Oscar Scherer State Park for camping, bikes, paddling

Tucked behind the suburban sprawl that marks Tamiami Trail in Sarasota County is a hidden gem: Oscar Scherer State Park, 1400-acre wilderness with paddle trails for canoe and kayak, a freshwater swimming lake and more than 15 miles of off-road trails for hikers and mountain bikes.

If that’s not enough, or even if it is, the park has direct access to the 20-mile-long Legacy Trail, a paved, multi-use trail cutting through park atop an old railroad bed.

For birders, Oscar Scherer State Park is home of the Florida scrub jay, a threatened species increasingly rare as its natural scrub habitat disappears under the blades of bulldozers.

Florida Scrub Jay at Oscar Scherer State Park (Photo by Jennifer Huber) — Florida Scrub Jay (Photo by Jennifer Huber)[/caption]

Oscar Scherer also happens to be one of my favorite campgrounds, shady and quiet, between two of the Gulf Coast’s most popular destinations, Venice and Sarasota.

Camping at Oscar Scherer State Park

Oscar Scherer features a large campgrounds with 98 sites, half of which are positioned along the banks of South Creek, which runs through the park.

All of the sites are wrapped in dense vegetation with decent shade and privacy between sites. The camping pads are hard sand with scattered gravel, and each site has water and electric hookups but no sewer.

There’s a dump station near the campground exit, which is a one-lane bridge over South Creek.

The best sites for kayakers are creekfront, but only a handful of creekfront sites have direct access for launching your toys.

On our last trip (May 2024), we stayed in Site #70, which had excellent access to the creek and plenty of space to spread out.

If you don’t luck out with creek access, and it’s often luck because this campground is very busy, use their very nice kayak launch in the South Creek Picnic Area.

At its base, South Creek flows into to the Intracoastal Waterway, where leaping dolphins are not an uncommon site.

The best sites for hikers are #10-29. The trailheads are near Site #20, and a pedestrian bridge across South Creek near Site #16 takes you to even more access points, as well as the Nature Center and Lake Osprey, the 3-acre swimming lake.

Five bath houses with showers are located in the campground loops, convenient to all campsites. Seven ADA-accessible sites have aprons for parking and concrete pads for the grill and table.

All campsites are $26 per night plus a $7 daily utility fee, taxes and a one-time booking fee of $6.70. Reservations can be made up to 11 months in advance online at reserve.floridastateparks.org or by calling 1-800-326-3521.

Effective January 1, 2024, Florida residents will have a 30-day head start to book campsites at Florida State Parks, reducing the reservation window for non-residents to 10 months in advance. This new law does not apply to state forests, national parks, county or municipal campgrounds, which have their own rules.

Oscar Scherer State Park Oscar Sherer State Park Trail Map Oscar Scherer State Park: Suburban oasis with camping, paddling, top-rated bike trail — Trail map of Oscar Scherer State Park

Like all state parks, a few sites are set aside for walk-ups on a first-come, first-serve basis.

This is a popular campground and sites are reserved well in advance, but there are often cancellations as itineraries change, so monitor the reservation calendar carefully.

Hiking and bicycle trails at Oscar Scherer State Park

There are more than 15 miles of interconnected off-road trails for hikers and bicyclists that wind through scrub and pine flatwoods, but the biggest attraction may be a paved rail-trail that cuts through the park.

Oscar Scherer is the midway point of the 20+ mile Legacy Trail, making it an ideal access point for bicyclists wishing to go in either direction, north towards Sarasota or south to Venice, where extensions take riders to the beaches of Venice or further down the coast.

The trail is one of several in Central and West Florida along old, abandoned railroad beds. The Legacy Trail is straight and level, paved and well-maintained by the Friends of the Legacy Trail and Sarasota County.

Off-road cyclists can cruise right on by the entrance to the paved trail and enjoy challenging unpaved mountain bike trails within the park.

The 5-mile Yellow Trail can be difficult because of the soft sugar sand, but once you’ve had enough, you can veer off onto one of the park service roads that intersect the trail.

Two trails – the Lester Finley Trail and the South Creek Nature Trail – are restricted to hikers. The Finley trail meanders through a hardwood hammock along South Creek and is barrier-free, making it comfortable for those with disabilities. It’s about a half-mile long and takes about 20 minutes. The South Creek Nature Trail is also half-mile long and is near the Nature Center.

The Legacy Trail runs through Oscar Scherer State Park — Legacy Trail goes through Oscar Scherer State Park. (Photo by Bob Rountree)

Kayak and canoe trails at Oscar Scherer State Park

The South Creek kayak and canoe trail does not appear in a lot of guidebooks, but it does offer a picturesque paddle through the park.

South Creek is tidal, a mix of fresh and salt water, weaving through a changing habitat. Inland, experience giant leather ferns and cabbage palms, giving way to saltwater mangrove forest as you get closer to the Intracoastal waterway. Along the way, enjoy flocks of wading birds, alligators and even otters.

You will often find frolicking dolphin in the Intracoastal near the mouth of South Creek as they feed on fish carried on outgoing tides from the creek.

This section of the Intracoastal was not very busy on the days we were out, so we were able to enjoy our paddle without interference from motorboats. The barrier island on the Gulf side is lightly populated Casey Key.

Traveling north on the Intracoastal, you’ll pass a one-lane bridge and the Casey Key Marina, home of the Casey Key Fish House and Tiki Bar.

This is a fabulous little eatery where you can enjoy lunch before paddling back to Oscar Scherer. On weekends, the outdoor tiki bar is hopping.

KAYAK/CANOE RENTALS. If you don’t own your own canoe or kayak, rent one at the ranger station, although you are restricted to South Creek. If you want to paddle beyond the park in the Intracoastal Waterway, try Island JetSki at the Casey Key Marina.