Legacy Trail Florida, in Sarasota County
The Legacy Trail Florida is a recreational and nature based trail system for hiking and biking that spans 10 miles from Sarasota to Venice.
There are many areas along the paved trail where you can stop to rest, learn about the history of Legacy Trail or just enjoy the scenery. The Legacy Trail opened in 2008 along the Sarasota County area’s historic rail corridor.
The north point of the Legacy Trail is near Palmer Ranch in Sarasota, just south of the Seminole Gulf Railway’s current terminus. Traveling south, it passes through the Oscar Scherer State Park in Osprey and connects directly with the park’s trails.
The trail continues south, in a fairly straight line towards Venice, Florida as it passes underneath State Road 681 through Nokomis. South of Nokomis, Legacy Trail crosses Dona Bay and then into Venice.
The end of the 10 miles trail is just south of the U.S. 41 overpass at the historic Venice Seaboard Air Line Railway Station, which is currently a bus station. There it connects with another trail system known as the Venetian Waterway Park which continues south along the Intracoastal Waterway to the Gulf of Mexico. The Venetian Waterway Park is also a 10 mile hiking and biking trail with rest areas, parks and other popular attractions along the way.
The railroad line was originally built in 1911 as part of the Seaboard Air Line Railroad’s extension to Venice. It was abandoned in the mid 2000s due to decreased demand for service and the deteriorating condition of the tracks and bridges. Sarasota County in conjunction with the Trust for Public Land acquired the right of way for use as a trail.
In 2011, a 12 feet wide overpass was built to provide passage over U.S. 41, a major six-lane highway. Prior to this construction, trail users had to use a crosswalk.
There are many references to the historic railroad past along the trail. The mile markers correspond to the railroad’s original mile numbering. At mile marker 897.6 South Creek an original railroad trestle crossing remains but the newer bridge carries the trail over the creek. Roadway crossings display decorative railroad signals with cross bucks that read “Sarasota Rail Trail.”
The Legacy Trail is open from dawn to dusk with the rules for using the trail posted at various spots as well as at each trailhead entrance point. In addition to the trailheads, there are rest stations approximately every mile that offer places to sit and relax. The rest stops include seven trailheads which offer access points with free parking.
The trailheads are located at:
- Culverhouse Nature Park in Sarasota (future park)
- Osprey Junction Trailhead in Osprey (future park)
- Laurel Park in Laurel
- Nokomis Community Park in Nokomis
- Oscar Scherer State Park in Nokomis
- Patriots Park in Venice
- Historic Venice Train Depot in Venice
