Withlacoochee Bay Trail

NOTE: The trail may be closed west of Parking Area 3 until Aug 11 due to powerline work.

Part of the lesser-known westernmost piece of the Cross Florida Greenway, the paved Withlacoochee Bay Trail extends west from US 19.

A 5.1 mile linear path, it parallels a completed portion of the failed Cross Florida Barge Canal. But this trail is not entirely flat. Far from it.

Steep climb along a pine forest

At its midpoint, it leaves the canal to traverse mounds of fill for the 1960s project now covered in coastal forest, with viewpoints over salt marshes and the canal itself.

Its endpoint provides a huge payoff: a panoramic sweep of Withlacoochee Bay, where the Withlacoochee River meets the Gulf of Mexico.

Horizon line of water framed by palms and cedars

Withlacoochee Bay

Resources

Resources for exploring the area

Central Florida Orlando Explorers Guide book cover

Hikers Guide to the Sunshine State book cover

North Florida Panhandle Explorers Guide book cover

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: Crystal River / Inglis
Length: 10.2 mile round-trip
Trailhead: See map for multiple options
Address: 10201 N. Suncoast Blvd, Crystal River
Fees: Free
Restroom: At the Felburn Park terminus and the halfway point
Land manager: Florida State Parks
Phone: 352-758-1000

Open 8 AM to sunset. Leashed dogs permitted. No motorized vehicles. No potable water except at Felburn Park.

While our description covers the entire trail end to end, the numerous parking areas make setting up an appropriate distance for your ability easy.

A separate duo of equestrian trails tallying 5.6 miles are behind a gate where the access road jogs right and crosses the bike path at Parking Area 3.

Directions

From the intersection of SR 44 with US 19 in Crystal River, follow US 19 north for 6.4 miles to the traffic light for Dunnellon Rd. Continue another 2.9 miles on US 19 to the signposted turnoff on the right just before the bridge. It looks like you’re pulling into an RV park but the road slips past it into Felburn Park, the eastern terminus for the trail. A right at the sign takes you to the Felburn Park parking area. Most cyclists will want to start at Felburn Park, where there are restrooms and a water fountain. We rode our 10.2 mile round trip to Withlacoochee Bay from this trailhead.

The original trail entrance is straight ahead after the road loops under the US 19 bridge, with a dirt parking area adjoining the archway marking the trail. This unpaved road continues 4 miles along the Greenway, leading to a series of trailheads where you can access the trail.

Hike

Given the round-trip distance and the lack of shade along the trail corridor, we suggest cyclists start from Felburn Park but hikers stick to the western end of the trail.

A trip to Withlacoochee Bay from the West End Main Parking Area at the end of the access road is an easy accessible 0.8 miles, with an optional return on an unpaved canalside path.

Women walking from a parking lot to bike path

West End access to the trail

Largely flat, a walk from Parking Area 4 is a three mile round-trip with three overlook shelters along the salt flats on the south side of the trail.

It’s an excellent option for birding. For a workout, start your hike at Parking Area 3 at the trail crossover on the entrance road.

Trailhead at Parking Area 3

A canal overlook and vault toilet adjoins the small parking area. Heading east, the path immediately climbs to a high point and drops down to the flats.

It’s a 5 mile round-trip from this starting point to Withlacoochee Bay, taking in the best of the scenery the trail has to offer.

Overlook shelter at Withlacoochee Bay

Bike

Ambitious hikers and cyclists should start out from the Felburn Park trailhead and turn left as soon as you pass through the archway.

The trail continuation to the east is not part of the Withlacoochee Bay Trail and better saved for after the ride or a future visit if you’re on foot.

Starting point at Felburn Park

The trail quickly leaves the forest-lined corridor to parallel the park road leading from US 19 to Felburn Park trailhead.

A sharp turn in front of the FWC office and another at a boat ramp at the canal take the bike path under the US 19 bridge to the original start of the Withlacoochee Bay Trail.

Looking back at US 19 and the FWC complex at the archway

A half mile into the ride, it’s marked by another archway and has a shaded scenic overlook on the canal just past the mileage sign.

Dropping a few feet in elevation over the next half mile, the trail parallels the Cross Florida Barge Canal.

Mileages and first overlook

Occasional glimpses of the waterway open up between the palms and cedars clinging to the rough spoil dirt from the canal diggings.

Sometimes it’s possible to see the far shore of the canal, which is very rocky.

Far shoreline of the canal

By 1.3 miles, the trail makes a sharp left and curves away from the canal to parallel the access road, separated from it by a split rail fence.

This stretch provides an obvious climb along the edge of a spoil hill before the bike path gently returns to the side of the canal.

