Of greater than 17 miles inside 1,400 acres encompassed by Oscar Scherer State Park, the South Creek and Lester Finley Trails are among the many oldest and gentlest.
Heading in reverse instructions from South Creek Picnic Space, they illustrate the transition of the creek from blackwater stream to mangrove-lined brackish waterway.
View from a picnic desk alongside the Lester Finley PathBeginning by the handicapped parking areas on the picnic space, the half-mile linear Lester Finley Path is a top-notch instance of a barrier-free path.
Outlined by boards, it has a hard-packed floor, quite a few benches, and “speaking rangers” offering interpretation on the push of a button.
Relaxation cease in a coastal hammockA secondary trailhead with extra restricted parking lies instantly contained in the park, simply previous the ranger station on the appropriate.
With connectivity to the South Creek Path and the park highway, this hiking-only path will be included into an extended loop of the path system.
Entry level close to ranger stationSources
Overview
Location: OspreyLength: 1.1 milesTrailhead: 27.171729, -82.470336Address: 1843 S. Tamiami Path, OspreyFees: $5 per vehicleRestroom: On the trailheadLand supervisor: Florida State ParksPhone: 941-483-5956
Open 8 AM to sundown. Leashed canines welcome. Foot visitors solely. A water-bottle filling station is midway alongside the path.
Canoe and kayak leases can be found on the South Creek Picnic Space, the place the launch is positioned. The South Creek Path begins on the north finish of this picnic space.
Instructions
Hike
Begin the hike on the southwest nook of South Creek Picnic Space. A big signal calls consideration to the beginning of the path.
Leaving the picnic space, flip to observe the creek’s circulate in direction of the Gulf of Mexico alongside a shellrock path previous the blooms of coral bean in a hall of noticed palmetto.
Trailhead at South Creek Picnic SpaceChanging into pavers the place the bottom could in any other case be mushy, this interpretive path reaches a bench going through an nearly ground-level peek on the creek via a display screen of crimson mangroves.
Stroll via a palm hammock to an statement deck stretching out into the creek. Manatees are generally noticed right here in the summertime months.
Upstream view from the deckEdging the tangle of crimson mangrove prop roots via a curve, proceed beneath the duvet of the creekside oak hammock to a bench in dappled shade.
Scrubby flatwoods open up earlier than a sequence of curves beneath the oaks. Cabbage palms border a quick stretch of boardwalk.
Palm boardwalkA triangle of butterfly backyard hosts labeled butterfly attractants. Curve previous a bench subsequent to a speaking ranger across the base of an enormous pine to a picnic bench.
It’s atop a slice of bluff with a pleasant view of the creek. An attention-grabbing meld of habitats within the understory locations wild espresso subsequent to a myrtle oak.
Butterfly backyardAmongst extra towering pines, cross a footbridge at 1 / 4 mile. The footpath to the appropriate connects to the park highway.
Within the pine flatwoods past is one other picnic bench and a water bottle filling station. Throughout from it, a bench faces a wall of mangroves.
Picnic bench with water stationResume the stroll via the oak and palm hammock, curving as much as a V-shaped path junction with benches.
Bear proper, weaving via the hammock to the place a facet path results in the ranger station on the park’s entrance entrance.
Facet path to ranger stationThis extension of the path has benches and interpretation together with the “speaking rangers” alongside it, so take the appropriate to observe it via the hammock.
The spur ends close by of the ranger station. Return the way in which you got here to renew the loop a half mile into the hike.
Returning alongside the facet pathStroll beneath a cover of crimson cedars, reaching a mangrove-lined peninsula at creek degree.
Salt-loving crops together with sea oxeye cowl the bottom beside the graded walkway. Coming into a palm hammock, duck between low-hanging fronds.
Mangrove peninsulaEnd the loop on the tip of the Lester Finley Path by coming again to the V-shaped path junction.
Observe the signal pointing in direction of the picnic space and canoe launch, returning to the trailhead to finish a 1.1 mile hike.
V-shaped junctionPath Map
Discover Extra!
Study extra about Oscar Scherer State Park
Oscar Scherer State Park A stronghold for Florida scrub-jays north of Venice, Oscar Scherer State Park is a crucial island of biodiversity in an more and more overdeveloped area. Video
Mountain climbing the Lester Finley Path
Slideshow
See our pictures from the Lester Finley Path
Close by Adventures
Path Map (PDF) Reserve Campsite Official Web site
Creator of 45 books, Sandra Buddy established FloridaHikes.com in 2006 to increase on the sphere analysis she’d accomplished for her first six mountaineering guides. She has been honored with lifetime achievement awards from the Florida Path Affiliation and the Florida Outside Writers Affiliation.
