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Trail through open pine flatwoods in palmettos

Myakka State Forest

Along the southwestern Gulf Coast of Florida, Myakka State Forest offers an extensive trail network along the Myakka River basin, with tent camping under the stars.

Englewood      ( 26.990576, -82.302249 )      


CLOSED due to damage or flooding from Hurricane Ian.


Myakka State Forest straddles the Myakka River where it significantly broadens after Myakkahatchee Creek adds to its flow.

A vast landscape of open prairies and pine flatwoods edged by encroaching suburbia, the forest protects more than 8,500 acres of wetlands and uplands where Sarasota and Charlotte counties meet.

Cabbage palms under pines edging a footpath A cabbage palm cluster along the Gordon Smith Memorial Trail


Resources

Resources for exploring the area

South Florida Explorers Guide book cover 50 Hikes in South Florida book cover Hikers Guide to the Sunshine State book cover Complete Guide to Florida Wildflowers

Disclosure: As authors and affiliates, we receive earnings when you buy these through our links. This helps us provide public information on this website.


Overview

Location: North Port and Englewood
Trailhead: 26.990576, -82.302249
Address: 2000 South River Rd, Englewood
Fees: $2 per person day use fee. Annual pass available.
Restrooms: Portable toilets at the picnic area off River Rd
Land manager: Florida Forestry Service
Phone: 941-460-1333

Open sunrise to sunset. Leashed dogs welcome.

Day use fees payable at a self-pay station. There is no drinking water in this forest. Bring your own.

Seasonal small game hunting occurs. If you plan to hit the trails here, check ahead regards hunt dates.

Prairie with trees on far edge

This forest offers tent camping. Primitive campsites must be reserved in advance through Reserve America.


Directions

 
From Interstate 75 exit 191 just north of the Myakka River and south of Venice, follow S River Rd (CR 777) south for 5.7 miles to US 41. From US 41, continue 1.6 miles to the forest entrance on the left. Pay your entrance fee at the iron ranger. Follow Shell Rd for 0.9 mile, passing the picnic area and park office, to reach the trailhead.
 
Walk-through entrances with trailhead parking are also along East River Rd, Foresman Blvd, and Jennings Blvd.

About the Forest

Myakka State Forest provides wide open spaces to roam on what was largely former ranch land. East of the Myakka River, there is no recreation access to the forest.

But there is plenty west of the river. At its north end, oak and palm hammocks dominate along with pine flatwoods. In these woods, turpentine camps set up along the river once extracted sap from the pines for naval stores.

The southern portion of the forest is more open and soggy, with prairies with scattered pines, wet prairies, and depression marshes.

Rock Creek rises from the wet prairies in the southern portion of the forest to flow towards Lemon Bay.

Along the main entrance road, Shell Road, there is a picnic area adjacent to Rock Creek before you get to the park office and trailhead.

Rounded form of a pond surrounded by circles of grasses Depression marsh in a wet prairie


Hiking

The main trailhead on Shell Road connects you with the 5.8-mile North Loop and the 7.7-mile South Loop. Both trails are part of the Florida State Forest Trailwalker Program.

Follow the North Loop to reach an orange-blazed nature trail, the 1.5-mile Gordon Smith Memorial Trail. It bisects the tail of the North Loop twice.

Our details on the North Loop include a hike out and back on the River Trail, a must for the beauty spot found at the Myakka River Campsite. That expands the hike to 8.2 miles.

Picnic table with a river view

Myakka State Forest North Loop

Winding across open prairies of palmettos, the North Loop Trail at Myakka State Forest offers views of pine flatwoods and glimpses of the Myakka River.

Expanse of water across trail in prairie

Myakka State Forest South Loop

Circling vast prairies amid pine flatwoods and depression marshes, the South Loop in Myakka State Forest provides a sense of perspective along the Myakka River basin.

Trail through tall pines

Gordon Smith Memorial Trail

A short and scenic loop trail on easy terrain, the Gordon Smith Memorial Trail showcases mesic flatwoods, a predominant ecosystem in Myakka State Forest.

Slash Pine Trail

From the East River Road trailhead, the linear Slash Pine Trail extends 2.3 miles southeast, ending at the North Loop.

It starts from the same trailhead as the Palmetto Trail and crosses it once. A spur of the trail, the 0.7-mile linear River Campsite Trail, ends at the Myakka River at the River Campsite.

