Dug within the Twenties, the Venetian Waterway transformed the deliberate oceanfront group of Venice into an island.
A joint effort between metropolis and county, Venetian Waterway Park supplies a greenway with a concrete path alongside most of what’s now the Intracoastal Waterway in Venice.
Entry to Venetian Waterway Park from Legacy ParkIts two sides are very completely different. Its north finish anchored by the historic Venice Depot, its jap aspect is framed as an extension of the Legacy Path.
Starting below an archway simply south of the Venice Bridge, it extends 4 unbroken miles south into Shamrock Park, ending at a waterfront connector to that park’s personal path system.
Driving the path by way of Shamrock ParkOn the west aspect, one uninterrupted extends south from a small trailhead under Circus Bridge for two.4 miles to a again entrance into Caspersen Seashore Park.
Mirroring the trail on the alternative shore, it’s totally within the solar because it glides alongside a bluff buffered by a skinny line of forest from the Venice Airport and adjoining golf course.
Gopher tortoise alongside the west aspect of the waterwayFrom that very same trailhead by the Circus Bridge, the route tacks north from Enterprise US 41 sidewalks to a boardwalk and linear park to the waterway.
Briefly becoming a member of the western shore, it circles a neighborhood and ballfield earlier than returning to the bluffs above the water.
Taking a break in a shady hammockPassing below the drawbridge on the north finish of the island, it terminates by looping across the VABI (Venice Space Beautification Inc) workplace downtown.
Connecting the east and west sides of Venice Waterway Park requires crossing the Circus Bridge alongside Enterprise US 41. Our route under outlines a full circuit of the park utilizing that possibility.
West aspect north of the Venice BridgeSources
Overview
Location: VeniceLength: As much as 18.9 milesTrailhead: 27.100666, -82.439078Address: 303 E Venice Ave, VeniceFees: FreeRestroom: Legacy Park and Shamrock ParkLand supervisor: Sarasota CountyPhone: 941-486-2626
Open 6 AM to sundown. Leashed canines welcome. Cyclists yield to different path customers.
Trailheads
Path Particulars
Venetian Waterway Park Path East
From the parking space at Legacy Park, head out the doorway and across the south finish of the historic Venice Depot to hitch the paved path by the waterway.
Go beneath the Venice Bridge, following the curve again in direction of the water on the trail below the archway for Venetian Waterway Park.
The archwaySwinging south to parallel the waterway, adjoin a grassy strip atop a bluff alongside the channel. Boaters continuously zip previous.
Oaks and pines and palms buffer the jap aspect of the greenway, which backs as much as a warehouse district. Work continues to bolster this city forest with further bushes.
City forestLight curves characterize the trail because it weaves inside view of a neighborhood on the far shore. A two-track adjoins nearer to the bluff.
Passing a bench on a curve, the Circus Bridge, a drawbridge alongside enterprise US 41, comes into view within the distance.
Its title derives from as soon as adjoining the Ringling Brothers Barnum & Bailey winter circus grounds.
First distant glimpse of Circus BridgeWarehouses begin paralleling the greenway. The subsequent bench faces a marina on the alternative shore.
A picnic desk sits simply earlier than a turnoff to US 41 at 1.9 miles. Proceed straight forward below the bridge.
The greenway narrows, the pathway a lot nearer to the bluff above the waterway. Picket posts present a divider between adjoining Scenic Drive and the path.
Paralleling Scenic DriveAt 2.3 miles, Skip Stasko Park is on the alternative aspect of Scenic Drive. It has ample parking and picnic tables however no restrooms.
Scenic Drive diverges the place the path enters the oak-lined frontage of the Senior Friendship Heart. A picnic desk sits simply past the oak grove.
Oak grove in entrance of Senior HeartA protracted straight stretch within the solar follows, the land on the left fenced off. The pathway stays near the bluff’s edge.
Getting into Shamrock Park, swoop round a stand of pines with a bench between them. Bigger pines characterize the pure habitat at this finish of the park.
Stand of pinesAt 3.4 miles, a paved path enters Shamrock Park on the left. Go it by to remain on the Venetian Waterway Path.
The trailside habitat turns into scrubbier. A bench overlooks the waterway the place two sandy footpaths emerge from the scrub.
Paved path into Shamrock ParkGo a number of extra distinct footpaths and sand roads because the panorama turns into open scrub.
Shamrock Park is understood for its Florida-scrub jay inhabitants, they usually is likely to be noticed alongside this part.
Open scrub in Shamrock ParkAt 4 miles, the massive kiosk with picnic tables on a slight hill past it marks the top of Venice Waterway Path East.
Make the quick loop across the picnic space to return northbound. Or, take the paved path into the park to make a circuit inside it.
Finish of the path on the east aspectUtilizing both route, return to the northerly paved junction with Shamrock Park’s loop at 4.7 miles. Proceed north in entrance of the Senior Heart and previous Skip Stasko Park.
Attain the Circus Bridge at 6.1 miles. That is your resolution level. To easily full Venetian Waterway Park Path East, proceed straight forward to Legacy Park, concluding an 8 mile journey.
Returning below the Venice Bridge to Legacy ParkCyclists trying to trip the total path system by way of Venice , flip proper for the ramp as much as Enterprise US 41 heading into downtown.
Flip proper to cross the Circus Bridge, using on a large concrete sidewalk adjoining visitors. This can be a drawbridge, so it could require a wait to cross.
The ramp to Circus Bridge is on its north aspectAs soon as on the west finish of the bridge, make a tough proper on the finish of the guardrail to comply with the path again below the bridge to the Circus Bridge trailhead.
