Florida Hikes

Hike Bike Paddle Camp Florida with authors Sandra Friend and John Keatley as your guides

Pine flatwoods

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.

Osprey (27.17622, -82.46124)   4.8 miles   Oscar Scherer State Park

Across 1,400 acres, Oscar Scherer State Park contains an astounding 17-plus miles of trails.

Established around a core of Elsa Scherer Burrows 460-acre South Creek Ranch, it opened in 1956 and continued to expand to protect Florida scrub-jay habitat.

White sand path through scrub Scrub-jays favor the scrub this park is known for

Good thing. Sarasota and Venice spilled towards each other, hemming it in on every boundary by subdivisions and major highways.

Now a two-square-mile island of biodiversity and natural beauty in a heavily populated area, it is a go-to for camping, hiking, paddling, and biking.

Paved path to campground shaded by oaks Campers have direct access to the trail system

The paved Legacy Trail between Sarasota and Venice cuts through it. From its uplands, South Creek flows towards Little Sarasota Bay.

Among the many loops possible at this park, this combination of the Yellow Trail and Orange Trail reaches into the far corners of its expanse.

Tall pines in a healthy environment Mesic flatwoods dominate the eastern portion of the park

Unlike a certain sameness of scrub found on the Red, Blue, and Green Trails, this 4.8 mile loop changes things up.

Expect expanses of flatwoods, hidden hardwood hammocks, lush hammock, a massive pond, and shaded bluffs above South Creek.

Palm hammock with yellow marker Palm hammock halfway along the loop

Resources

Resources for exploring the area
Hikers Guide to the Sunshine State book cover 50 Hikes in South Florida book cover South Florida Explorers Guide book cover Paddlers Guide Florida
 
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Overview

Location: Osprey
Length: 4.8 mile loop
Trailhead: 27.17622, -82.46124
Address: 1843 S Tamiami Trail, Osprey
Fees: $5 per vehicle
Restroom: At the trailhead
Land manager: Florida State Parks
Phone: 941-483-5956

Open 8 AM to sunset. Leashed dogs welcome. Use sun protection and insect repellent.

Portions of this loop restrict bicycle use. Pay heed to signs that point out alternate bicycle routes.

Directions


 
From Interstate 75 northbound, take exit 195, Nokomis/Laurel. Follow Laurel Road west 3.2 miles to US 41. Turn right and head north 2.5 miles. The park entrance is on the right just after you cross South Creek. From I-75 southbound, take exit 200, Venice/Osprey. Continue 3.8 miles west on SR 681 to US 41. Drive north on US 41 for 1.7 miles; the park entrance is on the right. Drive the park road to the parking area adjoining Lake Osprey, just past the turnoff for the nature center.

Hike

Start at the Yellow Trail trailhead across from the restrooms and bathhouse at Lake Osprey.

Within the first tenth of a mile, the Scrub-Jay Trail veers to the left. It’s a far shorter loop through the heart of this scrub, connecting to the Red Trail.

Trailhead sign and fence Trail entrance

Stay right, the twisting path ending at a T along a fence with the parking area for the Legacy Trail visible to the right. Turn left to follow this straightaway.

Meet the upper junction with the Scrub-Jay Trail and the lower junction with the Blue Trail at 0.3 miles.

Wide straight sand path next to barbed wire fence in scrub forest Scrubby straightaway

A quarter mile north, turn right at the upper junction with the Blue Trail. Using the pass-thru, cross the Legacy Trail.

Head east into the scrub past a monument designating this addition to the park as Mary Thaxton Memorial Preserve. It’s adjoined by a roofed bench.

Paved path junction with signage Legacy Trail crossing

Continuing deeper into the scrubby expanse, expect tougher going in deep soft sand. Meet the loop portion of the Yellow Trail at 0.7 miles.

Markers denote different mileages for several routes. Turn left to begin a clockwise circuit along the longest one.

Trail junction with markers Loop junction

Treeline hovers in the distance beyond an expanse of scrubby flatwoods. Reaching it at a Y intersection in front of a catfaced pine at 1.2 miles, bear left.

At the next yellow arrow, bear right. Enter a widen corridor within a grand archway of sand live oaks.

Pine with split trunk and yellow marker in front of it Catfaced pine

A right arrow indicates a shift to a narrow passage within an oak hammock. Gnarled sand live oak limbs and vines cast strong shadows on the path.

Past a bench at 1.5 miles, delve deeper into the heart of the hammock, where the palms and oaks reach skyward.

Gnarled tree limbs canopy a footpath Live oak hammock

A shift occurs, the footpath burrowing under a thicket of younger sand live oaks. Emerge into a sunsplashed spot with a gopher tortoise burrow.

At 1.8 miles, emerge from the hammock. A bench and a picnic bench sit at a junction with a sand path, likely an equestrian route.

Picnic bench and bench at junction of trails among palms Picnic bench junction

Continue straight across to a footbridge spanning a tannic creek edged with Virginia willow into a mature mesic flatwoods.

Rooftops of a subdivision loom in the distance as the Yellow Trail reaches a T intersection with a bench at 2 miles.

