Off the narrow scenic road that weaves its way down Manasota Key, Blind Pass Beach is the southernmost beach in Sarasota County, and certainly its quietest.
Starting from the beach parking area on the bay side of the road, the Fred Duisberg Nature Trail is a gentle meander through a mangrove forest to a scenic overlook across a mangrove-fringed cove within the Lemon Bay Aquatic Preserve.
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Overview
Location: Manasota Key
Length: 0.3 mile
Trailhead: 26.963827,-82.384985
Address: 6725 Manasota Key Rd, Engelwood
Fees: Free
Restroom: At the parking area
Land manager: Lemon Bay Conservancy
Phone: 941-830-8922
Beach access is just across the street and is managed by Sarasota County. At the far east end of this parking lot there is a kayak launch into Lemon Bay.
Directions
26.963827,-82.384985
From the junction of US 41 and SR 776 just south of Venice, drive south on SR 776 for 2.3 miles. At a traffic light, turn right to follow Manasota Beach Rd west for 1.8 miles to cross over the bridge to Manasota Key. Continue south for 3.7 miles along Manasota Key Rd to the parking area for Blind Pass Beach on the left.
Hike
Look for the sign at the northwest corner of the Blind Pass Beach parking area for the “Fred Duisberg Nature Trail.” Part of the Lemon Bay Conservancy, this stretch of natural waterfront is a beauty spot shielded from development.
The trail immediately starts out as a boardwalk beneath sea grapes and mangroves. Watch carefully for mangrove crabs on the lower limbs of the mangroves.
Turning away at a crossover to the road towards the east, the trail continues as a boardwalk through the red mangroves – passing an open spot under them with a midden – to where it emerges onto an observation platform with a splendid view of the cove.
The platform has graffiti on it, but also sports a pretty mural of mangroves in miniature. Looking down, you can see how clear the water is in this cove, a nursery among the mangroves for young fish and other species.
Return to the parking area along the same path.
Explore More!
Slideshow
See our photos from this hike
Nearby Adventures
Stump Pass Beach State Park At the south tip of Manasota Key, Stump Pass Beach State Park sits at just the right angle to collect seashells like a scoop, so early risers have great shelling
Don Pedro Island State Park Imagine your own private island: a sweep of bright white sand along the shallows of the Gulf of Mexico. That's Don Pedro Island, a Florida State Park that is mostly offshore.
Cedar Point Environmental Park Where Oyster Creek flows into Lemon Bay, Cedar Point Environmental Park protects a spectrum of coastal habitats along a wildlife-rich peninsula ready for exploration on foot. 
Lemon Bay Park Explore the edges of Lemon Bay Aquatic Preserve in this Sarasota County Park with more than 4 miles of trails - including accessible trails - winding through coastal habitats.
- Michael Crotty Bicentennial Park - November 3, 2026
- A.J. Henry Park - November 1, 2026
- Okeeheelee Nature Center Trails - October 22, 2026