Big Pine Tract, Chinsegut WEA

Protecting a notable stand of ancient longleaf pine forest, the Big Pine Tract of Chinsegut WEA has deep roots as conservation land.

On a remnant of a homestead established in 1842, it contains a notable stand of longleaf pine permanently preserved in 1932 by landowner Colonel Raymond Robins.

View of barn and silo and woods from hilltop

View towards Brookville from top of Chinsegut Hill

Longleaf pine forests once stretched for miles in every direction through this region surrounding Chinsegut Hill.

Attracted by this natural bounty, timber companies moved in and built railroad lines to reach them. Brooksville grew.

Worn marker in pine forest along paved path

Old railroad marker on a rail line turned into the Good Neighbor Trail

Although the landowners before Robins cut many of the pines, the remaining ones on the Big Pine Tract are largely either misshapen or were tapped for making turpentine.

Until you stand among them, it’s tough to picture just how large — and old — they are.

Towering pines along the trail

Resources

Resources for exploring the area

Central Florida Orlando Explorers Guide book cover

Hikers Guide to the Sunshine State book cover

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Overview

Location: Brooksville
Length: 1.6 mile loop
Trailhead: 28.599042, -82.377272
Address: 12060 Old Crystal River Rd, Brooksville
Fees: Free
Restroom: At the trailhead
Land manager: Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission
Phone: 352-754-6722

Open sunrise to sunset. Leashed dogs permitted. No camping or bicycles.

Directions

28.599,-82.3773

From downtown Brooksville drive north for 3 miles along US 41 to Old Crystal River Rd. Make a sharp left onto it and continue another mile to the parking area on the right.

Hike

Starting at the trail kiosk, turn right to follow the Longleaf Loop. The hike is mainly along forest roads, but the ancient trees make it well worth your visit.

Walking along the Longleaf Loop, pass a shed. The forest of towering trees begins in less than a quarter mile.

Trailhead

These longleaf pines are extremely tall and skinny and spindly, unlike the older pines you see in the Osceola National Forest, Ocala National Forest, and Eglin Air Force Base.

In fact, it almost seems like they aren’t as tall as they actually are. It helps to hike with a friend to put them in perspective. Step way back and look up.

Tall pines above a woman taking pictures of them

A little perspective from a vertical viewpoint

While this is a virgin forest, the pines are not untouched. Look for signs of catfacing, slashes in the pine trunk to collect resin for turpentine.

Some of the pines have oddly curved trunks that would have damaged a sawmill. Many have spreading crowns. The scent of pine fills the air, even on a dry day.

Looking up at a part of the canopy

Grass-stage longleaf pines are distinguishable from wiregrass only by the deep green of their needles, the taller ones with their needles raised to the sky.

As the trail winds through the pines, this new generation of young pines is obvious throughout the sandhill understory.

Forested sinkhole

Curve past a sinkhole in the forest before an intersection of trails. To the left, the Tortoise Loop makes a shortcut back to the trailhead.

Join the Hammock Trail on the right. Quickly meet the junction with the Prairie-to-Pines Trail along the edge of a bayhead.

Sign for trail in dense forest understory

Prairie-to-Pines Trail junction

Largely crossing pasture, it makes a good connector for a long day hike linking this tract with the loop on the Conservation Center Tract.

For purposes of this hike, however, skip past it and make a left to continue along the Hammock Trail. It’s narrow and a little damp.

Hammock Trail

Follow the edge of a hardwood hammock, with sandhills above it. Once the Hammock Trail meets the Longleaf Loop, turn right.

Continue to the Burns Prairie Spur. It follows a shady path through grand old live oaks to the edge of a large wet prairie.

Spur to Burns Prairie

The trail becomes indistinct near the overlook on the prairie, so turn around and retrace your steps.

Returning to the Longleaf Loop, complete a mile. Turn right and make a sharp left at the next intersection to avoid wandering onto a perimeter trail.

The forest attracts many birds

At this end of the preserve, younger pines flank the trail. The purple blazing star and deer’s-tongue stand out in the sandhills in fall.

At the next unmarked trail junction, 1.3 miles in, make a sharp left. Follow a long straightaway partially shaded by the pine forest.

Tortoise Loop junction

Soon after passing a forest road to the left, reach a second junction with the Tortoise Loop. A clearing up ahead signals the trailhead is near.

Complete the loop after 1.6 miles. Turn right to exit.

Bluebird perched on the privy roof

Trail Map

Explore More!

Slideshow

See our photos from this hike

Nearby Adventures

Chinsegut Conservation Center Tract Discover the beauty of May's Prairie at the heart of the Chinsegut WEA Conservation Center Tract, a vast wetland where sandhill cranes gather.

Florida Trail, Croom to Chinsegut 4.1 miles. North of Brooksville, two environmental areas and a state forest are paired with a short backwoods roadwalk as an example of conservation within a rural community.

Perry Oldenburg WEA With a surprising diversity of oak species for Central Florida, Perry Oldenburg WEA protects a prime piece of sandhill habitat where gopher tortoises thrive.

Lake Townsen Preserve Offering access to the Withlacoochee River and the Withlacoochee State Trail while protecting a swath of environmentally sensitive lands west of Nobleton, Lake Townsen Preserve is the gateway to miles of trails.

Trail Map (PDF) Official Website