Matt Kruse, Park Manager
Get outside and discover Oscar Scherer State Park. With almost 1,400 acres of wilderness to explore, the park offers endless recreational opportunities for visitors. Just minutes from Sarasota, you will be able to escape the city and step into a wilderness full of plant and animal wildlife.
A variety of recreational activities are available to visitors and are sure to stir your interest in the area’s rich history and diverse environment. Camping is one of the more popular activities, although swimming, canoeing, fishing, hiking and access to bicycle trails, including the Legacy Trail, are also available.
Many visitors find that wildlife viewing is an excellent way to spend the day at Oscar Scherer State Park. With the park's large area of scrubby flatwoods, it is one of the best places in the southwest to view Florida scrub-jays. Park visitors also can view gopher tortoises, deer, bald eagles and many other animals that inhabit the park.
Whether you’re interested in picnicking at one of our picnic areas, hiking and biking 15 miles of trails, dropping your kayak into the park’s brackish estuary, spotting bald eagles and gopher tortoises, or learning more about the park at the Nature Center, there’s something unique waiting for you here.
