Legacy Trail Sarasota County Osprey, Florida

Legacy Trail sign in Osprey, Florida

By car, there are only two routes north south through Osprey, Florida. I-75 and Tamiami Trail (US-41). Now bicyclists have an alternative for north south travel. The Legacy Trail. Built over former CSX railroad tracks, the Legacy Trail travels 10 miles from Palmer Ranch in Sarasota to the historic Train Depot in Venice, FL covering the entire town of Osprey, FL in Sarasota County. The trail is not lighted and is open from dawn to dusk. If you're bringing your bicycle on a car rack and want to park near the trail there are several parking areas you can use.
At the northern end of the Legacy Trail the county has opened a parking lot at the Central County Utilities site on McIntosh Road just south of Palmer Ranch Parkway in Sarasota.
In Osprey, parking is available at Bay Street Park on Bay Street just about 1/2 mile east of US 41. There is currently no bike path on Bay St. leading to the Bay Street entrance to the trail pictured to the left.. The road is heavily traveled by school buses since the county's bus depot is on Old Venice Road just off of Bay St.
A little farther south you can enter the trail through Oscar Scherer Park. Spending the day at the park and enjoying the Legacy Trail is probably the ideal way to appreciate the natural area the Legacy Trail traverses.

Dedication ceremony for the Legacy Trail at Oscar Scherer State Park in 2008. Hundreds of cyclists gathered in Oscar Scherer State Park for the dedication of the Legacy Trail in March of 2008.

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Biking early in the day is best when there is lots of shade available from the many trees that border the trail. A lot of wildlife and not so wild life, in the form of cattle, can be seen along the trail.

The trail is not just open to bicycles. The smooth surface makes it popular for rollerblading, walking and jogging as well. All dogs must be on a leash.
Being a railroad track, there were of course streams and other waterways to cross. Adjacent to one of the trail bridges is the train trestle that was part of the original Seaboard Air Line Railroad built in early 1900. The SAL controlled 2,600 miles of track stretching from Virginia to Florida. In 1911 SAL constructed a 16.5 mile extension from Sarasota to Venice. The bridge over South Creek is one of the remaining trestles in built in 1911.

The trestle on the left is located at mile-marker 897.6. As you travel along the trail, note the mile markers present to reflect the original railroad mile markers starting from north to south.

The last of the trestles over Dona Bay in Nokomis in Sarasota County has been completed.

Keep in mind, there are no water sources along the trail, except at the Venice end at the Venice Train Depot so be sure to bring along your own supply of liquids. If you're starting your trail ride at the end of the trail in either Sarasota or Venice, keep in mind that when you reach Osprey or Nokomis you're not very far from some local dining and drinking options. Just south of the Laurel Road crossing the access at the fitness trail puts you very close to Tamiami Trail and the shopping center near Laurel Road which includes several restaurants and bars. Also, in Osprey you are very close to another group of dining options just a couple of miles from the trail or even closer from Oscar Scherer Park.