One of many oldest trails at Oscar Scherer State Park can also be its most stunning. Inside this 1,400 acre state park, the South Creek Nature Path is a gem.
A linear path, it hyperlinks the Lake Osprey Picnic Space with the South Creek Picnic Space, the place canoe and kayak leases and a launch is situated.
A creek-level cease alongside the trailIn between, there are two connections to the park campground and excellent views from bluffs above the creek and at water degree.
A round-trip from our most popular place to begin on the nature heart is a mile. Prolong your stroll one other mile by persevering with alongside the creek on the Lester Finley Path.
South Creek Picnic SpaceSources
Overview
Location: OspreyLength: 1 mileTrailhead: 27.174364, -82.463157Address: 1843 S. Tamiami Path, OspreyFees: $5 per vehicleRestroom: At picnic areasLand supervisor: Florida State ParksPhone: 941-483-5956
Open 8 AM to sundown. Leashed canines welcome. This path is foot site visitors solely.
Instructions
Hike
Begin your hike on the Nature Heart. A path on one aspect of the constructing results in a bridge connecting to the campground.
Head in the direction of the picnic pavilions in entrance of the character heart. A worn path leads away from a pavilion in the direction of an indication on the picnic space’s southwest edge.
Path signalFrom this level, the South Creek Nature Path is simple to observe. It begins alongside an ecotone between scrubby flatwoods and creek bluffs.
Tall pines rise above a dense understory of low scrub oaks. Pause at a magnificence spot to glimpse the placid waters of South Creek from a bench.
First overlookRising from the pines, cross the campground entrance street at 0.2 miles into the shade of sand stay oaks.
The panorama opens on the suitable, revealing an enormous scrub underneath scattered pines. To the left, palm fronds body views of South Creek beneath.
Expanse of scrubEnter a palm hammock alongside the rim of the bluff, dropping near creek degree at a fantastic cove.
Previous the subsequent bench, wind between palmettos beneath slash pines and sand stay oaks.
Palm hammockAt 0.4 miles, sweep right down to an statement deck overlooking a magnificence spot edged by mangroves, pines rising on the far shore.
Climb via the forest of palms underneath the pines, fronds fringing the footpath via marked turns because it twists alongside the bluffs.
Downstream view from the statement deckOne other view opens to the southeast, a panorama throughout a surprisingly broad expanse. Sand stay oaks stretch out throughout the water.
Cross a bridge at a half mile. Emerge right into a clearing on the again aspect of a giant signal for this path.
A glimpse upstream from the bridgeProlong the hike one other mile by persevering with via South Creek Picnic Space to its southwestern nook to take a round-trip on the Lester Finley Path.
This barrier-free path supplies a gentler stroll westbound, following the move of the creek into mangroves not far upstream from Little Sarasota Bay.
Path Map
Discover Extra!
Be taught 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 vital island of biodiversity in an more and more overdeveloped area. Video
Mountaineering the South Creek Nature Path
Slideshow
See our pictures from the South Creek Nature Path
Close by Adventures
Lake Osprey Path Central to trailhead entry at Oscar Scherer State Park, the Lake Osprey Path is an accessible loop round artesian-fed waters behind the character heart.
The Legacy Path Connecting Venice and Sarasota, one among Florida’s most interesting paved trails supplies a hall for biking and climbing alongside a historic railroad line.Path Map (PDF) Reserve Campsite Official Web site
Creator of 45 books, Sandra Pal established FloridaHikes.com in 2006 to increase on the sphere analysis she’d accomplished for her first six climbing guides. She has been honored with lifetime achievement awards from the Florida Path Affiliation and the Florida Out of doors Writers Affiliation.
