One of several separate units of the expansive Withlacoochee State Forest, the Citrus Tract protects almost 50,000 acres of countryside in rural west Central Florida.
A popular destination for hiking, horseback riding, hunting, and off roading, the property boasts countless miles of forest roads, and one of the largest hiking loops in the state.
Sandhills predominate the Citrus TractConnector trails break the 39.1-mile Citrus Hiking Trail into four parts, labeled A, B, C, and D.
The trail system was established and is currently maintained by the Florida Trail Association, and all four loops include a piece of the statewide Florida Trail.
The southwest corner of the Citrus Hiking Trail is surprisingly rockyLoop D is arguably the most fascinating route, as it travels through unusual habitats, passing remarkable landforms sculpted by water over time.
The official parking for the trail system is at Holder Mine in the northeastern corner of the forest, and should be used if leaving a car overnight.
For this day hike, access the D Loop via a forest road leading past a collection of well-known caves.
Descending into an area with cavesResources
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Overview
Location: Lecanto
Length: 14.7 miles
Trailhead: 28.709278, -82.451472
Address: S Lecanto Hwy, Lecanto
Fees: Free
Restrooms: None
Land manager: Florida Forest Service
Phone: 352-797-4140
Open dawn to dusk unless camping. Leashed dogs allowed.
This is an extraordinarily popular hunting ground, so be mindful of scheduled hunts and wear blaze orange. Avoid backpacking during deer hunting season.
Do not leave a car overnight alongside trail access points at S Lecanto Hwy or Stagecoach Trail. The only official overnight parking is at Holder Mine.
Directions
From the intersection of US 98 and W Jefferson St. in Brooksville, head north on US 98 for 7.8 miles, taking the first turn at a traffic circle onto Citrus Way. Continue straight for 4.1 miles, and the unmarked gravel parking area will be on the right side of the road.
Hike
Beginning at the roadside pull off, look for a sandy forest road leading into the woods behind concrete barriers meant to prevent vehicles from driving into the forest.
Follow the wide pathway eastward, reaching the first karst feature in a half mile. Dame’s Cave is hard to miss, with a large tree standing alongside an opening in the earth.
Hole leading into Dame’s CaveThick tree roots slither down into the cave, providing a sort of handhold for folks who wish to descend into the subterranean chamber.
The forest road passes a few smaller caves and intriguingly rocky landscapes before reaching the yellow-blazed trail at 0.7 miles.
Sandhill communityTurn left to begin the loop clockwise, following a well-defined pathway cast with dappled shade under an open canopy of pine and oak.
Tree cover gradually becomes sparser as the trail traverses contoured terrain in an expansive sandhill forest, reaching a blue blazed cross trail at the 4 mile mark.
Rough green snakeTurn right, following the blue trail eastward into a strikingly quiet part of the forest where the sound of wind whooshes in the treetops against a backdrop of chirping crickets and birds.
Lizards skitter through the leaves as hikers approach, and snakes might take advantage of the mowed pathway to bask in the sun.
Turn right at an intersection with the Florida Trail at 5.7 miles to stay on the D Loop.
Florida TrailOrange blazes lead across grassy pine prairies dotted with gnarled live oaks and clusters of saw palmetto as the trail heads southward.
Reach Stagecoach Trail at 9 miles. At this point, the Florida Trail turns to follow the road east.
D Loop continues across paved CR 480, switching back to yellow blazes while entering a deeply shaded hardwood forest.
Circling a grassy prairie around Stage Pond, the path curves to the west, passing a camp zone with benches and a fire ring at 10.6 miles.
Taylor Camp ZoneThe trail crosses FR 13 in a quarter mile, then begins to descend into a low area where it traces the ravine of a seasonal creek.
Depending on the time of year and recent rains, the stream may be dry or rushing over large chunks of limestone in the creek bed.
RavineRounding a small clay canyon near the origin point of the ravine, the path turns north to cross Stagecoach Trail (CR 480) again.
Leave the hardwood hammock, entering a patch of sandhill habitat.
The terrain becomes increasingly rough while following sloping topography towards Lizzie Hart Sink, a large area of exposed karst.
Lizzie Hart SinkThe trail carefully weaves across a surprisingly rocky environment, circumnavigating the craggy depression where bunches of wild coffee grow right on top of limestone boulders.
Heading north from the sink, begin a slow ascent from the rock-strewn mixed hardwood forest, passing a stand of cabbage palms.
Rocky terrainReturn to a sunny, fire dependent sandhill community. In a short distance, the trail reaches the first forest road.
Close the loop at 14 miles. Turn left to follow the road for 0.7 miles back to the parking pull-off near Dames Cave.
Leaving the hardwood hammockTrail Map
Explore More!
Learn more about the Citrus Hiking Trail
Citrus Hiking Trail 39.1 miles. Savor a rugged hike through rolling hills and rocky terrain on one of Florida's longest backpacking loops when you take on the Citrus Hiking Trail near InvernessVideo
Hiking Citrus Loop D
Slideshow
See our photos from Citrus Loop D
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