Park Summary for Print - Oscar Scherer State Park

View of South Creek in Oscar Scherer State Park.

Welcome to Oscar Scherer State Park

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 park´s 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 park´s natural communities. Located on U.S. 41, two miles south of Osprey.

New Audio Tour Feature: A new Mobile Phone Audio Tour Spotlights Local Watersheds. Easily accessed from any cell phone, the Watershed Mobile Phone Audio Tour is the first of its kind in Sarasota County. By dialing (941) 926-6813, you can hear up to 15 different educational messages about watersheds (Oscar Scherer is #9.) While you can listen to a message from anywhere, visiting the sites listed on the menu provides an up-close and personal experience.

Contact the Florida Park Service Information Center for general inquiries.
For Information about Oscar Scherer State Park, please call 941-483-5956.

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Get more information on making a reservation.

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

Admission Fee:

$5.00 per vehicle. Limit 2-8 people per vehicle.

$4.00 Single Occupant Vehicle.

$2.00 Pedestrians, bicyclists, extra passengers, passengers in vehicle with holder of Annual Individual Entrance Pass.

$4.00 Sunset Entrance.

Picnic Pavilion Rental Fees:

$30.00 per day, plus tax: small pavilion.

$60.00 per day, plus tax: large pavilion.

Youth Area: $2.00 per person.

Camping Fee:

$26.00 per night, plus tax. Includes water and electricity.

$2.00 per person, per night, plus tax: youth area.

Other Fees:

$10.00 Dump Station, non-registered campers. Does not include park entrance fee.

$10.00 Overnight Parking/Overflow: $10.00, only when campground is full.

