Experiences
The park features 10-miles of biking trails with the Legacy Trail directly through the heart of the park. The Legacy trail is a 12-mile paved trail from the beaches of Venice north to Sarasota with the park located directly in the middle.
- Helmets are highly recommended for all cyclists and Florida law requires helmets for cyclists age 16 and under.
The park is known for its population of Florida scrub-jays. Pick up a bird list and explore the park to find some of the more than 200 species of birds that live or frequent the park. Weekly seasonal bird walks are also offered.
- For more information, visit the Friends of Oscar Scherer State Park.
Oscar Scherer State Park offers 104 fully equipped campsites with electric and water hookups for tents or RVs. The picnic tables and grills provide a kitchen away from home. The clean, accessible restrooms have hot showers and laundry facilities.
We have 15 miles of trails provide solitude, beauty, challenges and a healthy adventure for everyone.
- There are seven ADA accessible sites, with aprons for parking and concrete slabs for grill and table.
- Maximum RV length = 36 feet.
- For reservations, visit the Florida State Parks reservations website or call 800-326-3521 or TDD 888-433-0287.
Both freshwater and saltwater fishing opportunities are available at the park. Lake Osprey is a three-acre freshwater lake providing anglers with the opportunity to catch bream, bluegill, largemouth bass and channel catfish.
The lake is stocked with catfish as part of the urban fisheries program sponsored by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
South Creek provides an opportunity to catch saltwater species. A fishing dock located off the Lester Finley Trail is a great place to fish.
- A fishing license may be required. More information is available at the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s Fishing in Florida.
Oscar Scherer State Park is home to several geocache locations.
Geocaching is an outdoor game using hand-held global positioning systems (GPS) devices. It's effectively an inexpensive, interactive, high-tech treasure hunt that's a great way to learn geography. Participants use location coordinates to find caches.
Some caches are easy to find; others are more difficult. The biggest reward is the thrill of the search and the discovery of a place where you have never been. Geocaching should have minimal impact to the environment and conscientious land-use ethics should be followed.
Over 15-miles of hiking trails await you at Oscar Scherer State Park. Seven marked hiking trails provide access to remote portions of the park. Numbered benches conveniently placed along the trails provide resting spots and, since the numbers correspond with numbers on the trail map, visitors can determine their exact location on the trail.
- Keep in mind that there are no restrooms or shelters on the trail. You may want to wear good hiking shoes, bring drinking water, wear a hat, and use sunscreen and insect repellent.
- Make sure to request a trail map when entering the park.
Canoeing South Creek is one of the more popular recreational activities at the park. Visitors can launch their own canoe or kayak. Canoe and rentals are also available.
South Creek is a tidal black water stream that flows through the park. The creek begins north of the park and is formed by rainfall and freshwater run-off and eventually flows into the Gulf of Mexico. The creek fluctuates with the incoming tide and is brackish (a mixture of fresh and salt water).
Mangrove trees, giant leather fern and cabbage palms are a few of the plant species growing along the edge of the creek. Wading birds such as the great blue heron and little blue heron feed in the water while ospreys soar overhead. Occasionally alligators and otters can be seen taking advantage of the creek's diverse habitat.
The Lake Osprey picnic area has a bathhouse, three pavilions and a nature center next to Lake Osprey. The pavilions are each available for rental. The nature center includes several exhibits about the park's various plants and animals.
The South Creek picnic area has a restroom, small pavilion and canoe launch.
Both picnic areas provide visitors with picnic tables, charcoal grills, pavilions and a playground.
- Please contact the ranger station for additional information, reservations and rental rates.
- Consumption of alcoholic beverages is prohibited except during park-sanctioned events when alcohol is permitted within designated areas.
The Legacy Trail runs directly through the heart of Oscar Scherer State Park. This 12-mile paved trail runs from the beaches of Venice up to Sarasota with Oscar Scherer State Park right in the middle.
The park is well-known for its population of Florida scrub-jays, which can be found in the scrubby flatwoods plant community. At times in different areas of the park, other species of wildlife can be seen, including bobcats, bald eagles, gopher tortoises, white-tailed deer, Eastern cotton-tail rabbits, raccoons and American alligators.
