With more than 155,000 acres spread over several counties, Withlacoochee State Forest is Florida’s second largest state forest. It is one of the most popular destinations in Central Florida for outdoor recreation.
The Western Corridor of the Florida Trail works its way through the Richloam, Croom, and Citrus Tracts of the forest.
Each of these also have recreation areas with their own followings: cycling, camping, hunting, equestrian, off-road motorcycles, and even caving.
Paddlers can enjoy the Withlacoochee River and its tributaries, while backpackers will appreciate the three long loop trails developed long ago by the Florida Trail Association.
Resources
Resources for exploring the area
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Overview
For permits and questions:
Withlacoochee State Forest Visitor Center
15003 Broad Street
Brooksville, Florida 34601
Phone: 352-797-4140
Open 8-12 and 1-4:30, Mon-Fri
Recreation Destinations
Trails and Recreation Areas
Annutteliga Hammock Trail Explore fascinating karst topography with exposed limestone under a shady canopy in the Withlacoochee State Forest, passing a primitive camping area along this 4.8 mile loop.
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
Citrus Loop D The southernmost of four loop trails in the Citrus Tract of the Withlacoochee State Forest, Loop D showcases rocky limestone karst and rolling sandhill forests.
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. 
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. 
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 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 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, 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, Western Corridor Linking Withlacoochee State Forest and the Cross Florida Greenway, the 241 mile Western Corridor of the Florida Trail accesses wild spaces between Tampa and Ocala. 
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.
Johnson Pond Trail A mosaic of upland habitats along the northern edge of Withlacoochee State Forest surrounds a large prairie long known as Johnson Pond.
McKethan Lake Nature Trail Centered on its namesake, the 2.1 mile nature trail at McKethan Lake Recreation Area showcases old growth trees as well as Civilian Conservation Corps architecture. 
Withlacoochee State Forest Oxbow Trail With two loops along an oxbow in the Withlacoochee River, the Oxbow Trail is the northernmost trail in Withlacoochee State Forest, a scenic short walk.
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 rideArticles
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. 
Biking the Good Neighbor Trail (12/4/2018) 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. Explore More
Nearby Adventures
More worth exploring while you’re in this area.
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, 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.Maps for Withlacoochee State Forest
Note: Maps are in PDF format and supplied by state agencies.
Citrus Tract | Croom Tract | Homosassa Tract | Jumper Creek Tract | Richloam Tract | Two Mile Prairie Tract | Withlacoochee River Paddling Trail, South
Nearby: Brooksville, Bushnell, Crystal River, Dunnellon, Dade City, Inverness
Author of 45 books, Sandra Friend established FloridaHikes.com in 2006 to expand on the field research she'd completed for her first six hiking guides. She has been honored with lifetime achievement awards from the Florida Trail Association and the Florida Outdoor Writers Association.
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