$5.00 per hour or $25.00 per day Canoe Rental

Activities at Oscar Scherer State Park

	Beaches Fresh water only on Lake Osprey.
	Bicycling The park offers several marked trails with a combined length of approximately 15 miles. Both hikers and bicyclists share these trails. Since much of the trails consist of fine loose " sugar sand" , a mountain bike is recommended. The trails meander through two distinct plant communities and are a great way for visitors to get a closer look at the " Oscar Scherer Outback" . Due to the specific use of and width of the trails, please refrain from riding bikes on the Lester Finley Trail and the South Creek Nature Trail. Both trails are marked to show foot traffic only. We have two picnic sites that are ADA accessible with the proper grill and table.
	Boat Ramp There is a "natural" ramp for kayaks and canoes only.
	Campfire Circle Campfires are allowed in the campground but only in the " ground grill" provided. Collecting of firewood is not allowed, however campers can bring in their own firewood or obtain it at the Ranger Station for a donation to the parks' Citizen Support Organization the Friends of Oscar Scherer Park, Inc., whose members work at keeping firewood available. The donations are used to help support the park through special projects and improvements to park facilities. Campfires may be banned during extremely dry weather conditions. Please, never leave campfires unattended and extinguish them completely with water before vacating the site.
	Canoeing & Kayaking Canoeing South Creek is one of the more popular recreational activities available at the park. Visitors can launch their own canoe or kayak or rent a canoe from the Ranger Station. Canoes are currently available for rent and are launched from the South Creek Picnic Area. 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 that can be seen growing along the edge of the creek. Wading birds such as the Great Blue Heron and Little Blue Heron can be seen feeding in the water while Ospreys soar overhead. Occasionally alligators and otters can be seen taking advantage of the creeks' diverse habitat. Ranger led canoe programs are available every Wednesday. The launch site has a boardwalk and could be used to transfer if needed.
	Facilities ADA accessible restroom facilities are available at the park.
	Fishing Both freshwater and saltwater fishing opportunities are available at the park. Lake Osprey is a 3-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 of the Lester Finley Trail is a great place to fish. A fishing license is required for persons over the age of 15, and can be purchased at the Sarasota County Tax Collectors Office in Osprey. Do you need a Fishing License? The Lester Finley Trail is totally ADA accessible and has a wheelchair accessible dock for fishing.
	Full Facility Camping Oscar Scherer State Park Full Facility Camping Oscar Scherer State Park is a Seasonal Camping Park. Nightly rate is $26.00 including tax, per night, per site for up to 4 persons. Campsites are available for tent or RV camping with complete hook-ups for electric and water. Reservations may be made up to eleven months in advance. One night's camping fee deposit will be required (credit card only – must be canceled within 24 hours of check-in time for refund). For more information on camping in our park simply click on the Reserve America link. Clicking on the park map or selecting one of the camping area links just below the park map will allow you to see a map of the individual campsite locations. Select any campsite icon to see a detailed description of the individual campsite and what it has to offer. We have 7 ADA accessible sites, with aprons for parking and concrete slabs for grill and table.
	Gardens There are two Butterfly Gardens on the Lester Finley Barrier Free Trail. The trail is Wheel Chair Accessible
	Group Camping A separate camp area is available for organized youth and adult groups. Tents only. No pets allowed. Amenities include pavilion, campfire circle, restroom, and cold water shower. No electric service available. Limited to 60 people. For reservations call the parks Ranger Station as Group Camp reservations are not yet made through Reserve America.
	Guided Tours Guided canoe tours are held on Wednesday. Please call the park at 941-483-5956 for times Tours can be accessible we have a beach type wheelchair for loaning.
	Hiking trails There are two nature trails and six hiking trails.
	Interpretive Programs Be sure to visit the Interpretive Nature Center located in front of scenic Lake Osprey. The Center showcases the parks scrubby flatwoods. Home of the Florida Scrub Jay, Gopher Tortoise, and Eastern Indigo Snake. Dioramas, Videos, Displays and Touch Table enlighten the senses and help visitors learn more about the park. Open most days from 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. To find out if the center will be open during your visit call the Ranger Station at (941) 483-5956.
	Nature Trails Six marked hiking trails provide visitors an opportunity to explore various 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 repellant. Make sure to request a trail map when entering the park. For information on what you might see along the trail, be sure to check out the Resources and Endangered Habitats section. The Lester Finley Barrier Free Nature Trail is totally ADA accessible and provides a water fountain, interpretive speaker boxes, a fishing dock, and companion seating.
	Pavilion There are pavilions located in the park that can be rented for picnics, meeting, reunions, weddings, etc. All pavilions have walkways, 2 are concrete.
	Pet Camping Pet camping is available at Oscar Scherer State Park. Pets must be confined, leashed (not to exceed six feet in length) or otherwise under the physical control of a person at all times. Tethered pets must not be left unattended for more than 30 minutes. Quiet hours must be observed from 11:00 p.m. 8:00 a.m. Pet owners must pick up after their pets and properly dispose of all pet droppings in trash receptacles. Florida law requires that pets be vaccinated against rabies. Any pet that is noisy, dangerous, intimidating or destructive will not be allowed to remain in the park. Non-furbearing pets, such as reptiles, birds, or fish must be confined or under the physical control of the owner. Some animals may be prohibited on park property. Failure to abide by these rules may result in the camper being asked to board the pet outside the park or to leave the campground.
	Pets Pets are allowed in this park's campground and visitor recreation areas. They must be well-behaved and kept on a six-foot, hand-held leash at all times. Pets 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, as required by law. Also by law, no pets are allowed on the swimming beach or in the lake. As a safety concern we do not allow pets in rental canoes.
	Picnicking The South Creek Picnic Area and Lake Osprey Picnic Area each provide visitors with picnic tables, charcoal grills, pavilions, and a playground. South Creek Picnic area has a restroom, small pavilion and a canoe launch. Lake Osprey Picnic Area has a bathhouse, two pavilions, and a Nature Center located next to Lake Osprey. The pavilions and Nature Center are each available for rental. The Nature Center is equipped with a kitchen, folding tables, chairs, and a sound system. It also includes several exhibits about the parks various plants and animals. It is a great location for weddings, family reunions or business meetings. Please Contact the Ranger Station for additional information, reservations and current rental rates. We have two picnic sites that are ADA accessible with the proper grill and table.
	Playground There are three playgrounds, one in each picnic area and one in the campground. All are ADA accessible.
	RV Camping Campsites are available for RV camping with complete hook-ups for electric and water. Reservations may be made up to eleven months in advance. One night’s camping fee deposit will be required (credit card only – must be canceled within 24 hours of check-in time for refund). Campsites can accommodate RVs up to 35 feet.
	Showers 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 may also use these showers, however they must register at the Ranger Station and pay an additional fee. At the Lake Osprey Picnic Area, a bathhouse with inside coldwater showers is available to all visitors. Pets (other than service animals) are not permitted in any of the restroom facilities. Showers are ADA accessible.
	Snorkeling Snorkeling can be done in Lake Osprey, our fresh water lake.
	Swimming Lake Osprey is a perfect place to cool off during the hot summer days. This 3-acre freshwater lake has a sandy beach front and is located at the Lake Osprey Picnic Area. The lake is also open for fishing, however no fishing is permitted in the designated roped off swimming area.
	Visitors Center Our Nature Center is open for visitors and includes an interpretive exhibit. The Nature Center is located adjacent to Lake Osprey, a large picnic area and a short walk from the campground. The visitors center is ADA accessible.
	Wildlife Viewing The Park is well known for it's population of Florida Scrub-Jays which can be found throughout the parks Scrubby Flatwoods Plant Community. Other Species of wildlife including Bobcats, Bald Eagles, Gopher Tortoises, White-tailed Deer, Eastern Cotton-tail Rabbits, Raccoons and American Alligators can be seen at times in different areas of the park. 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 un-lawful to harm, harrass or feed them.
	Youth Camping There are youth camping activities and accommodations available at the park. Please call the park at 941-483-5956 for more information.

