Floridia Hiking

[Big Guy]

I will be in Venice Florida at the end of this month. I am looking for hiking trails that may be near Venice. I would prefer loop hikes in the range of 5 to 10 miles. Any help will be appreciated.

[Chris_Asheville]

Not sure if this helps, but there is a pretty cool area about 20-30 minutes from venice called Alafia State Park. I used to Mountain bike there, however hiking would give you a pretty good taste of Central Florida.

[eArThworm]

I will be in Venice Florida at the end of this month. I am looking for hiking trails that may be near Venice. I would prefer loop hikes in the range of 5 to 10 miles. Any help will be appreciated.

In "Hiker's Guide to the Sunshine State" by Sandra "Navigator" Friend:

1. Oscar Scherer State Park in Osprey has "North" and "South" trail systems, 7.5 and 5 mi. respectively. There is an entrance fee, $4 according to their website. Their phone no. is 941-483-5956. Park website is http://www.floridastateparks.org/oscarscherer/default.cfm See links in upper right corner. For trail map see: http://www.floridastateparks.org/oscarscherer/docs/OscarSchererTraiMap.pdf

2. Myakka Hiking Trail in Myakka River State Park, near Sarasota. Entrance fee is $5. Registration required even for day hiking, phone no. 941-361-6511. 39-mile total backpacking loop--made up of four stacked loops--the Bee Island Loop can be walked as a long day hike. Call to find out how wet things are. Some parts of some loops flood when the river's high. Park website is http://www.myakkariver.org/ and "Download a park brochure in pdf" gives you a choice of several brochures. For trail map see: http://www.myakkariver.org/Hike.pdf

[Gray Blazer]

Don't know about Venice, but if you come to N Central FL, I'll help you find some cool trails. Some that will even make you think you're not in FL (ie. not so flat and not so full of palmettos.)

[Gray Blazer]

When's the FL ruck?

[the_iceman]

Gray Blazer -

I am in Ocala now but will leaving to thru in early april. I am bouncing back and forth between here and boston for the next 2 weeks or so then I should be settled. Is there normally a FL Ruck?

[eArThworm]

Not sure if this helps, but there is a pretty cool area about 20-30 minutes from venice called Alafia State Park. I used to Mountain bike there, however hiking would give you a pretty good taste of Central Florida.

Entrance fee is $4. Park website at http://www.floridastateparks.org/alafiariver/ Apparently no hiking-specific trails, but there are biking and horseback trails that I would assume could be hiked. And there's a multiuse trail. See trail map at http://www.floridastateparks.org/alafiariver/docs/AlafiaBikeBrochure.pdf

[Gray Blazer]

Gray Blazer -

I am in Ocala now but will leaving to thru in early april. I am bouncing back and forth between here and boston for the next 2 weeks or so then I should be settled. Is there normally a FL Ruck?It's like the field of dreams. If you start it we will come.

[L Tee]

yay for florida people

[OntheRoad]

I used to live in Sarasota. Skip Oscar Scherer and take a trip out to Myakka State Park. I hiked out their every single weekend from late june to november. There are so many trails out there that it is extremely easy to create your own ideal loop hike. There are also some great well maintained campsites if you are interested in that.

If you want to go to a park right off of a major road, then go to Oscar Scherer. If you want to see unspoiled land filled with deer, wild pigs, birds and alligators go to Myakka. It's a little ways to drive but you are driving out of town the whole way, not right into it!

From Venice take I-75 north to exit 205. Get off and head east(right) on SR 72 for about 10 miles and it will be on your left. You will see a small sign on your right telling you that the park enterance is 2 miles from that point.

If you have the time, I would reccomend a camping trip out to either prairie campsite or oak grove. If not, I would park at Fox's high rd(inside the park) and do a loop around the northern edge of the park.

[mrc237]

Myakka SP is a very cool place!

[highway]

Florida Trail Index:

http://www.floridatrail.org/web/index.php

see if you see something you like. Following the orange blazes through the Ocala National Forest is interesting for training. One can do long easy miles through its 60 something distance.

One hike that I have often considered is to walk around the rim of Lake Okeechobee. Its considerably longer but could become monotonous, I'd suspect. It's just a thought. While we don't have mountains to go up and over we do have a little variety in other areas.

[Jim Adams]

Myakka is beautiful!
geek

[Big Guy]

Thanks to all that provided feedback. Plan to do Myakka State Park.

[The Solemates]

we're headed to the panhandle this weekend. hope to get a few miles on the FT in around eglin.