Day Hikes Venice Sarasota Area

[Big Guy]

I plan to be in the Venice Sarasota area and looking for some places to do day hikes. Distance should not exceed 12 miles round trip. Thanks for any suggestions you may have.

[wahoo]

Big Guy -

Head on out to Myakka River State Park, there's almost 40 miles of trails there, in a series of loops. Bring bug spray....!

Here's a couple of links to check out:
http://myakkariver.org/hiking.html
http://www.sarasotafl.org/cms/d/inside_myakka.php

[Jim Adams]

Myakka is very nice hiking and paddling.

geek

[Cuffs]

Off the beaten path... http://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us/recreation/#rec_map
I used to work for the Southwest FL Water Mgmt Dist... their properties, while most of the trails are mixed use, I rarely saw another person on them besides myself. One property was soooo huge. When I pulled in, I saw a horse trailer... went looking for them... NEVER found them! And they were gone 8 hours later...

[Hammock Hanger]

Originally Posted by wahoo

Big Guy -

Head on out to Myakka River State Park, there's almost 40 miles of trails there, in a series of loops. Bring bug spray....!

Here's a couple of links to check out:
http://myakkariver.org/hiking.html
http://www.sarasotafl.org/cms/d/inside_myakka.php

When i lived in the south this was one of my favorite parks. I hiked it every New Years. Some day I;ll get back down there and get in some kayaking.

[Big Guy]

Great information. Thanks for all the links and suggestions.

[Walchok98]

Deer Prarie creek just west of North Port is my favorite spot to get away from everything. There is an entrance on 41 ( Tamiami trl) just after the myakka river bridge but just befor warm mineral springs, and another up off border rd just follow tthe signs for deer prarie creek.

[fehchet]

There is a trail between Sarasota and Venice. It's a rails to trails. Possibly the Chamber will know. Was supposed to be completed in 2005 the year I moved from Sarasota to Northeast Harbor, Maine.
Yes, Myakka State Park is great. I spent 4 days hiking and camping there this past March. We looped around and did all the trails. Kayaking is big too.

[Cuffs]

You know we expect a full report of what you did, where you went, upon your return right!?

[Big Guy]

If my plans work out will provide an update on my misadventures.

[Big Guy]

Sorry no trip report. Bailed from Florida early due to Fay and did no hiking.

[Skywalker]

Big Guy,

Stay away from the Florida Everglades. The newspaper recently reported that they are overrun with enormous, poisonous pythons that are eating anything they can get their hands on including deer, bobcats, and even Alligators!

By the way, there is a local AT club that meets at Phillipi Mansion the third Wed.. of the month at 6:30 for a pot-luck and a presentation. It's well-attended. Please consider it.

Skywalker--Close Encounters on the Appalachian Trail

[wahoo]

Ah, you are missing all the fun!
And don't listen to Skywalker, the 'Glades are awesome! Of course, I've never had a python encounter...
BTW...I don't think pythons are poisonous.
Skywalker - you are kidding, right?

[Hammock Hanger]

Originally Posted by Skywalker

Big Guy,

Stay away from the Florida Everglades. The newspaper recently reported that they are overrun with enormous, poisonous pythons that are eating anything they can get their hands on including deer, bobcats, and even Alligators!

By the way, there is a local AT club that meets at Phillipi Mansion the third Wed.. of the month at 6:30 for a pot-luck and a presentation. It's well-attended. Please consider it.

Skywalker--Close Encounters on the Appalachian Trail

I have hiked through the big swamps on trail and off.

Don't worry about a python trying to eat you, you are too big and there is easier prey.

It is true that the python an invasive species, introduced from "pets" that got too large and then release, have adapted well to the environment of the everglades. They have settled in and are now reproducing. They eat small gators and large gators eat them. The ones that get into the urban areas have been known to eat small pets.

I have presented at the AT Club. They are a nice group of people.

[Cuffs]

I used to throw hurricane parties at my home when I lived in Tampa!

[Big Guy]

Thanks to all. I am more afraid of alligators than pythons. Next time i am in Florida I will see about one of the pot lucks depending on time.

[floridahikes]

Myakka's the king of trails in that area but don't miss the other little gems around you, like Jelks Preserve and Myakkahatchee Preserve in North Port, and Carlton Preserve and Oscar Scherer near Venice.

Here's some info.
Jelks Preserve: http://www.vangor.net/JunkDrawer/Jel...9/Default.aspx
Myakkahatchee Preserve: http://www.heraldtribune.com/apps/pb...ST18/506190579
Carlton Preserve: http://foscp.org/new/wp-content/HikeCoverr.pdf
Oscar Scherer: http://www.floridastateparks.org/OscarScherer/

If you're looking for short coastal hikes (nice to do in summer), check out Quick Point on Longboat Key, Caspersen Beach in Venice, and Lemon Bay in Englewood.

Quick Point: http://www.longboatkey.org/Parks/quick_point.htm
Caspersen Beach: http://www.floridahikes.com/caspersen
Lemon Bay: http://www.lemonbayconservancy.org/

Myakka has a new section now, too, south of SR 70, called Myakka Prairie: http://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us/recreation/areas/myakka-prairie.html
I've not gotten there yet but if it's anything like the prairie with the 2 mile view (yep, it's 2 miles, I measured it) on the main Myakka Hiking Trail loop, it'll be spectacular.

Cheers, Navigator

[wahoo]

Since there's a lot of python talk going on, here's a link to a great article in the Saint Petersburg Times:
http://www.tampabay.com/news/environ...icle782162.ece

[bobbyw]

Originally Posted by floridahikes

Myakka's the king of trails in that area but don't miss the other little gems around you, like Jelks Preserve and Myakkahatchee Preserve in North Port, and Carlton Preserve and Oscar Scherer near Venice.

Here's some info.
Jelks Preserve: http://www.vangor.net/JunkDrawer/Jel...9/Default.aspx
Myakkahatchee Preserve: http://www.heraldtribune.com/apps/pb...ST18/506190579
Carlton Preserve: http://foscp.org/new/wp-content/HikeCoverr.pdf
Oscar Scherer: http://www.floridastateparks.org/OscarScherer/

If you're looking for short coastal hikes (nice to do in summer), check out Quick Point on Longboat Key, Caspersen Beach in Venice, and Lemon Bay in Englewood.

Quick Point: http://www.longboatkey.org/Parks/quick_point.htm
Caspersen Beach: http://www.floridahikes.com/caspersen
Lemon Bay: http://www.lemonbayconservancy.org/

Myakka has a new section now, too, south of SR 70, called Myakka Prairie: http://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us/recreation/areas/myakka-prairie.html
I've not gotten there yet but if it's anything like the prairie with the 2 mile view (yep, it's 2 miles, I measured it) on the main Myakka Hiking Trail loop, it'll be spectacular.

Cheers, Navigator

I live in Port Charlotte/Englewood/North Port area and this has been a great resource. thanks!!

[floridahikes]

Sure thing! I was just down your way a couple weeks ago and stumbled across two new hikes but didn't have time to hike 'em: on Babcock Ranch. One is at the place where they do the swamp buggy tours (hike is free, tour isn't), and one is up the road a piece. I'm waiting for directions on that one. Will be down later (Nov?) to check them out. Also a short one in Babcock-Webb. I revisited Ponce Park in Punta Gorda and the sweet little boardwalk has been rebuilt post-Hurricane Charley. Mangroves still aching but recovering...

Cheers, Navigator
www.floridahikes.com