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Oyster Creek Environmental Park

Oyster Creek Environmental Park

Along the northern shore of a mangrove-lined creek, Oyster Creek Environmental Park offers gentle hiking trails with interpretive stops beneath old-growth slash pines

Englewood      ( 26.924369, -82.330789 )      2.4 miles

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Squeezed between subdivisions in the coastal town of Englewood, Oyster Creek Environmental Park is the middle of a series of three parks protecting parts of the creek’s shoreline.

Trails provide access from local neighborhoods to this loop, which also adjoins the regional high school. Overlooks on the mangrove-lined waterway make for pleasant stops.


Resources

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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: Englewood
Length: 2.4 miles in two loops
Trailhead: 26.924369, -82.330789
Address: 2333 Placida Rd, Englewood FL 34224
Fees: Free
Restroom: At Cedar Point Environmental Center, across Placida Rd
Land manager: Charlotte County
Phone: 941-681-3742

Open sunrise to sunset. Leashed dogs welcome. Bicycles permitted.

A kayak launch is a short walk down to Oyster Creek from the trailhead.

In addition to the Red and Blue Loops, there are nearly a mile’s worth of color-coded cross-trails to let you change up this hike. Watch for the signs to follow them through the preserve’s interior.

Oyster Creek Environmental Park


Directions

 
There are three access points with parking for Oyster Creek Environmental Park. The main trailhead is along Placida Rd just south of Lemon Bay High School, but it is a small parking area. Another one is across Placida Rd inside Cedar Point Environmental Park, accessible by a 1/4-mile connector trail.
 
A third access point is through Ann & Chuck Dever Regional Park, where there is ample parking. A 1.2-mile round-trip trail through pine flatwoods connects the parking area with the bridge into Oyster Creek Environmental Park.

Hike

Starting from the Placida Rd trailhead, follow the trail along a slender corridor of forest between the high school ballfields and the creek.

A boardwalk leads to an overlook on Oyster Creek. Just past it, cross a bridge over a tidal creek and meet the main loop, the Red Trail. Keep right.

Oyster Creek Environmental Park Looking back at the boardwalk from the Red Trail


As you parallel Oyster Creek upstream, notice how the pine flatwoods neatly merge into a line of mangroves along the creek.

The Orange Trail comes in from the left. Underfoot, the footpath is a heavy pine duff beneath tall slash pines.

Oyster Creek Environmental Park Hiking beneath the pines


Here and there Oyster Creek is visible through the understory. When the trail turns so you see a very large house ahead of you, you’re getting near to the bridge over Oyster Creek.

Oyster Creek Environmental Park Mangroves along the creek


At 0.7 mile, the Red Trail meets the boardwalk and bridge. It’s worth a walk up on it to see the creek from above. Needlefish dash in schools through the clear water.

On the other side of the bridge is Ann & Chuck Dever Regional Park.

Oyster Creek bridge Oyster Creek, looking towards Oyster Creek Environmental Park


Although it seamlessly connects to the Red Trail, we describe their trail separately below under “Connections.”

Turning back from the bridge, keep following the broad path along the Red Trail. Pass the Purple Trail leading to the left into the pines.

Oyster Creek Environmental Park Along the Red Trail Loop counterclockwise


Pine needles cover the hardened limerock surface laid down for accessibility. It’s a two-track trail in this section.

Jogging right, the trail continues down a long straightaway under the pines.

Oyster Creek Environmental Park Looking up at tall slash pines


The height of the saw palmetto mostly shields the homes off to the right until you finally draw within view of their backyards.

The trail begins to swing away from the homes. Songbirds flit between the trees.

Oyster Creek Environmental Park Walking past very large pines


As long as you keep your gaze inward, away from the property boundary, you don’t notice the subdivisions along the perimeter of the park.

Passing the other end of the Orange Trail, keep right. A gate leads out to the neighborhood along the north boundary fence.

Oyster Creek Environmental Park The pond


Tall grasses almost hide a small pond. Wetlands plants, including sea myrtle, creep into the understory mix. Grapevines drape over wax myrtles.

A few inches of elevation change later, scrub oaks take over the canopy as the forest once again shields the houses from view. The Blue Trail leads off to the right.

Oyster Creek Environmental Park The trail through the pines


Take the right, as it provides a different perspective on the pond, first by crossing its outflow. Keep right at the junction to walk counterclockwise around the loop.

A side path goes into the adjoining neighborhood before the trail turns south, coming up along the waterway that the pond feeds.

That waterway is also the creek you crossed at the beginning of this hike.

Oyster Creek Environmental Park The waterway flowing to Oyster Creek


Meet a T intersection with the Purple Trail. The Red Trail turns right. The trail climbs into scrubby flatwoods where the oaks are heavily draped in Spanish moss.

Coontie and wiregrass grow in the open understory. Scrub oaks create a nice middle canopy under the tall slash pines. Shiny blueberry and gallberry lines the trail.

Oyster Creek Environmental Park Trying to find a woodpecker far up in the tree


When you see the back side of Lemon Bay High School – stadium lights and bleachers – you’ve reached the far end of the loop.

As the tidal creek you crossed to reach the Red Trail finally comes into view, you notice mangroves to your right

Oyster Creek Environmental Park Interpretive area and picnic table


There is an outdoor interpretive gathering area tucked into the woods, with benches surrounding a stage.

A few steps later, you complete the Red Loop. Turn right and cross the boardwalk to return to the trailhead.

Oyster Creek Environmental Park Leaving the loop for the trailhead


Connections

Connect these adjoining public lands on either side of Oyster Creek Environmental Park to extend your hike.

Dever Regional Park

Ann & Chuck Dever Regional Park

A popular recreation destination for local residents, Ann & Chuck Dever Regional Park also encompasses significant uplands along Oyster Creek

Cedar Point Englewood

Cedar Point Environmental Park

Where Oyster Creek meets Lemon Bay in Englewood, Cedar Point Environmental Park provides easy interpretive hikes through coastal habitats on a wildlife-rich peninsula


Trail Map

Oyster Creek Environmental Park Trail Map



Explore More!

Slideshow

See our photos of Oyster Creek Environmental Park


Nearby Adventures

More worth exploring while you’re in this area.

Amberjack Slough

Amberjack Environmental Park

At Amberjack Environmental Park in Rotonda, a surprising meld of scrub and mangrove habitats means great birding along the high ground of the Cape Haze Peninsula

Shell bed along Gulf of Mexico

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.

Lemon Bay Park and Environmental Center

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

Stump Pass Beach

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


Trail Map (PDF) Official Website

Category: Biking, County Parks, Day Hikes, Hikes, Launch Points, Loop Hikes, Nature Trails, Off Road Biking, Paddling, Southwest Florida, TrailsTag: Accessible, Big Trees, Birding, Dog-friendly, Englewood, Family-Friendly, Mangroves, Picnic, Playgrounds, Venice

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