Circling a notable water feature that attracts birds from nearby uplands, the Lake Osprey Trail is also a central junction for the extensive trail system at Oscar Scherer State Park.
An accessible loop, it’s a graded path with many benches and decent shade. A man-made waterfall splashes down a steep slope; a pier extends into the lake for better views.
Splash in the waters of Lake Osprey on a hot day. The beach is near a bathhouse between the parking area and nature center. Fed by an artesian spring, the lake doesn’t stagnate.
Bench overlooking the lake with its beach and nature centerResources
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Overview
Location: Osprey
Length: 0.4 mile loop
Trailhead: 27.174977, -82.462284
Address: 1843 S. Tamiami Trail, Osprey
Fees: $5 per vehicle
Restroom: At bathhouse and nature center
Land manager: Florida State Parks
Phone: 941-483-5956
Open 8 AM to sunset. Leashed pets welcome, but not in the nature center or on the beach.
Directions
From Interstate 75 heading northbound, take exit 195, Nokomis / Laurel, and follow Laurel Road west 3.2 miles to US 41. Turn right and head north 2.5 miles into Osprey. The park entrance is on the right just after you cross South Creek. If you’re driving south on I-75, take exit 200, Venice/Osprey. Continue 3.8 miles west on FL 681 to US 41. Drive north on US 41 for 1.7 miles; the park entrance is on the right. Drive down the main park road to the Osprey Lake Picnic Area and nature center.
Hike
Walk along the hard-packed path from the parking area past the picnic and swimming areas to reach the nature center. It contains permanent displays about the habitats of the park.
Managed by volunteers from the Oscar Scherer State Park, the nature center illustrates the importance of this 1,400 acre park, which is now crowded by development on all sides.
Picnic area near the start of the loopIt contains a large amount of scrub, the key habitat for survival of the Florida scrub-jay in this region, a bird found only in Florida and rarely in this corner of the state.
Walk back out to the hard-packed path around the lake and continue along the loop, with panoramic views across the water.
Lake Osprey swimming area and pierSigns call attention to the Green Trail to the right, vanishing into the oak hammock towards the campground, and the Lake Osprey Trail.
Stay with the hard-packed loop, passing the Lake Osprey Trail sign. The footpath is made of crushed shells lined with plastic wood beams, a natural accessible path.
Start of the loop closest to the Green Trail connectorAround the curve, reach a bench in the shade of the hardwood hammock. Spanish moss drapes overhead from the live oak limbs, and sunlight filters through the palm fronds.
Through the palm fronds is a nice view of the lake and its swimming beach. Fishing is permitted beyond the roped swimming area, from the shore and the pier.
More cabbage palms crowd the lakeshore as the trail keeps curving. A campfire circle is in the nearby woods at the group camp. A picnic table overlooks the lake.
At a quarter mile, parallel an unpaved section of the park road where it continues past the Lake Osprey Picnic Area to a final trailhead near the Legacy Trail.
Curving past the access road to the Legacy TrailCurving further around the loop, come to the spur trail for the pier. Walk out to the end of it for an overview of the lakeshore.
It’s a good perch for birding, but you’ll want some protection from the sun.
The Lake Osprey PierThe trail continues its curve around the lake, with a side path to a bench on the shoreline and open scrub beyond the park road.
Lake views and birding are best on this side, since you can see both the scrub habitat and the sweep of the lake.
Shoreline from the pierHeading towards the shade surrounding a footbridge up ahead, note the distinct sulfur aroma in the air. It’s from the artesian spring that feeds Lake Osprey.
The end of the loop is within sight across the bridge. Under the bridge are a series of pools where the sulfur waters splash down to lake level.
The man-made waterfall with artesian flowComplete the loop by crossing the bridge, ending up at the Lake Osprey Picnic Area.
Across the parking area two more trails begin, heading into scrub-jay habitat. The Red Trail delves deep into the scrub to the northeast, while the Yellow Trail heads northwest.
Cross the bridge to finish the loopTrail Map
Explore More!
Learn more about Oscar Scherer State Park
Oscar Scherer State Park A stronghold for Florida scrub-jays north of Venice, Oscar Scherer State Park is an important island of biodiversity in an increasingly overdeveloped region. Video
Hiking the Lake Osprey Trail
Slideshow
See our photos from the Lake Osprey Trail
Nearby Adventures
South Creek Nature Trail Delight in scenic views and lush vegetation along this well-worn footpath along the bluffs of South Creek at Oscar Scherer State Park.
The Legacy Trail Connecting Venice and Sarasota, one of Florida's finest paved trails provides a corridor for biking and hiking along a historic railroad line.
Oscar Scherer Yellow Trail On this 4.8 mile loop through expansive scrub and flatwoods, discover hidden streams, ancient trees, and great birding at Big Lake.
Scherer Thaxton Preserve A system of multiuse trails traverses increasingly wild environments, circling an artificial lake to enter pine flatwoods habitat extending into adjacent Oscar Scherer State Park.
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