Phone: 941-322-1000 | Email: [email protected]
Location Details
Address and Directions
16405 Myakka Road, Sarasota, FL 34240
DIRECTIONS: Interstate I75
Take exit #210 Fruitville Road and drive EAST 10 miles to the dead end. Turn RIGHT on Myakka road. Go 3 miles, Crowley is on your LEFT. If you travel over the bridge to the north entrance of Myakka State Park, you missed us by a mile :). Enjoy the park, and come on back by….
DIRECTIONS: Route #70
WEST: Take route #70, exit #217B, travel to Verna Road. Turn RIGHT and travel SOUTH for approximately 6 miles to the Crowley entrance on your left.
EAST: Take highway #70 to Verna Road. Turn LEFT. Travel approximately 6 miles to Crowley entrance on your LEFT.
Hours and Admission
We are open Thursday – Sunday to the public 10 am – 5 pm in fair weather. We are closed Christmas Day
Crowley contains 191 acres of sensitive lands along the Myakka River so we are open to the public just two days per week in order to allow the animals opportunity to express natural behaviors and reduce human impacts on our natural landscapes.
Pet Policy
We often get inquiries about dogs at Crowley, and we are certainly dog lovers here. We feel that guests tend to find their experience here more enjoyable without their dogs along. Also, since most people are here during the hottest time of day, this is not optimal for dogs.
Some dogs do not enjoy their experience here due to the fact that we have free-range farm animals.
So, we do allow dogs here as long as they are:
- Always on leash,
- Well socialized, and
- Picked up after–without exception.
The Crowley site is 191 acres of old Florida habitats with native plants, animals, insects, and birds. Hiking trails take visitors through the piney flatwoods, and oak hammocks, and along a half-mile boardwalk through swamp and marsh. The spring-fed Crowley Creek meanders along the edge of the marsh. You can view the river from the tower at the end of the boardwalk. Our boardwalk is closed due to damage from Hurricane Ian September 2022
For Self-Guided Trail Map Click Here
Great Florida Birding and Wildlife Trail
The Great Florida Birding and Wildlife Trail is a network of 510 premier wildlife viewing sites across the state. When you want to know where to go in Florida to see native birds, butterflies and more, head for the Trail. It’s Your Road to Adventure!
Every year, millions of people, residents and visitors alike, participate in wildlife viewing activities, contributing billions of dollars to Florida’s economy*, but the ultimate goal of the Trail is to encourage conservation of Florida’s native habitats and species.
The Trail is a program of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, supported in part by the Florida Department of Transportation and the Fish and Wildlife Foundation of Florida, and is possible thanks to dozens of federal, state, and local government agencies, non-governmental organizations and private landowners.
This site contains more than 2 miles of trails through five native habitats (pine flatwoods, hardwood hammocks, freshwater marsh and swamp, and riverine areas) and includes a 2000-foot boardwalk terminating at an observation tower overlooking the marsh. Species that call this site home include Red-shouldered Hawks and Great Crested Flycatchers, White-eyed Vireos and Northern Parulas. Bald Eagles and Barred Owls nest here, Swallow-tailed Kites cruise through during summer and dabbling ducks visit the swamps and marsh during winter. This site has records for Black-bellied Whistling-Duck, and Crested Caracara. Call ahead to find out the schedules for the Saturday workshop series and other educational programs that occur throughout the year.
Visit the Great Florida Birding Trail website for more locations at http://floridabirdingtrail.com/