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Bike path adjoining road

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

Florida Coast to Coast Trail  |  Brooksville
( 28.5488, -82.3859 )      10.1 miles

110 shares

Following a former narrow gauge railroad corridor, the Good Neighbor Trail is a 10.1-mile linear paved bike path.

It spans from the former main line at Croom, which is now the Withlacoochee State Trail, to a depot in Brooksville dating back to 1885.

The corridor dates back to the heyday of lumberjacks felling the “yellow pine,” as long-lived longleaf pines were known, and sending them off to sawmills.

Narrow gauge trains facilitated the process, in this case the Southern Railroad.

Brooksville historic depot Rolling back into the Brooksville Depot after a round-trip on the bike trail


It was later taken over by the Atlantic Coast Line and rails widened to accommodate standard gauge trains.

Now, the Good Neighbor Trail provides a crucial connector in the Coast to Coast Trail across Central Florida.

John with bike under Good Neighbor Trail sign At the junction where the C2C joins the Good Neighbor Trail from the Withlacoochee State Trail


Resources

Resources for exploring the area

The Florida Trail Guide book cover Florida Trail Hikes book cover Central Florida Orlando Explorers Guide book cover 50 Hikes in Central Florida

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


Overview

Location: Brooksville to Croom Junction
Length: 10.1 miles linear
Land manager: City of Brooksville
Phone: 352-540-3830

Open daylight hours only. Leashed pets welcome. Please pick up after your pet.

Riders on the C2C westbound will need to flip this description, as we describe it eastbound for the sake of day users at the easier to access end of the trail.

Paved bike path under tree canopy


Ride Details

As a day trip, we rode the Good Neighbor Trail from the Brooksville terminus to Croom Junction and back for a 20.2 mile round trip.

A little more than half its length is within Brooksville and its surrounding rural residential areas.

Bikes sitting against Old Schoolhouse sign Readying for a ride at Russell Street Park


Except for a brief portion between the old depot at Russell Park and up to US 98, you never feel like you’re riding through someone’s backyard.

On the west side of US 98, the classic Coney Island Drive Inn is visible up the hill and worth a lunch stop on the return trip.

Sandra on bike heading into woods Wooded corridor just east of US 98


The US 98 road crossing is only a quarter mile from the trailhead and is usually busy no matter the time of day. Don’t assume motorists will stop for you.

After crossing US 98, the corridor is deeply shaded by forest for much of the stretch up to Old Jasmine Dr.

Sandra on bike path with road nearby On the return trip along Mondon Hill Rd


Two very sharp jogs happen at McIntyre Rd and Mondon Hill Rd around 1.5 miles. Both roads have traffic that can’t easily see you.

However, you’re surrounded by farms and ranches in this part of town. Just be cautious along these crossings.

Bike path under power lines The dedicated corridor


Once the trail is northeast of Mondon Hill Rd, it is along a dedicated power line corridor edged by forest.

You enter a stretch with tall chain-link fence on both sides of the trail. We could hear gunshots here.

Fences along bike path Next to the shooting range


While you can’t see it, the Phoenix Gun Club shooting range is on the right side of the trail and the fence is there so cyclists don’t wander into it.

Coming up beside narrow Richbarn Rd at 3.1 miles, the trail parallels it behind a screen of trees. There are a couple driveways to keep alert for.

Paved path under trees The shaded corridor south of Weatherly Rd


Cross Weatherly Rd at 3.5 miles. It’s here that Richbarn Rd widens to a standard road width, still paralleling the trail. There are rural road crossings to watch for.

It’s hilly through this stretch, so we think that that Richbarn Rd was laid atop the gentler grade of the railroad bed a long time ago.

Bike path adjoining road Return trip parallel to Richbarn Rd


Leaving the rural residences and all roads behind by 6 miles, you enter the Croom Tract of Withlacoochee State Forest for the final stretch.

It’s very scenic and straight as an arrow. The grade rises very, very gradually through this mature sandhill forest.

Dead end circle next to bike path Looking west from Withlacoochee State Forest, this circle marks where the bike path goes into Croom Tract


There are two spots where the bike path crosses the Florida Trail. The first is along one of its yellow-blazed Croom Loops.