Bench beneath pines at trail junction T intersection

Turn right, joining a two-track forest road. Over the next half mile, pass a forest road on the left, bear left at a grassy Y junction, and bear right at the next one.

Pawpaws bloom along this section in spring, intermingled in trailside grass with low bush blueberries and blackberries.

Young longleaf pines rise from the wiregrass.

Pines of various sizes Longleaf pines

At a junction marked with a bench and an arrow, turn off the forest road onto a narrower, grassy one at 2.7 miles.

Meeting a Y junction with palms behind the arrow sign, bear left towards a shady corridor. Descend into a palm hammock.

Yellow blaze on tree amid palms Palm hammock

Wind between the palm trunks and massive live oaks furred with resurrection fern.

At a sharp left, a faint trail forks right into a swampy area. Stay with the yellow blazes.

Ascending from this floodplain diversion, re-enter the pine flatwoods. Meet the two-track forest road again at a T at 3.2 miles and turn right.

Pines along a two track forest road Returning to the two-track

Within a tenth of a mile, come to a triangular junction with a bench in the middle. Yellow arrows point in every direction.

The one to the right marks the 3.5 mile loop; it’s a shortcut that quickly seals the loop and sends you back to the Legacy Trail crossing.

It returns to the trailhead within a mile for a 4.3 mile hike.

Junction of two-tracks with bench and signage Triangle junction

To stay with the perimeter hike, head straight past the bench and a large Mesic Flatwoods sign. Within a tenth of a mile is the next junction with a bench.

A white arrow sign points left for connectivity to Scherer Thaxton Preserve. Veer right, crossing a footbridge soon after.

Footbridge leading to scrub Footbridge

A sheltered bench sits at the edge of the scrub facing Big Lake, a massive retention area on the south side of the preserve.

A haven for birds, it provides a welcome cool-off when breezes blow across it. Merge into a path along its edge.

Expanse of water with observation deck in distance Big Lake

At 3.6 miles, take the spur to the left to the roofed observation deck, elevated enough for a full panorama of the lake.

Leaving the lake, enter another expanse of low scrub similar to the start of the trail. Pass a side path amid the scrub oaks.

View over railing of lake View from the roofed deck

Reach the junction of the Yellow Trail with the Orange Trail at 4 miles, an important decision point. A right seals the Yellow Trail loop.

However, most of that walk is open scrub with soft sand, including retracing your route across the Legacy Trail back to the trailhead for a 5 mile hike.

Yellow and orange signage and kiosk in scrub Yellow / Orange Trails junction

A more pleasant alternative, the Orange Trail enables a slightly shorter loop with more shade and firmer walking.

Within a tenth of a mile, it leaves the soft sand behind to enter the hammock surrounding South Creek.

Metal bridge above trail in hammock Approaching the underpass

Descend beneath the Legacy Trail bridge and the original railroad trestle, making a sharp left to climb out of the basin. Turn right at the next junction.

Enter a nicely shaded corridor on the bluffs above South Creek. The waterway isn’t visible, but a palm hammock it flows through is.

Palm trees below Hammock below the bluff

Curve away from the creek and into the sun amid saw palmetto amid dense scrub oaks under the pines.

Descend steeply to a bridge amid saw palmettos to cross a stream flowing towards South Creek. Scramble up the other bank.

Wooden footbridge at bottom of small ravine Bridge in a small ravine

At 4.4 miles, meet a hardpacked dirt road. To the left, it leads to a gate marking the start of the Green Trail loop. Bear right.

Proceed through low oak scrub, meeting the sand road again. Bear right to head towards the campground.

Marked trail junction with sand road in scrubby flatwoods Meeting point of the Green and Orange Trails

Pass the glamping tents before veering right at a trail sign. Beneath a canopy of live oaks, a footbridge at 4.6 miles crosses South Creek to the nature center.

If you haven’t already explored it, bear right to loop Lake Osprey on a scenic accessible path. It adds an extra quarter mile for a 5 mile hike. Otherwise, bear left.

Finishing up at the trailhead past the swimming beach, call it a hike at 4.8 miles.

Lake with beach beyond the sand path Returning along Lake Osprey

Trail Map

Oscar Scherer Hiking Trails Map
Brown: Lester Finley Trail. Purple: South Creek Trail. Aqua: Lake Osprey Trail. Green: Green Trail. Red: Red Trail. Blue: Blue Trail. Yellow: Yellow Trail. Light Blue: Legacy Trail. Orange: Orange Trail.

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 Yellow Trail

Slideshow

See our photos from the Yellow Trail

Nearby Adventures

View of lake behind a line of trees Lake Osprey Trail Central to trailhead access at Oscar Scherer State Park, the Lake Osprey Trail is an accessible loop around artesian-fed waters behind the nature center.
Glimpse of pines on bluffs across a creek 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.
Bike path in pine flatwoods 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.
Firebreak and grassy strip through pine flatwoods 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.

Trail Map (PDF) Reserve Campsite Official Website

Sandra Friend
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