Oscar Scherer State Park is a beautiful Florida park located in Osprey, Florida that offers a wide range of activities and wildlife.
Brief History
The park was established back in 1955 after Elsa Scherer Burrows passed away, leaving her 462-acre ranch in her will to the state of Florida for the purpose of a park.
This park was dedicated to her Father, Oscar Scherer, and has since been enjoyed by thousands of visitors.
Park Fees & Hours
Oscar Scherer State Park is open 8 a.m. until sundown everyday.
- 2-8 person: $5 per vehicle
- Single person: $4 per vehicle
- Not in a vehicle (biking, walking, etc): $2 per person
- Sunset Entrance: $4 per vehicle (entry 30-minute prior to sunset)
Things To Do
- Camping
- Hiking
- Biking
- Paddling
- Swimming
- Bird Watching
Camping
Camping Fee: $26 per night, plus non-refundable $6.70 reservation fee. Water and electricity included.
The camp sites are well maintained and most of them are really private with the most popular ones having water front access to the South Creek which flows through the park.
If you have children be careful around the creek, gators are frequently seen there.
Hiking
There are numerous trails to hike with our favorite being the White Trail which is just east of the Legacy Trail.
It is the most remote and offers some great opportunities to do some bird watching or just reconnect with nature. Most of the trail also has tree cover so it can offer a nice reprieve from the intense Florida sun.
You’ll also find accesses to the northern part of South Creek which is much smaller and shallower but has some great places to sit and relax or look for gators and otters.
The other trails offer some great scenery as well, but don’t offer the tree cover so make to pack a hat, sunscreen and plenty of water!
Some of the trails can be sandy so make sure to bring gaiters with you!
Unique Features
Bald Eagle Nesting
Bald Eagle’s are frequent visitors to the park with an active nest on the South side. Make sure to bring your bird watching binoculars as you can only get so close to their nests.
Swimming Hole
There is a dedicated swimming hole towards the back of the park that can offer a nice reprieve from the summer heat.
Only swim in dedicated areas marked off by the park.
Access to Legacy Trail
At the very East end of the park there is access to the Legacy Trail which extends through much of Sarasota County. It is a very popular biking trail with the stretch through Oscar Scherer State Park being especially beautiful.
Gear Check
Here are some items that you may want to have while visiting Oscar Scherer State Park:
You can find more of our favorite gear in our Best Outdoor Gear Guide.