viewed Florida Scrub-Jays. It is a great location for weddings, family reunions or business meetings. When all the clues are found, photos can be submitted to the Facebook page, where they will be posted. It has a wheelchair accessible fishing dock, butterfly observation area and drinking fountain. Friends of Oscar Scherer Park About Us. Fifteen miles of trails provide solitude, beauty, challenge and a healthy adventure for everyone. Visitors will take a picture of the clue they locate. At the Lake Osprey Picnic Area, a bathhouse with inside cold water showers is available to all visitors. This three-acre freshwater lake has a sandy beach front and is located at the Lake Osprey Picnic Area. Oscar Scherer State Park is located on US 41, 2 miles south of Osprey, FL. Traveling north from Ft. … Like all state parks, a few sites are set aside for walk-ups on a first-come, first-serve basis. Our main priority is the safety of our guests and staff. The Haunted Trails at Oscar Scherer State Park is an event that is fun for the whole family. Bicycling The park offers several marked trails with a combined length of approximately 15 miles. Enjoy a stroll on the quarter-mile walk around Lake Osprey to a 12 mile walk on the paved Legacy Trail. 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 … 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. Guided tours are unavailable. 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. We lead hikes and Junior Ranger programs, tram tours and field trips. Launching during low tides is difficult. Oscar Scherer State Park is home to several Geocache locations. 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