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Rainbow River in Dunnellon

Dunnellon

At the confluence of the Rainbow River and the Withlacoochee River, Dunnellon is an outpost for adventures in the woods and on the water

Dunnellon Trail

Exploring Dunnellon

Settled in the late 1800s after the first discovery of phosphate in Florida, Dunnellon was a mining boomtown in its early history. One of the mining areas, on a bluff overlooking a beautiful spring, was converted to Rainbow Springs, as a public garden in the 1930s and later a natural attraction. It’s been a Florida State Park for several decades now, which preserved it from development.

Dunnellon is a fabulous destination for anyone who loves trails. This is a Trail Town on the Florida Trail, which comes in and out of town on what now are paved bicycle paths and becomes a footpath again heading east from the Pruitt trailhead along the Cross Florida Greenway. The Withlacoochee State Trail starts just south of town and heads to Dade City. The Dunnellon Trail is one paved segment of a network of paved trails under development on the Cross Florida Greenway.

Paddlers can head out on both the Withlacoochee River and Rainbow River right from downtown, with canoe, kayak, and SUP rentals available at several locations. Tubing is huge on the Rainbow River in the summer months, aided by outfitters who specialize in shuttling and providing tubes for a float from the KP Hole or Rainbow Springs State Park tubing put-in down to Blue Run Park.

Resources

The Florida Trail Guide book cover 50 Hikes in Central Florida Central Florida Orlando Explorers Guide book cover Five Star Trails Gainesville Ocala book cover Complete Guide to Florida Wildflowers Hikers Guide to the Sunshine State book cover

Disclosure: As authors of these books and apps, we receive earnings when you buy these through our links. This helps us continue to provide public information on this website.

Outdoor Recreation Destinations

Goethe Big Cypress Boardwalk

Big Cypress Trail

Big Cypress Trail
Hiking Blue Run of Dunnellon Park

Blue Run of Dunnellon Park

Blue Run of Dunnellon Park
Buck Island Pond Trail

Buck Island Pond Trail

Buck Island Pond Trail
Florida Trail Marshall Swamp

Cross Florida Greenway

Cross Florida Greenway
Marshall Swamp on the Cross Florida Greenway

Florida Trail, Cross Florida Greenway

Florida Trail, Cross Florida Greenway
Dunnellon Trail

Florida Trail, Dunnellon

Florida Trail, Dunnellon
Florida Trail Pruitt switchback

Florida Trail, Pruitt to Ross Prairie

Florida Trail, Pruitt to Ross Prairie
Climb on the Florida Trail

Florida Trail, Ross Prairie to SW 49th Ave

Florida Trail, Ross Prairie to SW 49th Ave
Cypress Lakes Preserve

Florida Trail, Western Corridor

Florida Trail, Western Corridor
Holly Hammock Hiking Trail

Holly Hammock Hiking Trail

Holly Hammock Hiking Trail
Johnson Pond Trail

Johnson Pond Trail

Johnson Pond Trail
Oxbow Trail

Oxbow Trail

Oxbow Trail
Sandhills Nature Trail

Rainbow Springs Sandhills Trail

Rainbow Springs Sandhills Trail
Rainbow Springs

Rainbow Springs State Park

Rainbow Springs State Park
A marshy area on Ross Prairie

Ross Prairie Loop

Ross Prairie Loop

Sunflower Season at Cannon Farms

Sunflower Season at Cannon Farms
View of salt marshes from 30 foot tower

Withlacoochee Gulf Preserve

Withlacoochee Gulf Preserve
Long stretch of bike path in forest

Withlacoochee State Trail

Withlacoochee State Trail

Recent Articles

Sunflower Season at Cannon Farms

June 11, 2019//  by Sandra Friend

When a sea of sunflowers pops up along the Cross Florida Greenway, it’s an attention getter. Meet Cannon Farms, a family farm right along the Florida Trail in Dunnellon.

50 Hikes Central Florida graphic

The new 50 Hikes in Central Florida

October 5, 2018//  by Sandra Friend

We launched a new full-color edition of 50 Hikes in Central Florida at the National Trails Festival in Deland the first weekend of October. Take a peek inside.

Back to Blue Run

April 11, 2016//  by Sandra Friend

Blue skies, blue water: the beauty of a hike at Blue Run Park in Dunnellon is in the glimpses of blue amid the supersaturated greens that provide deep shade along its trails.

Lunchtime underwater at Weeki Wachee

Three Days of Nature Coast Springs

October 10, 2014//  by Sandra Friend

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.

ALL Articles and Destinations

NEARBY: Crystal River, Inglis, Inverness, Ocala, Williston | PART OF: Central Florida

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