Beautiful park in a rapidly shrinking green space in the once beautiful Sarasota, FL. Park staff are great, friendly, helpful and generally lovely. Once you're through the entrance, you can pretend Sarasota hasn't been invaded by cancerous northerners who have absolutely trashed the city and destroyed everything in their wake. You can appreciate what Sarasota once was, beautiful, natural, and covered in flora and fauna. God save Oscar Scherer! read more

To get into the park with one person, it is $4; decent price. The woman at the entry was friendly, gave me a map and a suggestion as where to start hiking since it was windy and cold when I arrived. I definitely got my money's worth, walking a little over 13 miles of trails. Most of the trails are well marked, but I did find it hard to navigate some of the trails resulting in me making a couple circles before I found the correct direction... but, extra steps aren't a bad thing, right?! There is a big lake along one of the trails. I was hoping to see a lot of wildlife here, but it wasn't super active. I did see about four different types of birds. There are a good amount of restrooms available as well as areas to have a picnic. I think most of the trails are doable for all levels of fitness as I saw several benches to rest along the way; they are also marked on the trail maps. I only went to explore for the day, but there are many campsites, a nature center, playgrounds and a beach area that I spotted in my park travels. read more

Oscar Scherer State Park - Trail pamphlet given upon entry - Parks Near Me - Osprey, Florida

Forget about any fishing at Oscar Scherer fresh or brackish, there are none, even after them telling me they were going to stock the small lake toward the rear of the park year after year it's still lame, my grand kids just wanted to catch and release a few blue gills etc. and as far as the creek not much action in there to shallow and not much current. The rest of the park is wonderful though, enjoy! read more

This was my first time camping in quite a while. We just purchased a teardrop trailer and wanted to take it out. We definitely picked a good park. It was very clean and we were happy to find so many hosts and park rangers who were able to help us. Some of our favorite areas were the shaded bridge, the trails, seeing lots of animals, nice fishing area, and the campground bathrooms. There was at least 4-6 bathrooms spread out that were all very clean and well stocked. One other bonus was the location of the park. It was within a few miles of Publix, Walmart, and many other shops. It was also just a short drive away from the ocean. Overall, I will definitely come back some day. read more

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The campground here is one of the nicer state park options in the area... well maintained trails right along the river, a swimming hole, and lots of longer bike trails (which we'll come back to in cooler months!). Many camp sites have plenty of shade. Our site needed an extra-long water hose (about 50' plus our normal hose)... fortunately we had one in our gear. Although many sites are along the River, you can't get to it unless you take the trails outside the campground. There is a nice footbridge over the river that was near our site that provided quick access to the riverside trail on the other side. Although shaded and surrounded by trees and underbrush, there was a nice breeze here also. The park is not as remote as Myakka, so there is easy access to lots of local eateries who provide curbside pickup. And, it's a short drive to the gulf and bombardier islands. read more

Stayed over Christmas in a 'glamping tent' offered by the park. It was awesome! The tent is furnished with two memory foam queen sized beds, AC and heat, a Keurig and a fridge. The tent was decorated for the holiday. read more

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Florida has some wonderful State Parks and Oscar Scherer State Park, which consists of some two miles of parkland created by the generosity of Elsa Scherer Burrors in memory of her father, Oscar Scherer, and the tireless efforts of countless environmentally minded individuals, is an outstanding example of one of them, particularly for camping. As camping grounds go, the camp sites are large, spacious, most with water, electric and nicely distanced apart. The restroom and shower facilities are many, properly distanced, spotlessly clean and maintained to the highest degree by the various dedicated campground hosts. Indeed, this is one camping area that has made the very best use of the campground host program. As for walking trials, biking trails, fresh water swimming, youth facilities, even an area dedicated for Wi Fi users, one could hardly ask for more. For bird watchers it is home to the rare, endangered Florida scrub-jay of which I saw several, and the only species whose habitat is entirely restricted to the State of Florida. There are, of course, various other birds (I ended up getting into a heated argument with what I think was a rather brazen loud squawking Willow Flycatcher who made the mistake of unnecessarily waking me up at all hours of the night .....Srsly!.....did he really think was about to mate, or worse yet nest with him, or what?) as well as a variety of varied plant life. read more

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We did a one night stay in our RV at Oscar Scherer State Park ... at Site #48 ... this was a return visit and we will without doubt keep coming ... Oscar Scherer is another beautiful Florida State Park with lots of trails and they rent Kayaks you can take out on the South Creek ... this park is well maintained ... The camp grounds are excellent ... our site had our required 30 AMP power, H20 and fire pit ... The sites vary in size and are private ... we stayed in site 048 which was perfect and had good living space. The bathroom facilities were spotless and well maintained. We hiked the South Creek Trail and the Green Trail ... South Creek is a short trail that runs along the Creek and is shaded, Green Trail is longer and in the open ... both were excellent trails ... We give the camp grounds 5 out of 5 stars for lay-out, facilities and things to do at the camp grounds ... Once again, another Beautiful Florida State Park ... you can see our video of the RV stay at this link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kPNnauPmH-A read more