If connecting the 2 sides through the Circus Bridge, add a half mile to the mileages quoted under to begin, plus one other 2.4 miles on the finish to return to Legacy Park for an 18.9 mile trip.
Underpass on west aspect of Circus BridgeVenetian Waterway Park Path West
Whereas small, the Circus Bridge trailhead supplies the perfect parking possibility for the west aspect of the path system. Downtown parking close to the VABI Workplace tends to replenish.
Begin the journey by following the path southbound. It straight parallels the trail on the jap shore between Circus Bridge and Shamrock Park.
Circus Bridge trailheadA slight ribbon of older bushes largely buffer the adjoining airfield, which was as soon as a World Battle II pilot coaching heart, from the park.
A grassy strip adjoins each side of the concrete path. Look ahead to gopher tortoises, as there are a lot of energetic on this aspect of the waterway.
Southbound on the west aspect of Venetian Waterway ParkA set of burrows is clear within the sand ridge a couple of mile down the path, signposted close to an previous gate into the airport.
Completely within the solar, this future alongside the channel lastly passes the airport. A big golf course then sits behind the pines and palms.
Gopher tortoise spaceMeet a bridge into Caspersen Seashore Park at 1.6 miles. Devastated by Hurricane Milton, the park had not reopened as of our final go to.
Path’s finish is a tenth of a mile previous that turnoff at an overlook alongside the Intracoastal. Return the way in which you got here to the Circus Bridge trailhead, reaching it at 3.3 miles.
Underpass previous the trailheadObserve the concrete path below Circus Bridge and switch left. Proceed as much as the sidewalk adjoining the Tamiami Path in direction of downtown.
Passing the marina and a automobile dealership, look ahead to a boardwalk on the best simply behind a big inexperienced street signal at 3.6 miles. Flip proper.
Boardwalk behind the street signalThe boardwalk skims the sting of the automobile supplier’s lot earlier than emptying right into a park. The broad concrete path begins once more below a cover of sand reside oaks.
Rising right into a sunny restoration space, the trail weaves between fence traces, coming to a T intersection on the waterway at 3.9 miles.
T on the waterfrontTo the best, the concrete path follows the waterway however dead-ends inside a tenth of a mile. Add 0.2 miles to this journey for those who take that fast detour.
Make a left on the T to parallel the Venetian Waterway north, going through the warehouse district on the far shore.
Northbound on the west aspect of the Venetian WaterwayPassing in entrance of a line of houses searching over the trail and the water, come to a bench outdoors a park fence.
Curve left at 4.3 miles to go away the waterway, coming into the park. There’s a picnic shelter within the shade in addition to some benches.
Trailside picnic benchTurning into a straightaway between fences, the path meets a sequence of posts at Golf Dr. Flip proper to remain on the concrete path.
Cross the entry street to Nation Membership Estates at 4.7 miles. The pathway curves by way of the landscaping previous a bench and involves a cease signal at Inexperienced Circle. Proceed after stopping.
Straightaway between neighborhoodsSlipping behind a Publix procuring heart, make one other sharp curve to maintain rounding Nation Membership Estates.
A straightaway between chain hyperlink fences leads previous a bench. A concrete wall rises on the left alongside a ballpark. Spherical a nook, face the waterway once more at 5.6 miles.
Returning to the Venetian WaterwayParallel the waterway north, fences and partitions separating the greenway from the athletic advanced.
A historic marker commemorates the unique Fred Albee Municipal Airport and Dr. Albee’s orthopedic hospital on this neighborhood, opened in 1933.
Trailside muralsGo below the Venice Bridge at 6.3 miles, the historic Venice Depot clearly seen on the opposite aspect of the waterway.
Drawing nearer to Roberts Bay and North Venice Inlet, the waterway takes on a extra turquoise hue.
View throughout to Legacy ParkHold paralleling the waterway on this remaining stretch as much as the drawbridge on the north finish of Venice Island.
Go under to circle the VABI Workplace at 6.6 miles. Return again below the bridge and head south, anticipating the indicators at every jog within the path.
At 9.3 miles, make the best flip away from the waterway to return to the well-shaded oak cover and the boardwalk previous the automobile supplier.
To return to the Circus Bridge from the waterway, flip right hereFlip left on the Tamiami Path sidewalk and comply with it again to the Circus Bridge. Take the underpass beneath the bridge to return to the Circus Bridge trailhead at 9.9 miles.
Cyclists returning to Legacy Park: you should cross the Tamiami Path to trip southbound over the bridge.
The place the boardwalk meets the sidewalk, flip proper and go as much as the Amora Ave mild to take action.
Boardwalk’s finish on the sidewalkPath Map
Discover Extra!
Study extra about The Legacy Path
The Legacy Path Connecting Venice and Sarasota, certainly one of Florida’s most interesting paved trails supplies a hall for biking and mountain climbing alongside a historic railroad line.Parks alongside the Venetian Waterway Park Path
Shamrock Park The southern terminus for a greenway spanning from Sarasota to Venice, Shamock Park is a draw for birders with its resident Florida scrub-jays.
Caspersen Seashore Park The southernmost seaside in Venice, Caspersen Seashore is greatest recognized for its bounty of fossil shark’s enamel, which individuals scoop and stoop to dig out of the sand.Video
Biking Venetian Waterway Park
Slideshow
See our images from Venetian Waterway Park
Close by Adventures
Path Map (PDF) Official Web site
