Location: Trilby to North Citrus Springs (Dunnellon), Florida
Trail Length: 46 Miles
Parking & Trail Access: Withlacoochee State Trail runs mostly along side of SR 41, giving it a lot of access points. The main ones that have parking include (North to South):
- Gulf Junction northern terminus: parking, picnic - Magenta Drive N.of Haitian Ave.
- Citrus Springs trail head: restrooms, picnic, parking - S. Citrus Springs Blvd.
- Hernando Beach County Park: restrooms, picnic, parking, swimming, SR 41 and CR 486
- Inverness trail head: restrooms, picnic, parking, fishing, food, bike rental and repair, information - North Apopka Ave.
- Downtown Floral City: food, restrooms, picnic, water, parking, lodging - SR 41 and CR 48
- Floral Park: restrooms, picnic parking - 1/2 mile west of trail on Floral Park Drive
- Lake Townsen Park: restrooms, picnic, water, parking, fishing and river access accross the trail at Nobelton Wayside Park - CR 476 approximately 3 miles east of SR 41
- Withlacoochee State Forest Croom Tract: mountain biking, camping nearby, parking, hiking - From I-75 take exit 301, SR 50. Continue 1 mile east on SR 50. Turn left onto Croom Rital Road. Head north first access point will be approximately 1 mile the next is at approximately 5 miles on Croom Rital Road.
- Silver Lake Recreaion Area: camping, restrooms, picnic, river access
- Ridge Manor trail head: parking, information, restrooms, water - SR 50 and US 98 at Croom Rital Road
- Trilby Junction trail head: parking - 1 mile north of the southern terminus
Activities: in-line skating, hiking, horseback riding, biking, and viewing wildlife
Facilities: several towns provide full services along the way. There are several restrooms, picnic shelters and water fountains along the trail also.
Admission: none
Hours: sunrise to sunset
Contact: Withlacoochee State Trail, Region 3 Administration, 12549 State Park Drive Clermont, FL 34711 Phone: (352) 394-2280
The Withlacoochee State Trail is the longest (to date) paved rail trail in Florida. It occupies approximately 46 miles of an abandoned railroad right-of-way, passing through three counties (Citrus, Hernando and Pasco) en route from Citrus Springs in Citrus County to Trilby in Pasco County.
The Withlacoochee Trail State Park starts just north of S.R. 50, a mile east of I-75 and continues through the Withlacoochee State Forest, runs close to the Withlacoochee River, past the Silver Lake Campground, then continues north through the Floral City, Inverness, Citrus Springs, and ends at Gulf Junction just south of Dunnellon.
The rail bed traverses six distinct natural communities, and provides visitors access to the central Florida landscape in both developed and natural conditions. The most prominent natural feature within the Withlacoochee Trail corridor is the flood plane of the Withlacoochee River. The trail intersects this flood plane in several locations, allowing visitors to observe flood plane habitats and lakes. A unique natural vista occurs along the trail corridor, south of the Withlacoochee State Forest/Croom Tract. Other important natural features of the trail corridor include scenic Lake Henderson and the Tsala-Apopka chain of lakes. These productive water bodies attract many bird species that may be observed by trail users.
Wildlife:
Amphibians and reptiles: Alligator Snapping Turtle, American Alligator, Eastern Indigo Snake, Florida Pine Snake, Short-tailed Snake, and Florida Gopher Frog
Birds: Brown Pelican, American Kestrel, Florida Sandhill Crane, Limpkin, Merlin, Tricolored Heron, and Wood Stork.
Mammals: Bobcat, Florida Mouse, and Sherman's Fox Squirrel, Deer