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Have been tent camping 3 Spring Breaks in a row with my grandson. Going back this year with him and the younger brother. We've had a great time at this park. Plenty to do in the park and surrounding area. Fishing, hiking, hunting sharks teeth, kayaking, exploring, canoeing/fossil hunting on the Peace River, etc. Campsites are very private (lots of vegetation between sites. No concerns about alligators. If you are in Florida around water you should expect alligators to be present. We were tent camping, so our expectations on amenities follows. We were very pleased. read more

Some nice campground. In a perfect location as well. The bathrooms are clean... Campground clean that is. There's a little lake, Osprey Lake, that is available for swimming. However there are signs that remind you to watch out for alligators!. The Ranger said they will post specific signs if there is an alligator actually cited. Well, I didn't see anybody swimming in the lake. read more

Beautiful and very well maintained state park! I visited with a group of volunteers who were given an opportunity to do service by working with the parks system AmeriCorps contact. She set us up to clear trails in the park that are used for their annual Halloween haunted trails event. They provided all of the materials and support we needed and we cleared the whole trail in a couple of hours. This park has an orienteering trail but we didn't complete it because the recent rains flooded some of the areas and we didn't have the proper footgear to treck through it. We visited the nature center which is very well put together and the park staff was very friendly and knowledgeable. The bathrooms are very clean too! We brought our own kayaks and when out on the river for a bit, but you can rent from them if you don't have your own. They have a helpful billboard of volunteer opportunities posted outside of the nature center for those looking to get involved and help take care of the park. It was a beautiful day in the park and I look forward to going back and checking out some of the trails, read more

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Not much to see besides a pond, a creek, and a few trails. I was expecting to see more wildlife on the trails but didn't see any. They do have an area where you can swim, a playground, kayak rentals, they allow fishing, there is a camping area, and areas to have parties or picnics. It costs $10 for one car to go in for the day and they do offer dog treats at the gate if you have dogs. Dogs are allowed only on leash. I was surprised how many people come in and out of the park all day, but I wasn't impressed. I definitely wouldn't risk swimming in the pond because of alligators but I saw people letting their kids go in. I just wouldn't chance it. This was my first and last visit. read more

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A large acreage of scrubby flatwoods makes this park one of the best places to see Florida scrub-jays, a threatened species found only in Florida. The park protects scrubby and pine flatwoods that were once widespread throughout Sarasota County. Fifteen miles of trails through these beautiful natural areas provide opportunities for hiking, bicycling, and wildlife viewing. Canoeists and kayakers can paddle along South Creek, a blackwater stream that flows to the Gulf of Mexico. Canoe and kayak rentals are available, but motorized boats are not permitted in the park boundaries. Freshwater and saltwater fishing are available along the creek. Anglers can fish along the shores of Lake Osprey, which is also the parks swimming destination. Picnic areas along South Creek are equipped with grills; pavilions can be reserved for a fee. The park has full-facility campsites and a youth/group campground. The park nature center has exhibits and videos about the parks natural communities. Located on U.S. 41, two miles south of Osprey. Hours of Operation -------------------------- Florida state parks are open from 8 a.m. until sundown 365 days a year. Driving Directions ------------------------ Oscar Scherer State Park is located on U.S.41, six miles south of Sarasota. Heading south on I-75 take exit 200. Heading north on I-75 take exit 195. Park Fees --------------- Park Entrance: $4.00 per vehicle for up to 8 people. Family Entrance Pass: $85.60. Individual Entrance Pass: $42.80. Dump Station: $6.42 + entrance fees of $4.00. Sunset Entrance: $3.00. Overnight Parking/Overflow: $12.10, only when campground is full. Camping Fee: $24.20 per night Small Pavilion Pass: $32.10 Large Pavilion: $64.20 Youth Area: $4.00 per person. read more

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There are signs everywhere that warn of alligators yet there is a "swimming area". You couldn't get me to walk within ten feet of the water's edge, let alone dip my toes in it. Sounds like something for those with a death wish, and a painful one at that. read more

This was a lovely park. We came here to go kayaking, because my mother loves to kayak. The rentals were higher than I hoped, but kayaks usually are. The set up was a little odd, you were given a key for your kayak, and then picked up your paddles and life jackets and then drove to the kayaks which were locked. Unfortunately our lock didn't work so we had to take a kayak that was left unlocked but didn't have seats in it. The water was gorgeous, it was a small area that you were allowed to kayak in, not very long, but that was okay because we only had an hour of rental time. I loved being on the water and in nature, away from the houses and city bustle. I would definitely come back to hike, kayak, or camp! read more

