Myakka Pines Preserve
Part of 130,000 acres of conservation lands protecting the Myakka River, this land is now a piece of the Carlton Reserve.
The Story
In 2007, Sarasota County hired Big Waters to be the acquisition agent for the County’s Environmentally Sensitive Lands Protection Program (ESLPP). Over the next seven years, we preserved a number of properties through this program that are considered iconic natural areas. The Myakka Pines site was selected because of its unspoiled condition, as well as its extensive shoreline on the Myakka River and adjacency to the T. Mabry Carlton Memorial Reserve. After its acquisition in 2007, the land was effectively absorbed into the Carlton Reserve.
Why it Matters
The Myakka Pines property is located on the Myakka River, within Carlton Memorial Reserve. Protection has precluded development in this scenic area, keeping the river wild and scenic for future generations. The land is now part of 130,000 acres of conservation lands on the Myakka. This incredible landscape is a factory of biodiversity, on land and in water. The Myakka River flows to Charlotte Harbor, supplying the clean water necessary for healthy fisheries, including tarpon, snook, grouper, and shrimp.
For directions, hours, rules, and more information visit the Sarasota County website.
Just the Facts
65
acres
Date Acquired
2007
- Located along the Myakka River
- Owned and managed by Sarasota County
Open to the Public
Getting There
Park at the Carlton Reserve parking area. Take the Myakka Island Wilderness Trail north, about 0.5 miles to the South Powerline Trail and trail marker 10. Head west on the South Powerline Trail for about a mile. West of trail marker 51, the South Powerline Trail passes through the heart of the Myakka Pines property.