- Be sure to pick up an animal list and hiking trail map upon entering the park, and ask a park ranger for more information on wildlife observation.
- Please remember that all animals are protected, and it is unlawful to harm, harass or feed them.
Amenities
Oscar Scherer State Park is committed to providing a variety of accessible amenities to all of our visitors. These amenities include:
- Accessible campsites.
- Lester Finley Barrier Free Trail.
- Lake Osprey Trail.
- Beach wheelchair.
- Fishing dock.
- Canoe/kayak launch.
- Nature center.
- Lake beach access.
- Videos with closed/open captions.
- Picnic pavilions and benches.
- Grills.
- Playground.
- Fire rings.
- Tram tours.
- Listening devices.
Service animals are allowed in all public areas of the park.
Campfires are allowed in the campground but only in the ground grill provided. Collecting firewood is not allowed; however, campers can bring in their own firewood or obtain it at the ranger station for a donation to the park's citizen support organization, the Friends of Oscar Scherer Park, whose members work at keeping firewood available. The donations are used to help support the park through special projects and facility improvements.
- Campfires might be banned during extremely dry weather conditions. Never leave campfires unattended and extinguish them completely with water before leaving the site.
Oscar Scherer State Park offers 104 fully equipped campsites with electric and water hookups for tents or RVs. The picnic tables and grills provide a kitchen away from home. The clean, accessible restrooms have hot showers and laundry facilities.
Fifteen miles of trails provide solitude, beauty, challenge and a healthy adventure for everyone.
- There are seven ADA accessible sites with aprons for parking and concrete slabs for grill and table.
- Maximum RV length = 36 feet.
- For reservations, visit the Florida State Parks reservations website or call 800-326-3521 or TDD 888-433-0287.
The park offers two launch areas.
- One is a primitive ramp for kayaks and canoes only across from the ranger station. Launching during low tides is difficult.
- The other is an ADA compliant canoe kayak launch at South Creek Picnic Area.
- Personal canoes and kayaks must be carried to the South Creek Picnic Area launch.
Be sure to visit the interpretive nature center located in front of scenic Lake Osprey. The center showcases the park's scrubby flatwoods, home of the Florida scrub-jay, gopher tortoise and Eastern indigo snake. Dioramas, videos, displays and a touch table engage the senses and help visitors learn more about the park.
To find out if the center will be open during your visit, call the ranger station at 941-483-5956.
Pets are allowed in the campground and visitor recreation areas. Several campsites along the creek are not pet-friendly due to their proximity to the water. Pets must be well-behaved and kept on a six-foot, hand-held leash at all times. They must not be left unattended nor taken into restroom facilities or onto playground equipment.
- Service animals are welcome in all areas and buildings of the park.
- By law, pets are not allowed on the swimming beach or in the lake.
- As a safety concern, we do not allow pets in rental canoes.
- See our Pet Policy.
The Lake Osprey picnic area has a bathhouse, three pavilions and a nature center next to Lake Osprey. The pavilions are each available for rental. The nature center includes several exhibits about the park's various plants and animals.
The South Creek picnic area has a restroom, small pavilion and canoe launch.
Both picnic areas provide visitors with picnic tables, charcoal grills, pavilions and a playground.
- Please contact the ranger station for additional information, reservations and rental rates.
- Consumption of alcoholic beverages is prohibited except during park-sanctioned events when alcohol is permitted within designated areas.
Oscar Scherer State Park offers 104 fully equipped campsites with electric and water hookups for tents or RVs.
- Maximum RV length = 36 feet.
- For reservations, visit the Florida State Parks reservations website or call 800-326-3521 or TDD 888-433-0287.
At the Lake Osprey Picnic Area, a bathhouse with inside cold water showers is available to all visitors. Pets (other than service animals) are not permitted in any of the restroom facilities.
Each of the five bathhouses in the family campground are equipped with restrooms and hot water showers, and are for registered campers only. Non-campers must register at the ranger station and pay an additional fee in order to use these showers.
