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This 24,565-acre reserve was purchased in 1982 for the purposes of developing a well field to provide drinking water for the County. The remaining acreage was set aside for natural resource protection and nature based recreation.
While exploring the Reserve’s network of trails, visitors may see diverse natural communities- including dry prairie, pine flatwoods, mesic hammocks and seasonal wetlands. Visitors can also observe white-tailed deer, wild turkey, bobcats, swallow-tailed kites, various wading birds and an assortment of wildflowers, such as pine lily, tarflower and purple iris. Non-native feral hogs, commonly seen on the reserve, compete with native wildlife for food and their rooting for plants and insects disturbs sensitive soil ecosystems. Because of the detrimental impacts that feral hog population have on native species and natural communities a trapping program is in place to reduce their numbers.
The preserve has more than eighty miles of hiking trails, including the twelve mile long Myakka Island Wilderness Trail, which connects the Carlton Reserve with Myakka River State Park. Equestrian trails are also provided though a negative Coggins test is required for all horses that enter the Reserve. Most trail intersections are marked with numbered trail markers. Some trails may flood after heavy rainfall and several trails that cross creeks and ditches may be wet year round.
A canoe launch to the Myakka River can be accessed from Border Road, just before the Reserve entrance.
The Public Park at the Reserve has ample parking, picnic tables, a visitor’s cabin, and interpretive nature trails for shorter hike
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