Special Events for Oscar Scherer State Park

There are no events listed at this time. Please call our park for more details on possible future events.

Oscar Scherer State Park Ranger Programs

GUIDED CANOE TRIP
Wednesdays - 9:00 AM A family oriented, nature friendly event.

Register by 8:30 AM, tour begins at 9:00 AM. (requires a rental fee in addition to the regular park entrance fee). Everyone is invited to join a park ranger for a Canoe Trip down South Creek. Enjoy paddling on South Creek as you learn about the inhabitants of brackish tidal streams and estuaries, and about the history of this area. Guaranteed fun for everyone!

Participation Requirements

Call 941-483-5956 for more details.
OSCAR’S NATURE DETECTIVE PROGRAM
Saturdays; 9:00 am
AGES 8 & Up. Call the park for more information.

Call (941) 483-5956 for more details.
SCRUBBY’S RECYCLED PAPER MAKING PROGRAM
Saturdays; 11:30 am
AGES 8 & Up. Call the park for more information.

Call (941) 483-5956 for more details.
ELSA’S FISH PRINTING YOUTH PROGRAM
Saturdays; 2:00 pm
Call the park for more information.

Participation Requirements

Call (941) 483-5956 for more details.
CAMPER COFFEE SOCIAL
Saturdays; 8:00 – 10:00 am
Thru March 31st. Call the park for more information.

Call (941) 483-5956 for more details.

Frequently Asked Questions about Oscar Scherer State Park

Question: When visiting the park, we sometimes see people feeding the Florida Scrub-Jays, is this permissible?
Answer: No, feeding any wildlife in the park is against the law and punishable as a second-degree misdemeanor. The Florida Scrub-Jay is a naturally sociable wild bird and will often times fly down and pay people a visit. Feeding them is unhealthy, creates nuisance problems and encourages them to leave their nesting sites. Many problems are created by feeding wild animals. For instance alligators have a natural fear of people but after being fed just one time can loose that fear and begin approaching people for food. The animals in the park have everything they need to maintain a healthy and natural existence, so please do not feed the wildlife.

Question: Does the park have a concession stand or camp store?
Answer: No, the park does not have a concession stand or camp store. We do however rent canoes and kayaks at the Ranger Station and when available, firewood can be purchased. The closest full service grocery store and Laundromat are only 3 miles away and the closest convenience store is ½ mile away. Beverage machines are located throughout the park.

Question: Can we see alligators in the Park?
Answer: Occasionally, alligators can be seen swimming in South Creek or sunning themselves on the bank. If you want a better opportunity at seeing alligators in the wild, visit Myakka River State Park located a short distance away in Sarasota on S.R. 72.

Question: Can we reserve a specific campsite when making our reservations?
Answer: Yes, when you make your reservations by calling Reserve America you can request a certain site. If that site is available it will be assigned to you.

