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Carlton Reserve
Carlton Reserve is 25,000 acres of landscape, open for public use. It was previously a cattle operation and turpentining site but now serves as an ode to local history and wildlife.
There is no clear directional feature, such as a mountain peak or river, so it was difficult to navigate in the past. Staff and volunteers have been working hard the last few years to create signs & maps at six key locations in the park. Maps of all trails are also available at the front kiosk.
The Reserve offers many amenities including biking, birding, camping, geocaching, hiking, and kayaking. They are not a pet-friendly park but they do feature horseback riding trails with proof of negative Coggins test. They have horse trailer parking with nearby water hoses for use.
Bears, coyotes panthers, reptiles, and amphibians of all sorts can be spotted in the beautiful scenery of the Reserve. Their website updates trail cam footage regularly to educate and inform visitors of the new animal discoveries. To see some up close, the volunteers have added a kayak/canoe ramp that's free for use. It takes you on the Myakka River and lands you upstream at a nearby public park. No powered watercraft are permitted.
The Carlton Reserve also hosts the Fire Fest on an annual basis. This is a free event that educates the public on the importance of fire in an ecosystem. They hold live demonstrations of burns, games for all ages, hayrides, and host local exhibitors.
There is no clear directional feature, such as a mountain peak or river, so it was difficult to navigate in the past. Staff and volunteers have been working hard the last few years to create signs & maps at six key locations in the park. Maps of all trails are also available at the front kiosk.
The Reserve offers many amenities including biking, birding, camping, geocaching, hiking, and kayaking. They are not a pet-friendly park but they do feature horseback riding trails with proof of negative Coggins test. They have horse trailer parking with nearby water hoses for use.
Bears, coyotes panthers, reptiles, and amphibians of all sorts can be spotted in the beautiful scenery of the Reserve. Their website updates trail cam footage regularly to educate and inform visitors of the new animal discoveries. To see some up close, the volunteers have added a kayak/canoe ramp that's free for use. It takes you on the Myakka River and lands you upstream at a nearby public park. No powered watercraft are permitted.
The Carlton Reserve also hosts the Fire Fest on an annual basis. This is a free event that educates the public on the importance of fire in an ecosystem. They hold live demonstrations of burns, games for all ages, hayrides, and host local exhibitors.
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Carlton Reserve in Sarasota County
Carlton Reserve in Sarasota County
