241.1 miles. With its first segments developed as backpacking loops in Withlacoochee State Forest in the 1970s, the Western Corridor of the Florida Trail is one of two options for circling around the Orlando metro.
Well-established loops in Green Swamp, Richloam, Croom, and Citrus provide excellent weekend getaways for backpackers. The thru-trail connects these with other public lands to reach the Cross Florida Greenway and Ocala National Forest.
The route starts out on a long roadwalk, bike paths, sidewalks, and more backroads, but once you reach the Green Swamp it showcases some of the most beautiful parks and preserves along the Nature Coast.
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Hiking Tips
Dogs are not permitted in either Chinsegut WEA or Perry Oldenburg WEA, so don’t tackle the full section with a dog. However, the high, dry loops at Citrus and Croom are ideal for hiking with your dog on weekend trips.
Brooksville, Dade City, Dunnellon, Inverness, and Silver Springs make great base camps for day hiking portions of the Florida Trail that surround them. You’ll find motels, hotels, and public campgrounds in these communities.
Camping
Free permits are required in advance for camping in both Green Swamp East and Green Swamp West. Contact Southwest Florida Water Management District at 352-796-7211 or reserve online.
Camping access is limited during hunting seasons. In Withlacoochee State Forest (Richloam, Croom, Citrus), camping is only permitted in designated primitive campsites (free) and recreation areas (fee).
The Office of Greenways and Trails requires a free permit for primitive camping along the Cross Florida Greenway. Call 352-236-7143 to obtain one. Florida Trail Association members do not need permits. Carry your membership card with you.
Random camping is allowed in the Ocala National Forest except during fall hunting season. A bear bag or bear canister is required for backpackers in the Ocala National Forest.
The Florida Trail Association has partnered with the US Forest Service and Buck N’ Bass Sports Center in Salt Springs to offer free loaner bear canisters: a 10 liter Backerpackers Cache 812 model. Deposit required. Reserve at 352-685-0200.
Safety
Flooding
Flooding can be a concern along the Withlacoochee River floodplain from Green Swamp East through Croom. At times the river and its tributaries may be high enough to inundate the trail past the point where it is safe to wade it.
Check the river gauges at Richloam and Croom before heading into those areas. Never walk into flowing water.
Hunting
Wear a bright orange shirt or vest during hunting seasons. Check the FWC website for hunting season dates for Green Swamp, Richloam, Croom, Citrus, Ocala National Forest.
The Cross Florida Greenway provides a 39-mile corridor for backpacking the Florida Trail where hunting is not permitted.
It’s an ideal destination for overnight trips during general gun (deer) season in the fall.
During general gun (deer) season, backpackers in the Ocala National Forest must use designated campsites, none of which exist along the Florida Trail in Ocala West. Your only option during hunting season is a commercial campground off SR 40.
Portions of the trail are high and dry with limited water sources. Because of this, logistical planning is crucial when backpacking in Croom, Citrus, and the Cross Florida Greenway.
People
The trail route passes through urban, industrial, and suburban areas for much of the roadwalk connector up to Green Swamp.
Make use of motels in St. Cloud, Kissimmee, and Davenport: stealth camping isn’t safe. Use your street smarts while walking through urban residential areas. Never leave your backpack unattended.
Trail Map
Mileages
Trailheads south to north.
0.0 – Prairie Lakes trailhead (0.1S) ($$)
27.2 – Partin Triangle Park
32.2 – Brinson Park
32.7 – Kissimmee Lakefront Park
35.1 – Oren Brown Park (0.2E)
43.9 – Loughman Park
64.7 – Greenpond Rd trailhead (1.2E)
69.0 – Green Swamp East trailhead
82.4 – Green Swamp West trailhead
88.2 – River Rd trailhead (1.5W)
104.5 – Richloam Firetower (0.7E)
108.6 – Ridge Manor Community Park
111.3 – Cypress Lakes Preserve
112.1 – Ridge Manor trailhead (0.7W)
116.6 – Crooked River trailhead
117.7 – Croom trailhead
129.7 – Perry Oldenberg WEA
131.6 – Prairie to Pines trailhead
152.1 – Holder Mine trailhead (1.0E)
156.8 – Whispering Pines Park
161.8 – Hernando trailhead
168.2 – Citrus Springs trailhead
172.7 – Gulf Junction trailhead
173.9 – Dunnellon (CR 39) trailhead
175.3 – Blue Run Park (0.3W)
176.2 – Bridges Rd trailhead
181.2 – Pruitt trailhead
186.1 – Ross Prairie trailhead (0.8E)
193.0 – SW 49th Ave trailhead (0.2E)
196.3 – Land Bridge trailhead
203.0 – Santos trailhead (0.1W)
207.9 – Baseline Rd trailhead
210.0 – SE 64th Ave trailhead (0.2E)
213.0 – Marshall Swamp trailhead
228.9 – Eaton Creek trailhead (0.1W)
240.3 – 88 Store (0.4E)
241.1 – CR 316 Hunt Check Station (0.1E)
$$ – fee charged for parking.