Stayed 2 days here at site#17 for $24/day. The site is mostly shaded and will handle 19ft trailer and towing vehicle (yeah, at least 4 to-and-fros) in tight maneuvers. All due to untrimmed bushes and shrubs and overgrown covered the road and in the campsite. Above statement can be said for almost all sites here. All hard packed sandy road, trail, and campsite. Our site was right next to trail leading to single wooden picnic platform, a small bridge bring you pass a small black river, and the swimming pond where fatal gator attacked in 1973. Bathroom with showers and toilets are dated, but clean. All facilities are convenient if not for constant shutting down for repair. WiFi screen room has seating area and the signal wouldn't reach to our site and that is just across small creek. On the park map; picnic area, camp loops, pond, beach area, restrooms are logically layout... and they were! Just only falling into disrepair. read more

This is a nice park, not exactly what I was looking for, but seemed great for families. When we first entered we were greeted by a very friendly ranger who gave us a map and treats for our dogs. We then parked at the first parking lot where there were several playgrounds and bbq areas for events, which were nicer than I've seen at most parks. The bbq and playground areas I saw were right next to the creek so it was breezy and cooler in those areas. They also had a large lake that you could swim in down the road and I saw several families in there that seemed to be enjoying themselves. There were kayaks to rent and it seemed like a relaxing scenic ride. We went on several hiking trails. The first was wheelchair accessible and had two butterfly gardens, several audio stations to offer info about the ecology, a fishing pier, water fountain, and several benches to sit along the way. The next trail was similar but a little too developed for our taste so we made our way to the yellow trail. This trail was mostly scrub so it was HOT HOT HOT with very little shade, but seemed much more natural and secluded. It started raining when we were on it so we were ok but if you have dogs wait for fall or winter to try this path. Overall, this was a nice park worth the trip to visit for the day especially for those looking to get out with little ones. read more

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Stayed here with a group of paramedics working a sporting event. All fire department and private EMS guys. All nice and all good guys. We were treated like criminals by the park rangers. We had the police called on us because some kid took an old beer can back to his mom. We were harassed to no end and forced to move twice. We had our reservations scrutinized 3 times and were finally content to pack up and leave. Really sad. Nice looking place. read more

Nice park. Waterfront/Creekside camping lot was a nice touch. Cut fire wood available for $5 donation. Very private camp sites. Bathrooms were okay. Internet at the nature center was very very slow. I wanted to get the southwestern Florida experience and thought I captured it here with my family. I would stay again. read more

Great park. My fiancee and I enjoyed a leisurely paddle, mostly in the shade, about a mile and a half. Saw lots of cool native plants and birds. Of particular interest are the endangered scrub jays; this is the last intensively protected population of this endemic bird. read more

This is one of the most peaceful state parks in south Florida. Filled with trees and vegetation, there are plenty of shade, shelter and pic nic areas. The camping is my personal favorite. The sites are large and secluded with plenty of trees to ensure you can escape from the Florida Sun. The camping area has plenty of restrooms throughout the campground. This park defiantly will not let the campers down. read more

This is a great state park. I have been coming here for 20+ years and love it. I wish there were more open spaces like this in South West Florida. read more

Oscar Scherer is an overlooked gem in south Sarasota County. Thoughtful trails of all types, including one for the blind or disabled, wind throughout the park. Ample picnic and cookout facilities, abundant wildlife including many dozens of types of birds, alligators, raccoons, snakes, armadillos, possums, foxes, the occasional Florida panther, and much more make this a great venue for the outdoor enthusiast. Canoeing and hiking are both excellent, and there is a nature center. Take the whole family. Bicycling is great here, too! read more

One of our favorite campgrounds. We have Been coming here for 30 years. Make reservations in advance though because they are always booked

Lot's to do: hike, kayak, wildlife viewing, clean bathrooms rangers very courteous and knowledgeable and clean park. This is an example of what a State (and Federal) parks typify and let's hope these crazies that want to privatize these national treasures don't get there way of you will not see such a beautiful park like this again nor be able to afford entry and use of facilities read more

i love this park but I use to live here as a child .my dad was a ranger here and the lake is great my kids love coming here. the price isn't bad last time we was here it was $3.00 at the gate or if you stay in a site its like $25.00 a nite with electric.I believe the snack bar is back open to .they redone alot here! read more

We camped in an RV here with a golf cart. County wide fire ban took the enjoyment of a campfire. A park ranger was a little overbearing. You can't ride your golf cart even if it has lights at night but you can drive a car. A lot of golf carts are legal and have tags now. We asked in advance if there were any rules regarding the golf cart and were told no. There is some hiking and you can rent a Kayak. read more

we had an awesome time camping except for a hostess who's name is trish was snooping and peaking into hour campsite to look for thing's to pick on us for, privacy was definitely an issue, it was behind our tent,we were there for a good time not to be harrassed!!! i asked a ranger to please ask her to stop, she started yelling across the bushes, very nasty women!, I don't think someone like this should be a hostess! Hopefully they will get rid of people like that who try to ruin your time at the park!! other than that the park was great! read more