Home › Florida › Venice › T. Mabry Carlton Jr. Memorial Reserve
T. Mabry Carlton Jr. Memorial Reserve
4.5 ★★★★★ 107 Google reviews · Running trail in Venice, Florida · Posted hours
Runner's snapshot
- Surface
- Natural surface
- Loop distance
- 3 mi
- Shape
- Loop
- Shade
- Not reported
- Access
- Posted hours
Confirmed from T. Mabry Carlton Jr. Memorial Reserve's own listing, the park or land manager's website, and runner reviews. Blank cells mean we could not verify that fact — we would rather say "not reported" than invent one. There is no Easy / Moderate / Hard rating on this page on purpose: a one-word difficulty score tells you nothing about whether a trail suits your run. Surface, distance, shade and hours do.
Wilderness preserve for hiking and biking trails, as well as alligators and deer.
What runners say about T. Mabry Carlton Jr. Memorial Reserve
“The bathroom was pretty clean, and the park was clean.”
“We are pleased with the beautiful natural surroundings and grounds.”
“The bacon and sandwiches waiting at the finish line were the perfect reward after the run and definitely a crowd favorite.”
“The park was beautifully maintained, with well-preserved grounds and clearly marked trails that made the course enjoyable and easy to follow.”
“Fairly easy walking, not too sandy, a few more roots on yellow loop though due to the hammock/ dry sampling area, lots of oaks and palms.”
Beautiful walk. Didn't see any other people. On the drive there, we saw a panther and a wild turkey but once we started walking, we only saw trees and plants. A few parts of the trail were swampy but we were able to get through.
Beautiful Florida. The trails are well labeled. I did the Orange, which is a short 15-20 min walk, and the Red, which took a little over an hour. The #1 thing I saw and learned here is how important fire is to the natural ecosystem.
Many miles of trails/fire roads through about 12,000 acers. Always good vegetation/flowers. Some wildlife. Near the entrance there's a pravilion picnic tables and rest room. The rest of the park is undeveloped except for the trails. Bring water. There's a single track bicycle trail that's many miles long.
Large park. Quite a few trails. Confusing maps though. Thankfully there's a wonderful volunteer there, Sherm. He really knows his stuff and is eager to help. Restrooms and water available. A lot of the trails are very open with pines and little cover. You can spend an entire day there.
Trail conditions & character
“Fairly easy walking, not too sandy, a few more roots on yellow loop though due to the hammock/ dry sampling area, lots of oaks and palms.”
“Planned on doing 3 mile red loop and one other, ended up doing all 4.”
“We are pleased with the beautiful natural surroundings and grounds.”
“The bathroom was pretty clean, and the park was clean.”
“Nice trails ample parking and clean facilities.”
Plan your run at T. Mabry Carlton Jr. Memorial Reserve
The practical stuff
- AccessPosted hours — posted hours below; park gates sometimes close earlier than the listing says
- SurfaceNatural surface — easiest on the joints and the most fun, but expect roots, rocks and mud after rain
- Loop distance3 mi back to where you parked
- ShadeNot reported. Assume some of it is exposed and carry water in summer.
- At the trailheadparking, restrooms — reported by runners
- Websitesarasotacountyparks.com
- Phone(941) 861-5000
Hours
| Monday | 6 AM–8 PM |
| Tuesday | 6 AM–8 PM |
| Wednesday | 6 AM–8 PM |
| Thursday | 6 AM–8 PM |
| Friday | 6 AM–8 PM |
| Saturday | 6 AM–8 PM |
| Sunday | 6 AM–8 PM |
Running trails near Venice
Other trails within easy driving distance — useful when this one is flooded, gated, or just not the run you had in mind today.
Sleeping Turtles Preserve North
4.7 ★★★★★ 290 reviews
Shaded wilderness park featuring alligator-inhabited riverfront trails, picnic tables and benches.
Pinebrook Park
4.5 ★★★★★ 76 reviews
Nature park with a disc golf course and walking trails, plus basketball courts.
Deer Prairie Creek Preserve South
4.5 ★★★★★ 240 reviews
Wooded park featuring multiple trails for hikers and bikers along with picnic tables.
Woodmere Park
4.4 ★★★★☆ 315 reviews
Park featuring basketball and tennis courts, as well as a playground and walking trail.