Sarasota Hikes & Walks

Location: Red Bug Slough Preserve Trailhead (Google Plus Code): 7GG2+VR South Gate Ridge, Florida Hike Length: 2 miles Time Estimate: 1.5 hours Habitats: Wetlands Notes: Amazing amount of plant and wildlife for a suburban setting. Wetlands Ecosystem - This hike includes access to a wetlands ecosystem. Black Vultures - Black vultures have black heads, unlike the turkey vulture's red … [Read more...]

Location: Rothenbach Park Trailhead (Google Plus Code): 7JW3+97 Fruitville, Florida Hike Length: 3.7 miles Time Estimate: 1.5 hours Habitats: Hardwood Hammock Notes: All pavement -- good for biking. Loops around a covered landfill and has a beautiful hardwood hammock at the east side, as well as a smaller area on the southwest. Ferns - There is an opportunity to see many fern species … [Read more...]

Location: Myakka River State Park Trailhead: 7P56+3W Myakka City, Florida Hike Length: 5 miles Time Estimate: three hours Habitats: Pine Flatwoods, Hardwood Hammock, Dry Prairie Notes: Can be very hot and dry - bring lots of water. This is a great hike to see the undisturbed pinelands in the park, but it is an out and back hike that's pretty long on a hot day, as most of the hike is without … [Read more...]

Location: Celery Fields Trailhead (Google Plus Code): 8HG8+5H Fruitville, Florida Hike Length: 2 miles Time Estimate: one hour Habitats: Wetlands Notes: Lots of bird life! This is an easy walk around some of the best birding in Sarasota. Additionally, there are a variety of plants of interest. Wetlands Ecosystem - This hike includes access to a wetlands ecosystem. Black Vultures - … [Read more...]

Location: Myakka River State Park Trailhead (Google Plus Code): 7PPV+CX Myakka City, Florida Hike Length: 4 miles Time Estimate: 2-3 hours Habitats: Hardwood Hammock, Dry Prairie Notes: Generally little traffic at the North end of the park. This is a four-mile hike through hammock, dry prairie and along the stream of Clay Gulley. There is a lot of pig activity along the trail. … [Read more...]

Location: Myakka River State ParkTrailhead (Google Plus Code): 6MWQ+H9 Myakka City, FloridaHike Length: 2 milesTime Estimate: 1- 1.5 hoursNotes: Typically a very quiet trail with opportunities to see wildlife. Not the prettiest trail, but many things of interest as you walk next to a cattle ranch. Butterfly Orchids - There are butterfly orchids, typically in the live oak trees — they bloom in … [Read more...]

Location: Oscar Sherer State Park Trailhead (Google Plus Code): 5GGQ+CF Osprey, Florida Hike Length: 5.5 miles Time Estimate: 3-4 hours Habitats: Scrub, Pine Flatwoods Notes: Nice trail featuring Oscar Sherer's unique habitat. To see scrub jays and red-headed woodpeckers, go early. Wildflowers - Look for a wide range of wildflowers here, which change with the seasons. Black Vultures - Black … [Read more...]

Location: Lido Key Trailhead (Google Plus Code): 8C89+J9 Sarasota, Florida Hike Length: 2.5 miles Time Estimate: two hours Habitats: Coastal Upland Notes: Beautiful Beach and tidal areas Wildflowers - Look for a wide range of wildflowers here, which change with the seasons. Egrets - Very popular location for local egrets: snowy egret, great egret and reddish egret. Beach - There is … [Read more...]

Location: Myakka River State Park Trailhead (Google Plus Code): 7PPW+QM Myakka City, Florida Hike Length: 3-5 miles Time Estimate: three hours Habitats: Hardwood Hammock, Dry Prairie, Wetlands Notes: Almost always has some wet trail. Watch for alligators near streams. This is a beautiful little hike that starts along the south side of Clay Gulley and explores Myakka's hydric and mesic … [Read more...]

Location: Myakka River State Park Trailhead (Google Plus Code): 7P24+GC Myakka City, Florida Hike Length: 3 miles Time Estimate: 2 hours Habitats: Hardwood Hammock, Dry Prairie, Wetlands Notes: This is a relatively dry hike, good for a wet season, and it's on flat, fairly even ground. However, always be prepared for some wetness under foot. The hike covers a variety of Myakka's ecosystems, … [Read more...]

Trailhead (Google Plus Code): 6PF2+Q8 Hike Length: 2.5 miles Time Estimate: two hours Notes: Almost always has some wet trail. You don't need to go into the park entrance to access this - Access the Horse trail from 72, 1.4 miles east of the park's south entrance. The hike is on flat ground, but the ground is uneven, and is often through brush, water and mud. Animal tracks - As this hike is … [Read more...]