The second is along the orange blazes of the end-to-end piece of the Florida Trail in Croom not long before you see Croom Junction in the distance.

Pine woods below trail The trail is often elevated above the forest


Ending after 10.1 miles at a T intersection, the Good Neighbor Trail meets the Withlacoochee State Trail at Croom Junction.

If you are following the Coast to Coast Trail eastbound, turn right to head south towards Ridge Manor Trailhead.

Withlacoochee State Trail sign The trail ends at this T


If you’re looking for the nearest trailhead and restrooms, turn left instead to head up to the road crossing of Croom Road.

There is a picnic bench and restroom at this road crossing, which is an unofficial trailhead for the bike path and access point for the Florida Trail.

Bike against fence painted with the word Bike There is a picnic area right where the trails come together


Trailheads

 

Russell Street Park

The only trailhead along the length of the Good Neighbor Trail is at its western terminus in Brooksville.

Park adjacent to the 1885 Train Depot and Countryman Family One Room Schoolhouse Museum at Russell Street Park. There is a restroom at the park.

Russell Street Park next to schoolhouse Trail terminus at Russell Street Park behind the schoolhouse


Croom Road

From the T junction where the Good Neighbor Trail meets the Withlacoochee State Trail, ride a half mile north to reach a small parking area adjoining the trail.

There is a covered bench and a restroom at this trailhead, which also provides access to the Croom Loops of the Florida Trail.

Vehicles parked at trailhead At the Croom Road trailhead on the Withlacoochee State Trail


Mileage

MileLocation
0.0 Russell Street Park
0.3US 98
1.2 Old Jasmine Dr
1.5 McIntyre Rd
1.6 Mondon Hill Rd
3.5 Weatherly Rd
6.0 Withlacoochee State Forest
10.1 Croom Junction at Withlacoochee State Trail

Connections

The Good Neighbor Trail is an important link in the Florida Coast to Coast Trail. Learn more about this state-spanning bike path.

Bike path through pine forest

Florida Coast to Coast Trail

With a corridor spanning more than 220 miles across nine Florida counties, the Florida Coast to Coast Trail (C2C) is Central Florida’s long distance bike path

At Croom Junction, the east-west Good Neighbor Trail meets the north-south Withlacoochee State Trail, which spans 46 miles through Central Florida.

Long stretch of bike path in forest

Withlacoochee State Trail

Tracing 44 miles of railroad history down forested corridors, past big lakes and city parks, and through quaint communities, the Withlacoochee State Trail is one sweet ride

Trail Map

Good Neighbor Trail Map
Red: Good Neighbor Trail. Blue: Withlacoochee State Trail. Orange and Yellow: Florida Trail

Explore More!

Articles

Our articles about exploring the area

Good Neighbor Trail

Biking the Good Neighbor Trail

December 4, 2018//  by John Keatley

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.

Destination: Adventure

March 29, 2019//  by Sandra Friend & John Keatley

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.

Slideshow

See our photos from biking the Good Neighbor Trail


Nearby Adventures

More worth exploring while you’re in this area.

Croom River Trail

Croom River Trail Loop

Using the Florida Trail and the Blue Loop Trail, hikers can explore a picturesque corner of Withlacoochee State Forest in Ridge Manor along a 3.9-mile loop.

Croom River Trail

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.

Trail climbing through pine forest

Florida Trail, Croom Hiking Trail

9.8 miles. Traversing rolling landscapes of the Brooksville Ridge, the Croom section of the Florida Trail provides miles of panoramic views within a large area of sandhill habitat.

Chinsegut Big Pine Tract

Chinsegut Big Pine Tract

The southernmost concentration of ancient longleaf pine in America, the Big Pine Tract of Chinsegut WEA is also the second largest contiguous tract of old-growth longleaf pine in Florida.


Official Website

Category: Biking, Central Florida, Paved Bike Trails, TrailsTag: Brooksville, C2C Segment, Florida Coast to Coast Trail (C2C), Florida's Adventure Coast, Withlacoochee State Forest

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