Trail Segments
Details about all segments of the Florida Trail in this section are in The Florida Trail Guide and app. The hikes below include some of our favorites for this section.
Each is described from the perspective of a day hiker, noting landmarks, water, and campsites along the way. Not all are oriented from south to north, but this is the order they are in northbound.
Florida Trail, Green Swamp West Traversing scenic oak hammock, sandhills, and pine flatwood habitats, the southernmost six miles of the Florida Trail in Green Swamp West offers spectacular day hike and backpacking experiences. 
Florida Trail, Green Swamp West to Richloam 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. 
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.
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, 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. 
Florida Trail, Croom to Chinsegut 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, Cross Florida Greenway 43.8 miles. A prime destination for backpacking and day hiking south of Ocala, the Florida Trail follows the Cross Florida Greenway between the Withlacoochee and Ocklawaha Rivers.
Florida Trail, CR 314 to Eaton Creek 11.4 miles. In the damp southwest corner of the Ocala National Forest, the Florida Trail navigates boardwalks across a swampy subtropical jungle. 
Florida Trail, Eaton Creek to CR 316 11.9 miles. North of Eaton Creek, the Florida Trail showcases spectacular sand pine forests and unique species adapted to this arid environment within the Big Scrub. Side Trails
Trails that interconnect with and sometimes share a portion of the Florida Trail route.
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 Loop C 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. 
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.
Perry Oldenburg WEA With a surprising diversity of oak species for Central Florida, Perry Oldenburg WEA protects a prime piece of sandhill habitat where gopher tortoises thrive.
Chinsegut Big Pine Tract The Big Pine Tract of Chinsegut WEA protects the southernmost old-growth longleaf pine forest in America, the second largest such tract in Florida.
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.
Citrus Hiking Trail 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
Ross Prairie Loop Circling the largest prairie ecosystem on the Cross Florida Greenway, the 3.5 mile Ross Prairie Loop showcases massive oaks and panoramic views.Public Lands
Some of the public lands this section of the Florida Trail crosses.
Van Fleet Trail Cruise up a wooded corridor through the Green Swamp along 29.2 miles of paved trail on an old rail corridor optimized for a long ride through the heart of rural Central Florida
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
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
Cross Florida Greenway Spanning 110 miles between the St. Johns River near Palatka and the Gulf of Mexico, the Marjorie Harris Carr Cross Florida Greenway is a mile-wide recreational corridor.
Ocala National Forest Established in 1908 as the first National Forest east of the Mississippi, the Ocala National Forest is a mecca for hikers and campers, and the birthplace of the Florida Trail.Connections
Florida Trail sections adjoining the Western Corridor to its north, east, and south.
Florida Trail, Ocala Spanning 72.3 from the birthplace of the Florida Trail into the world’s largest sand pine scrub forest, the Ocala section is Florida’s top backpacking destination.
Florida Trail, Orlando Between the prairies of Osceola County and the Ocala National Forest, this 150 mile section of the Florida Trail slips through suburbs of the Orlando metro.
Florida Trail, Kissimmee Following the Kissimmee River for 112 miles, this is a scenic section of the Florida Trail with levees, woods, river views, open prairies, and cattle ranches.Articles
Recent articles about the Western Corridor
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. 
Circling Central Florida on the Florida Trail (9/12/2015) 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. 
- Hal Scott Yellow Trail - November 3, 2026
- Hal Scott Preserve - October 28, 2026
- Tradewinds Park - October 27, 2026