Hiking South Loop, Myakka State Forest

Myakka State Forest protects over 8,500 acres of land along the Myakka River in Southwest Florida, a vital component of the Myakka River Watershed.

The forest provides habitat for numerous endangered species, including gopher tortoises, eastern indigo snakes, and the Florida scrub jay.

A multi-use trail shared with equestrians and off-road cyclists, the South Loop Trail follows service roads in a wide circle through the flatwoods.

Some spots have the potential to be wet most of the year, especially where the trail borders depression marshes.

Lines of pines along the South Loop

Resources

Resources for exploring the area

South Florida Explorers Guide book cover

Hikers Guide to the Sunshine State book cover

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Overview

Location: Englewood
Length: 7.7 mile loop
Trailhead: 26.98712, -82.28583
Address: 2000 South River Rd, Englewood
Fees: $2 per person day use fee. Annual pass available.
Restroom: Vault toilet at trailhead
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.

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

Directions

From Interstate 75, head south on CR 777 for 9.4 miles. Turn left at the forest entrance. Pay your entrance fee at the iron ranger. Follow Shell Rd for a mile. The trailhead parking area is on the left.

Hike

From the parking area, head southeast on the main forest road for about a tenth of a mile, and the South Loop Trailhead is on the right.

The trail starts as a wide sandy service road, bordered by columns of slash pines rising above clumps of palmettos.

South Loop Trailhead

Tickseeds, asters, pickerelweed, and marsh fleabane thrive in the swales along the road.

Continue south from the trailhead for 0.9 mile atop a carpet of pine needles until the first junction comes into view.

Bee on a marsh fleabane bloom

A covered bench designated as the Four Corners Shelter sits on the southwest corner of the intersection.

Head straight, passing the shelter to begin the loop counterclockwise.

Four Corners Shelter

The road makes a slight turn, and immediately becomes narrower and grassier. Tall grasses and wax myrtles line the path.

Arrowroot sprouts from the wetter areas, and bright yellow goldenrod clusters in slightly drier spots.

Wax myrtle with berries extending over trail

Wax myrtle berries are used to make bayberry candles

Although oaks are not common in this type of habitat, a few small stragglers can be seen along the way.

At the 1.6 mile mark, continue past a sign on the left side of the trail that points toward the Pinestraw Campsite, one of two primitive sites on this loop.

Side trail to Pinestraw Campsite

Near the western corner of the loop, cross a small bridge over a ditch. On the other side is a small shelter, well hidden before you come right up on it.

Like some of the other shelters found along this trail, it has a map showing your current location along the loop.

Bridge to the shelter

As the trail heads east, vibrant purple blazing star and the showy plumes of yellow wand goldenrod rise from expanses of prairie grasses.

Young longleaf pines line both sides of the trail, topped with dark green tufts of lengthy needles as they sprout new growth.

Blooms of blazing star in pine flatwoods

Blazing star in bloom in the pine flatwoods

Approaching 2.8 miles, the trail runs along the edge of a depression marsh. Its close proximity to this natural feature likely puts the trail under at least a few inches of water throughout the year.

Bladderwort grows in the shallow waters here. It traps insects in its bladders, which are sometimes visible floating in the shallows.

Bladderwort flower rising above its insect-trapping bladders

Bladderwort bloom rising above the mat of bladders

The trail makes a close pass along another marsh, providing an up-close perspective of this interesting habitat.

Small fish swim across the trail as great egrets roost in the distance, their stark white feathers in contrast with the green and gold landscape.

Rounded form of a pond surrounded by circles of grasses

Depression marsh in a wet prairie

As you approach the four miles mark while heading north, the Foresman Shelter is located at a junction with the Foresman Trail.

This shelter is close to the halfway point of the hike, so it makes a welcome spot to take a break.

Shelter with sign and protected bench and map

The Foresman Shelter

Shortly after passing the Foresman Shelter, the trail dips through another shallow marsh with wide open views on all sides.

The sandy path becomes drier, bordered by fire-blackened cabbage palms. Prescribed burns are used to manage the habitats of this expansive forest.

Cabbage palms flanking the path

At 4.5 miles, the Foresman Trail branches off to the west towards Watering Hole primitive camp.

Stay on the loop trail for an eighth of a mile to another small shelter on the northeast corner of the loop. This one doesn’t have a map.

Shelter past the Foresman Trail junction

Turn left and head west towards the beginning of the loop. Along the way, watch for pine lilies, whose vibrant red flowers bloom between summer and late fall.

At 6.7 miles, the trail comes close to a pond that can overflow and flood the trail a bit.

Pine lily bloom past its prime

Completing the loop at the Four Corners Shelter, turn right to head back to the parking area. The trailhead is just under a mile from this junction.

Expanse of water in the trail along the edge of a wet prairie

Wading through one of the wetlands along the loop

Trail Map

Explore More!

Learn more about Myakka State Forest and its other hiking trails

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.

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.