Florida Hikes

Hike Bike Paddle Camp Florida with authors Sandra Friend and John Keatley as your guides

Three Sisters Springs manatees

Crystal River

Known for its beautiful springs and as a gathering place for manatees, Crystal River shows off coastal habitats in its many parks and along its waterways.

Resources

Resources for exploring the area
50 Hikes in Central Florida Central Florida Orlando Explorers Guide book cover Hikers Guide to the Sunshine State book cover Paddlers Guide Florida Hiking the Gulf Coast book cover
 
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Exploring Crystal River

Centered on Kings Bay at the spring-fed source of Crystal River, the historic core of Crystal River is both compact and walkable.

Deeply shaded by large live oaks, city sidewalks and trails are strummed by breezes off the expanse of both natural and manmade waterways edging residential areas.

Open blue water beyond a small cove Kings Bay River Walk Discover a variety of unexpected perspectives on coves, springs, and the expanse of Kings Bay along a marked walkway stretching around downtown Crystal River.

A migratory magnet for manatees seeking warmth in winter, the waters of Crystal River are protected by Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge.

Manatees resting in a spring Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge - Integral to the town of Crystal River, this water-based refuge protects wintering grounds for Florida manatees.

To explore the refuge means putting in at one of the local launches, hopping on a guided tour, or walking along the water’s edge.

Sunrise on a foggy river basin Kings Bay Park Edging Kings Bay and spring-fed waterways flowing into it, this wooded downtown park provides some of the best views of Kings Bay.
Waterfront with spring and swimmers Hunter Springs Park Besides access to its namesake spring for swimmers, Hunter Springs Park is also a popular put-in for paddlers headed to Three Sisters Springs.

South of downtown, follow Fort Island Trail east. The road culminates in a beach and lovely sunset view of the Gulf of Mexico.

View of expansive water beyond coastal trees Fort Island Beach Savor a sunset over placid waters at this "end of the road" park where Crystal River meets the Gulf of Mexico.
Tall skinny palms in estuary Gary Maidhof Walk to Nature An accessible coastal boardwalk off Fort Island Trail leads to a showy overlook on the Crystal River estuary.

North of Kings Bay, multiple trails tempt from a variety of trailheads leading into Crystal River Preserve State Park.

The well-interpreted Crystal River Archaeological State Park is the site of a riverside temple mound and unusual stone stelae.

Marshes and distant river Crystal River Preserve State Park Crystal River Preserve State Park spans 20 miles of the Gulf Coast between Yankeetown and Homosassa, protecting key manatee habitats along estuaries of the Gulf.
Middens and marshland Crystal River Archaeological State Park A treasure trove of landforms and artifacts, this pre-Columbian complex of temple and burial mounds provides insight into Florida's ancient civilizations.

From 1887 through the 1960s, a passenger railroad continued south from Crystal River, ending at nearby Homosassa. US 19 roughly follows the route.

Home to two state parks, Homosassa’s estuarine coastline is also protected by Chassahowitzka National Wildlife Refuge.

Spring basin with observation platform Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park A former roadside attraction at the source of the Homosassa River, this Florida State Park showcases native Florida wildlife.
Sugar mill and interpretive sign next to road Yulee Sugar Mill Ruins Historic State Park A set of interpreted ruins almost two centuries old sits under a dense canopy of ancient live oaks shared by a pretty picnic area in Old Homosassa.
Winding blue stream through salt marsh into distance Chassahowitzka National Wildlife Refuge Expansive marshes fringing the Gulf of Mexico provide shelter for marine species and bird life in estuarine shallows south of Crystal River.
Aquamarine spring water adjoining a jungle-like shoreline Chassahowitzka River Trail Wildlife abounds within jungle-like landscapes along the spring-fed Chassahowitzka, a remote river on Florida’s Nature Coast.

Fifteen minutes north along US 19, the westernmost outpost of the Cross Florida Greenway defines the northern extent of Citrus County.

The “big ditch,” one of two pieces of the Cross Florida Barge Canal flooded with water in the 1960s, is edged by several recreation areas.

Expanse of water with boat headed into distance Withlacoochee Bay Trail Paralleling a completed segment of the ill-conceived Cross Florida Barge Canal, this 5.1 mile paved bike path surprises with hills, overlooks, and a panorama stretching to the Gulf of Mexico.
Cove with a boat floating in it between rocky walls and palm trees Felburn Park The eastern terminus of the Withlacoochee Bay Trail is home to a surprisingly hilly trail above a freshwater marsh along the saltwater Cross Florida Barge Canal.
Edge of island along blue waters of lake Inglis Dam & Island Recreation Area The former deeply wooded north shore of the Withlacoochee River became an island in the 1960s with construction of the Cross Florida Barge Canal.

Articles

Limestone boulder covered in ferns Withlacoochee State Forest Land Swap a Bad Idea (9/9/2024) - Plans to let a golf course development expand into Annutteliga Hammock, part of a conservation corridor across Citrus and Hernando counties, strikes a sour note.
Grasses underwater in a deep spring Three Days of Nature Coast Springs (10/10/2014) - Between New Port Richey and Crystal River, explore a variety of springs along the Nature Coast that provide splashing fun in summer and manatee watching in winter.

Trail List County Parks

NEARBY: Brooksville, Cedar Key, Dunnellon, Inglis, Inverness | ALONG: Gulf of Mexico | PART OF: Central Florida