Man biking uphill along split rail fence

Climb along the access road

This segment has trees growing closer to the path, casting some puddles of shade.

A paved crossover at 1.8 miles leads between Parking Area 1 and a canalfront overlook shelter.

Young cedars dominate the canalside vegetation

Another shelter on the water is a half mile later, with a path to the left leading to Parking Area 2, a paved parking area with one handicapped space.

After a couple of small rises, the trail levels out again with more views of the canal. Pass a shaded bench perched above the canal.

A perch for watching boats pass by

At 3 miles, cruise into Parking Area 3. Its surroundings include the only restroom outside of Felburn Park, and a waterfront shelter.

Watch for cars on the access road as you cross, since they come around a sharp curve in both directions.

Cyclist and walkers heading towards parked cars and a road

Riding into Parking Area 3

The climb past the road crossing is obvious, the path set along the side of a massive grassy hill dropping into forest on your left.

A sheltered bench is under an oak before the pitch of the uphill increases. As the trail drops down, a swampy palm hammock comes into view.

Man on bike looking across swamp full of palm trees

Pausing along the swamp on the return climb

Go up and over the crest under a powerline crossing and the trail descends rapidly to the salt marsh side of the peninsula.

A paved walkway from Parking Area 4 meets the trail, with a picnic shelter on the left soon after at 4 miles.

Picnic table under a roofed shelter on a salt marsh

Salt marsh shelter

This is the first overlook on the tidally influenced estuary of Richardson Creek. Fiddler crabs scurry on mud flats below.

Dropping to marsh level, the trail reaches the second overlook shelter after 0.3 mile. This one offers a broader view of open water.

Needlerush along Richardson Creek

The third overlook comes up in a quarter mile and with it, an access path to the West End Main Parking Area.

Walk out a boardwalk to this elevated overlook, which looks south across the marshy expanse to the cooling towers of the decomissioned Crystal River nuclear power plant.

Nuclear power plant across expanse of water

Overlook and cooling towers

The last stretch of trail goes by quickly by bike, winding through a welcome stretch of coastal hammock.

A parallel two-track merges in from the right as you approach the end of this man-made peninsula.

Reaching the end of the canal

Park the bike for the walk up to the overlook on Withlacoochee Bay. The blue horizon beyond the marshes is the Gulf of Mexico.

The natural flow of the Withlacoochee River joins the waters beyond the end of the canal, first through its tidal creeks and then through an opening in the distance at East Pass.

Expanse of water with boat headed into distance — Facing the Gulf of Mexico at the west end of the Cross Florida Greenway

While this canal was envisioned over a century ago as a shipping route across the Florida peninsula, efforts in the 1930s and 1960s were finally laid to rest by President Nixon.

If it had been successful, the canal would have caused irreparable harm to the drinking water aquifer around Ocala and changed the entire character of the region.

Timeline of canal history

In the late 1990s, the Federal government turned over the canal lands to the state of Florida, which thankfully chose to make it a recreational corridor.

The Marjorie Harris Carr Cross Florida Greenway was dedicated in memory of the conservationist who fought in the 1960s to stop the canal.

Man and woman next to interpretive sign with canal in background

Interpretive sign with details about what the canal would have done to Florida

Turn around at this point and ride back to Felburn Park. After returning to the trailhead, you may be tempted to keep pedaling straight ahead to see where the pavement leads.

An extension to the Withlacoochee State Trail crosses the entirety of the park, dropping through an isthmus at Phil’s Lake before climbing steeply.

Phil’s Lake

Expect a roller coaster drop and another climb before the dead-end terminus of the pavement 1.3 miles past the trailhead turnoff.

The abrupt end of the pavement provides no clue as to the value of making your way up here. Dismount and take a short walk straight ahead.

Overlook looking way down on an island below

View of Inglis Island

The overgrown footpath leads to a surprising vantage point above the tip of Inglis Island where the Withlacoochee River and canal meet.

Returning to the Felburn Park trailhead, you’ve added 2.6 miles to your ride to wrap up 12.6 miles by bike.

Cove with a boat floating in it between rocky walls and palm trees

Felburn Park

The eastern terminus of the Withlacoochee Bay Trail is home to a surprisingly hilly trail above a freshwater marsh along the saltwater Cross Florida Barge Canal.

Park sign with highway bridge in background

Entrance sign at turnoff into Felburn Park

Trail Map

Explore More!

Learn more about the Cross Florida Greenway

Cross Florida Greenway

Stretching 90 miles from the St. Johns River near Palatka to the Gulf of Mexico, the Marjorie Harris Carr Cross Florida Greenway is a mile-wide recreational corridor with hiking, biking, and equestrian trails as well as paddling and boating access.