Resources
Resources for exploring the area

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Exploring Florida’s Adventure Coast
A Florida Hikes Regional Guide
Centered on Brooksville, Florida’s Adventure Coast is a big region with an outstanding amount of hiking, paddling, and bicycling opportunities.
The Florida Trail follows the Withlacoochee River for a long stretch through Withlacoochee State Forest, with both lengthy linear sections and loop trails suitable for backpacking in both the Richloam and Croom Tracts.
The trail has connectivity through Perry Oldenberg WEA and Chinsegut WEA north towards Inverness as well as south through Richloam towards Dade City. Campers will appreciate being able to choose between nicely developed sites or primitive sites in the state forest.
Three major bike paths – the state-spanning Coast to Coast Trail, the Suncoast Trail, and the Withlacoochee State Trail – all cross Brooksville. Along the coast, Chassahowitzka WMA and neighboring public lands provide thousands of acres of wildlife habitat crisscrossed with hiking and biking trails.
Go Local
Look for outdoor recreation and travel destinations in the towns and small communities of Florida’s Adventure Coast. Each of these has a charm and character all its own.
Brooksville Brooksville is the county seat of Hernando County, in Central Florida. It is the heart of Florida’s Adventure Coast.
Hernando Beach There is no beach at Hernando Beach except a man-made one along Jenkins Creek. But this coastal community offers paddling, swimming, hiking, and biking along its trails.
Weeki Wachee With tens of thousands of acres of conservation land along the Gulf Coast, Weeki Wachee is a central launch point for adventure on the water and in the woods.ALSO INCLUDES: Bayport, Nobleton, Ridge Manor, Spring Hill.
Featured Itineraries
Destination: Adventure Biking, paddling, and even a bit of hiking were in the plans as we explored Florida's Adventure Coast - Hernando County - for activities we could enjoy during warm weather.
Biking the Good Neighbor Trail A morning of exploration allowed us to experience the not-quite-open-yet Good Neighbor Trail and its historic context during our visit to Brooksville this September.
Three Days of Nature Coast Springs 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.Favorite Destinations
Our very favorite destinations along Florida’s Adventure Coast.
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.
Fickett Hammock Preserve Delving deep into a hardwood hammock with towering trees, discover a wonderland of botanical beauty at Fickett Hammock, a cradle of unusual species north of Brooksville.
Florida Trail, Croom River Trail A pleasant ramble on bluffs above the Withlacoochee River, the Croom River Trail segment of the Florida Trail tunnels through oak hammocks and slips around cypress swamps along its 6.3-mile journey.
Florida Trail, Cypress Lakes Preserve At Cypress Lakes Preserve, a 1.7-mile segment of the Florida Trail follows the edge of a series of cypress-lined lakes where ancient trees have survived the ages.
Good Neighbor Trail An important link in the Florida Coast to Coast Trail, the Good Neighbor Trail stretches 10.1 miles from downtown Brooksville to the Withlacoochee State Trail.
Hog Island Nature Trail For a dip into primordial wilderness along the Withlacoochee River, walk the Hog Island Nature Trail at Hog Island Recreation Area in Withlacoochee State Forest.
Nature Coast Botanical Gardens An oasis of serenity in Spring Hill, several acres of compact garden rooms make up the Nature Coast Botanical Gardens. Each delights the senses with an ever-changing array of blooms.
Paddling the Weeki Wachee River One of Florida's most beautiful paddling trips, the Weeki Wachee River rises from first magnitude Weeki Wachee Springs and winds through lush floodplain forests as it is fed by hundreds of smaller springs along this 5.5-mile paddling run.
