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Citrus Trail at Lizzie Hart Sink

Withlacoochee State Forest

With more than 155,000 acres spread over several counties, Withlacoochee State Forest is Florida’s second largest state forest, and arguably the most popular for outdoor recreation.

INTERACTIVE MAP

Beneath the Withlacoochee

Beneath Withlacoochee State Forest

January 13, 2018    Sandra Friend

Way down under the Withlacoochee State Forest, there’s a whole other world waiting to be explored in its caves.

Biking the Good Neighbor Trail

Good Neighbor Trail

December 4, 2018    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.

Brooksville

Chinsegut Hill Manor

Brooksville is the county seat of Hernando County, in Central Florida. It is the heart of Florida’s Adventure Coast.

Circling Central Florida on the Florida Trail

Canoe Creek Road Florida Trail

September 12, 2015    Sandra Friend

East vs. West: which is best? I hiked both as a loop, so here’s a rundown of how the two corridors of the Florida Trail compare through Central Florida – and a little trail history.

Citrus Hiking Trail

Citrus Trail at Lizzie Hart Sink

Withlacoochee State Forest  |  Inverness
( 28.799305, -82.384676 )      39.1 miles

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 Inverness

Croom Loop C

Bright red spiky flower in bloom in front of tree trunk

Croom Tract, Withlacoochee State Forest  |  Brooksville
( 28.593644, -82.296506 )      7.2 miles

Showcasing elements of a sandhill ecosystem, Loop C in the Croom Tract of Withlacoochee State Forest offers broad views of varied foliage and wildflowers under a sparse canopy.

Croom River Trail Loop

Croom River Trail

Croom Tract, Withlacoochee State Forest  |  Ridge Manor
( 28.526758, -82.218781 )      3.9 miles

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.

Discovering the Florida Trail

Front cover of Discovering the Florida Trail

A photographic journey across Florida, Discovering the Florida Trail is our new small format coffee table book with both panoramas and small wonders along the Florida National Scenic Trail. Hardcover, 192 pages.

Florida Trail, Croom Hiking Trail

Trail climbing through pine forest

Florida Trail, Western Corridor  |  Withlacoochee State Forest
( 28.563482, -82.221998 )      9.8 miles

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.

Florida Trail, Croom River Trail

Ribbon of blue river between forested banks

Croom Tract, Withlacoochee State Forest  |  Ridge Manor
( 28.526758, -82.218781 )      6.3 miles

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, Croom to Chinsegut

Blazed pine in a sandhill forest

Florida Trail, Western Corridor  |  Brooksville
( 28.617628 -82.301507 )      4.1 miles

4.1 miles. North of Brooksville, two environmental areas and a state forest are paired with a short backwoods roadwalk as an example of conservation within a rural community.

Florida Trail, Green Swamp West to Richloam

Water crossing on Florida Trail

FT Western Corridor  |  Green Swamp West
( 28.351141, -82.106323 )      14.7 miles

Weaving across rolling sandhills and along the tannic waters of the Withlacoochee River, the River Road to Richloam Loop section is an exceptionally scenic destination along the western corridor of the Florida Trail.

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