A round-trip from the East River Road trailhead to the Myakka River and back totals 5.2 miles.

Shelter and sign at trail junction Shelter at trail junction where the Slash Pine Trail ends


Foresman Trail

Stretching north from the Foresman Blvd parking area for 1.3 miles, the 3.7 mile linear Foresman Trail joins a 0.4-mile piece of South Loop to cross a massive wetland.

North of the wetland, it leaves to South Loop to continue northwest another 2 miles, where it ends just east of the loop junction for the South Loop.

Near the north end of the Foresman Trail is the Watering Hole campsite, which has a boardwalk overlooking a small pond amid the wet prairies.

Shelter with sign and protected bench and map The Foresman Shelter


Bicycling

The East River Road trailhead provides access to the Palmetto Trail, a twisting, winding 10-mile singletrack that extends to a loop along the Myakka River.

Cyclists can also ride all established trails and forest roads throughout Myakka River State Forest.

Forest road through pine flatwoods with campsite sign Flatwoods Campsite Trail forest road


Equestrian Trails

Two loops comprises the core trail for the Florida State Forest Trailtrotter Program, the North Loop and the South Loop. Together they tally 13 miles.

Riders are welcome to tackle more than 40 miles of forest roads throughout the forest. The Shell Road, Foresman Blvd, and Jennings Blvd trailheads all have room for horse trailers.

South Loop Trailhead sign and stile South Loop Trailhead


Camping

The forest offers four primitive camping areas along its trail system, including one that paddlers can also stop at along the Myakka River.

The Flying A campground along Shell Road is vehicle-accessible but is definitely primitive, with no water or power. Picnic tables and grills are provided at the five campsites on the loop, as well as a shared vault toilet.

For backpackers, River Campsite is the most picturesque place to camp in the forest, set in a clearing under the pines on the Myakka River at the end of the Slash Pine Trail.

The Flatwoods Campsite is at the south end of a 0.3-mile side trail off the North Loop, or 1.9 miles north of the Shell Road trailhead.

The Pine Straw and Watering Hole Campsites are off the South Loop in an area of the forest that tends towards wet prairies.

Watering Hole is along the north end of the Foresman Trail, about 0.6 mile south of the South Loop, or 1.6 miles south of the Shell Road trailhead.

Along the southwest portion of the South Loop, Pine Straw is at the end of a 0.7 mile linear connector, a total of 2.5 miles south of the Shell Road trailhead.

No water is provided at any campsite, so bring your water filter. Good sources to filter adjoin both River Campsite and Watering Hole Campsite. Otherwise water is in prairie ponds and marshes.

All campsites must be reserved in advance through Reserve America. Fee is $10 per site, up to 5 people, plus booking fee.

Grassy camping area under pines with picnic table and grill Myakka River Campsite


Trail Map

Myakka State Forest Trail Map
Green: Slash Pine Trail. Red: North Loop/River Trail. Yellow: Gordon Smith. Purple: South Loop. Blue: cross and access trails.

Explore More!

Nearby Adventures

More worth exploring while you’re in this area.

Jelks Preserve

Jelks Preserve

Offering scenic views of wild shores along the Myakka River, this hike at Jelks Preserve makes a big loop along the trail system to immerse you in a variety of habitats

Needlerush marsh Charlotte Harbor Preserve State Park

Charlotte Harbor Preserve State Park

Stretched long and thin to follow the convoluted shoreline of Charlotte Harbor, Charlotte Harbor Preserve State Park protects more than 100 miles of coastline along the Gulf Coast

Warm Mineral Springs

Warm Mineral Springs

One of the largest natural mineral water springs in the world, Warm Mineral Springs near Venice is Florida’s only hot spring open to the public

Myakkahatchee Creek

Myakkahatchee Creek Environmental Park

Follow the natural curves of the creek on a loop through Myakkahatchee Creek Environmental Park in North Port


Trail Map (PDF) Hunt Dates

Reserve a Campsite Official Website

Category: Access by water, Backpacking, Biking, Day Hikes, Equestrian, Florida State Forests, Hikes, Loop Hikes, Off Road Biking, Paddling, Southwest Florida, TrailsTag: Birding, Dog-friendly, Englewood, Fishing, Myakka River, Myakka State Forest, North Port, Picnic, Port Charlotte, Primitive Camping, Venice

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