Florida Hikes

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

View from a bluff of river below

Rye Preserve Yellow Trail

Explore the pioneer settlement of Rye and the flow of Rye Creek towards the Manatee River in the open spaces of Rye Preserve.

Bradenton (27.509705, -82.358808)   1.8 miles   Rye Preserve

The county’s oldest preserve, Rye Preserve distinguishes itself by its location along the banks and bluffs of the upper Manatee River.

Once called Rye Wilderness, its wild surroundings have ceded to subdivisions crowding up to two of the preserve’s boundaries.

Sand bluff high above a river Bluff above the upper Manatee River

These 530 acres remain an oasis for wildlife, with four distinct habitats and the remnants of a pioneer settlement to be found along its trails.

The trailhead for the Yellow Trail, which follows the river bluffs, also provides access to a pair of trails exploring the 1840s settlement and its cemetery.

Pathway into woods Orange Trail

Resources

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

Location: Fort Hamer
Trailhead: 27.509705, -82.358808
Address: 905 Rye Wilderness Trail, Parrish
Fees: Free to enter. Camping fee.
Restroom: At the park office
Land Manager: Manatee County
Phone: 941-748-4501

Open sunrise to sunset. Leashed dogs welcome. All trails are multi-use.

Check in at the ranger station between 3-7 PM for a campsite during camping season, Sep-May.

Directions


 
From Interstate 75 at SR 64 in Bradenton, follow SR 64 east for 4.2 miles, passing through one traffic circle before reaching a second one where you make a turn onto Rye Rd. Continue another 3.4 miles, crossing the river bridge at Fort Hamer before turning right onto Rye Wilderness Trail. Continue past the main parking area with the playground and picnic tables and a pedestrian crossing before a bridge. The road jogs, and the trailhead is on the right.

Hike

Before tackling the Yellow Trail, start with an immersion into the past. Walk up the park road beyond the trailhead to the Rye Settlement Trail sign.

The Town of Rye historic marker explains how the settlement began in the mid-1840s with Erasmus Rye, who left to fight for the Confederacy in the Civil War.

Historic marker for the town of Rye Historic marker

After his release from a POW camp, Rye returned and built a house along the creek the park road crosses. Continue past this trailhead up the road to the fence.

Turn left to follow a long, straight two-track to the Rye cemetery, reaching it after 0.4 mile. Set in the forest, it’s bounded by a white picket fence.

White picket fence around graves Rye Cemetery

Erasmus and his family are buried here, along with other settlers. Return along the same straightaway but take a right at the Orange Trail sign at 0.6 mile.

This loop is also called the Rye Settlement Trail. It winds through somewhat rugged terrain to drop into the floodplain of Rye Creek near where the Rye homestead stood.

Crystalline creek with fallen log Rye Creek

Climbing away from creek level, the narrow singletrack leads from scrubby flatwoods into bluff forest.

Curve within sight of a large pipe over the creek to parallel the park road and emerge into a scrub forest with bright white sand.

Scrub forest with white sand path Scrub along the Orange Trail

Reach the walk-through gap at the historic marker, returning to the Yellow Trail trailhead after 0.9 mile.

Now start the Yellow Trail, a second 0.9 mile route. It loops into the larger landscapes of the preserve to show off the river from high bluffs, but is tricky to follow.

Gap in fence with Rye Preserve sign Entry point for the Yellow Trail

Walk through the gap at the trailhead into a scrubby flatwoods. At the first Y intersection at a Yellow Trail sign, bear right.

Turn left at the next junction, entering a palmetto prairie where the two-track is flanked by two tall pines. Jog left at the next Yellow Trail sign.

Yellow Trail sign along footpath Yellow Trail sign

A scrub-edged corridor comes to a T intersection a quarter mile from the trailhead within view of what looks like a pasture beyond a fence.

That grassy expanse is part of a complex below the Lake Manatee dam. Turn right.

Expanse of grass Ranchland by the dam

Walking through sand pine scrub, bear right at the next junction. A Yellow Trail sign soon confirms that choice. Meet a T intersection and turn left.

Make the first right. You’ve finally reached the reason to tackle this trail, the walk along the river bluffs.

River view from bluffs View from the bluffs

Not obvious at first, the views open up quickly, the waterway a surprising drop below.

Because of the rush of water through this basin after some severe hurricanes, the bluffs are undercut and deeply eroded in spots. Avoid getting close to the edge.

Footpath above dropoff into river The footpath skims the bluffs

Savor the views as they are occasionally offered, the two-track paralleling the river’s downstream flow.

A showy curve at a half mile is where the trail splits again. Keep left to walk a footpath through a tunnel of trees.

Curving waterway below bluffs Curve in the river

Sand live oaks swaddled in bromeliads make up much of the low canopy. Pass by pines of significant girth. A T junction tempts with a broad path to the left.

Continue on a nice walk through the bluff forest. It opens into a clearing under tall oaks and pines, with more views of the river from these open bluffs.

Woods with pathway between trees Woodland atop the bluffs

From this promontory, narrow paths lead to river level and into the woods. It’s easy to get lost in this corner of the preserve, so backtrack on the broad path.

Pass the incoming narrow path on the right. Bear left and emerge at a clearing by a gate.

Gate and clearing Exit along the corridor paralleling the road

Continue straight ahead to walk parallel to the park road to return to the Yellow Trail trailhead after 0.9 miles, 1.8 miles for both hikes.

If you haven’t yet tackled the Red Trail, drive up to the day use area for its 0.8 mile loop between the river and a scrub ridge.

Red Trail sign in scrub habitat Scrub along the Red Trail

Trail Map

Rye Preserve Trail Map
Red: Red Trail. Yellow: Yellow Trail. Orange: Orange and Cemetery Trails.

Explore More!

Learn more about Rye Preserve

Tannic waterway below a forested bluff Rye Preserve One of Mantee County's oldest preserves, Rye Preserve offers seasonal camping along the Upper Manatee River along with short nature trails.

Video

Hiking Rye Preserve

Slideshow

See our photos from Rye Preserve

Nearby Adventures

Broad path through scrub habitat South Fork State Park A series of three loops tied together across Little Manatee River Southfork Tract and South Fork State Park explore progressively wilder scrub communities along the South Fork of the Little Manatee River.
Trail through scrub habitat Wingate Creek State Park Named after a blackwater stream at the headwaters of the Myakka River, Wingate Creek State Park showcases natural scrub communities home to the rare and endangered Florida scrub-jay.
gopher tortoise Lake Manatee Gopher Trail On the east side of Lake Manatee State Park, the Gopher Trail system offers scenic views of the lake among a variety of natural habitats.
View of lake on horizon beyond palmetto and pines Lake Manatee Trails Explore the open uplands inside the main entrance of Lake Manatee State Park with a trio of trails that make a 2.5 mile loop around the campground.

Official Website

Sandra Friend & John Keatley
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