Question: Are mosquitoes a problem in the park?
Answer: Certain times of the year, mostly during the summer rainy season, mosquitoes become active. Due to the impact on other species, we do not allow broadcast spraying for mosquitoes. We do recommend bringing insect repellant with you when you camp, especially during the summer months.

Question: How far away is the closest public beach?
Answer: The closest public beach is Nokomis Beach approximately 5 miles away. This beach is operated by Sarasota County and offers picnic tables, grills, restrooms, showers, and a concession stand.

Question: What other activities are available in the area?
Answer: Sarasota County has many wonderful sites to visit including marine aquariums, zoos, botanical gardens, historical sites, theatres, shops, malls, and much more. The Gulf Coast Heritage Trail was developed as an automobile route to take visitors to many of the less known attractions in the area. A Gulf Coast Heritage Trail map can be picked up at the park when you arrive. For more information about area attractions, visit the Sarasota Visitors Convention Bureau Webpage at:
http://www.sarasotafl.org/pagoda.html

Question: How can we become volunteers or campground hosts at the park?
Answer: The Florida Park Service depends on volunteer help and Oscar Scherer State Park is no exception. Volunteers donated over 13,000 hours of labor at Oscar Scherer last year. Volunteers provide many different services from park maintenance to toll collection as well as campground hosting. If you would like to apply to become a volunteer or campground host, please contact the park for a volunteer application. Once completed, return it to the park with three personal references including contact names, addresses and phone numbers. The volunteer application is also available online. Just go to the MyFlorida.com home page and type volunteer form in the search engine and then go to that link. Keep in mind that Campground Host positions are limited and often times filled well in advance.

Question: Do you have a boat launch in the park?
Answer: We do have a launch for canoes and kayaks, however we do not allow motorized watercrafts within the boundaries of the park. Although many of our campsites are located on the creek, we do not allow launching of canoes or kayaks from the campsites due to the erosion that it causes.

Oscar Scherer State Park History

In her will, Elsa Scherer Burrows (1884-1955) left the family’s 460 acre South Creek Ranch to the state in memory of her father Oscar Scherer (1856-1923), inventor of a process for dyeing shoe leather in 1872. After a year of preparation, Oscar Scherer State Park was opened to the public in 1956.

Sometime later the classification for parks’ changed and it became Oscar Scherer State Recreation Area. Three decades later, Realtor and environmentalist Jon Thaxton began campaigning for the state to protect adjoining Florida Scrub-Jay territory. With help from the Nature Conservancy and wide public support, the state’s Conservation and Recreation Lands (CARL) program used Preservation 2000 funds to purchase 922 acres of adjacent land from Palmer Ranch in 1991.

With the addition, the present Oscar Scherer State Park came into being. It now preserves more than two square miles of nature in a rapidly developing area, and provides resource-based recreation for some 130,000 visitors annually.

Oscar Scherer State Park Volunteer Information

National Public Lands Day, Saturday, September 27, 2008
Volunteers help remove invasive non-native plants and assist with other projects to be announced.

Current AmeriCorps Projects

Join the Oscar Scherer State Park team

Volunteers form an essential and invaluable part of the team here at Oscar Scherer State Park.
Coming to us from a wide range of backgrounds, they perform tasks as varied as their own skills and interests. They are teenagers and octogenarians, employed and retired, out or in school. They might staff the Nature Center, help out at the Ranger Station, work to maintain trails, split wood and may even take part in prescribed burns. There's never a shortage of work to be done, and we are always open to new ideas of how volunteers may contribute to the park.

Basically our volunteers fall into two categories :

Day Volunteers: These are usually seasonal or year round local residents.

Campground Volunteers: These folks reside right here in the park for anywhere from one to three months. As Campground Hosts, they help maintain bathhouses, clean campsites, and provide information to campers.

Whatever your background, interests, skills, or experience, there probably is a place for you as a volunteer at Oscar Scherer State Park. You will receive training, uniforms, and worker's compensation insurance coverage while on the job.

Sound interesting? Applying is easy. Simply click on the following link to apply online, or stop by the Ranger Station to pick up a paper application. The volunteer coordinator will interview you, check your references and help find a place for you on our team.