Recreation Areas on the Croom Tract at Withlacoochee State Forest

The Croom Tract at Withlacoochee State Forest, located in Hernando and Sumter counties, has more than 20,000 acres of cypress and longleaf pine forests and includes 13 winding miles of the Withlacoochee River, which reaches its widest expanse and forms Silver Lake, a prime recreation spot.

Recreation Areas on the Croom Tract:

Croom Motorcycle Area   |   East Croom  |  Hog Island  |   Iron Bridge  |   River Junction  |   Silver Lake  |   Tucker Hill  

East Croom Hunt Camp/Equestrian Trailhead

The trailhead has a parking area for equestrians. The trailhead is CLOSED during hunting season.

Primitive hunt camp is open only during hunting season by permit only and for camping use by licensed hunters only. 

Trails

• Equestrian trails:
  • Hernando Main Loop [ 979.6 kB ] is 18.65 miles.
  • Hernando Total [ 979.6 kB ] is 36.35 miles
  • Sumter Total [ 979.6 kB ] is 7.7 miles.

Note: ALL horses must have proof of current negative Coggins test results when on state lands. ALL children under the age of 16 are required to wear a protective helmet while riding on state lands.

Hog Island Recreation Area

Hog Island Recreation Area is located on the east bank of the Withlacoochee River near the community of Nobleton, Florida,  and includes the Hog Island Nature Trail, which is part of the Trailwalker Program.

The Hog Island Campground has beautiful shaded campsites that are screened from one another by natural understory vegetation. The campsites have access to the Withlacoochee River.

Trails

• Hiking trails: Nature Trail is a 2-mile loop; River Trail/Sumter is 7.2 miles.

Address

9274 County Road 635 (Forest Road 13), Bushnell, FL 33513

Directions

From I-75, take Exit 309 to C-476. Turn left and head west to the intersection with County Road 635. Turn left and follow south to Hog Island Recreation Area.

Iron Bridge Day Use Area

The hiking trail provides a good turn-around point for less experienced hikers who start their hike from either Hog Island or River Junction.

Trails

• Canoe trail
• Hiking trail

Address

11050 SW 60th Street (Forest Road 13), Webster, FL 33597

Directions

From I-75, take Exit 309. At stop sign on off-ramp, turn left and head a short distance to the "Welcome to the Withlacoochee State Forest" sign at SW 62nd Way (Forest Road 17). Turn left onto forest and continue 0.75 miles to intersection with signage. Turn right on SW 60th Street (Forest Road 13) and continue 1/3 mile to entrance to Iron Bridge Recreation Area on the left.

River Junction Recreation Area

This recreation area provides many opportunities for canoe and fishing enthusiasts. The River Junction Campground is located at the junction of the Little Withlacoochee River and the Withlacoochee River at the southern end of Silver Lake.

Trails

• Canoe trail
• Hiking trail

Address

5827 SW 121st Avenue (Forest Road 13), Webster, FL 33597

Directions

Please follow directions below and DO NOT FOLLOW GPS or other mapping applications or you may be directed somewhere besides River Junction Campground and Recreation Area.

From I-75, take Exit 301 (Brooksville). Head east on State Road 50/U.S. Highway 98 to U.S. Highway 301. Turn left (north) and continue 5 miles to County Road 656 (Croom-a-Coochee Road and Yellow Flashing Traffic Light). Turn left (west) on County Road 656 and continue 2 miles past SW 50th Boulevard. Continue west 1/5 mile to the "Welcome to the Withlacoochee State Forest" sign. Turn left and continue approximately 1 mile to SW 121st Avenue and the entrance to River Junction Campground and Recreation Area on left. These directions include travel on 1. 5 miles of limerock forest road.

OR

From I-75, take Exit 309 (Webster). At stop sign on off-ramp, turn left and head short distance to the "Welcome to the Withlacoochee State Forest" sign at SW 62nd Way (Forest Road 17). Turn left onto forest and continue ¾ mile to intersection with signage. Turn left on SW 60th Street (Forest Road 13, which turns into SW 50th Way) and continue 2 miles to SW 121st Avenue to entrance to River Junction Campground and Recreation Area on right. These directions include travel on 2.3 miles of limerock forest road.

Silver Lake Recreation Area Complex

The Silver Lake Recreation Complex is approximately 6 miles down river from Hog Island Recreation Area and 10 miles from the Nobleton boat ramp/canoe launch sites at the C-476 (Lake Lindsey Road) river bridge and the community park located on the north side of C-476 at the northern terminus of Edgewater Avenue.

Address

31475 Silver Lake Road, Brooksville, FL 34602

Directions

Take I-75 Exit 301 to U.S. 98/State Road 50. Turn east (away from Brooksville) and proceed about 1 mile until you reach the stoplight at Croom Rital Road. Turn left and proceed north for approximately 3 miles on Croom Rital Road. Follow signs to the Withlacoochee State Forest Silver Lake Recreation Area.

Silver Lake Day Use Area

This is a fee area and the $2 per person day use fee applies to all day users including those with a pavilion reservation. To pay the day use fee, visit the Web Store at Reserve America on the day of your visit.

Trails

• Canoe trail
• Hiking trails: Croom Loop Trails (30+ miles), River Trail/Hernando (7 linear miles), nearby access to the paved multi-use Withlacoochee State Trail (46 miles) and Good Neighbor Trail to Brooksville (10 miles)

Directions

Take I-75 Exit 301 to U.S. Highway 98/State Road 50. Turn east (away from Brooksville) and proceed about 1 mile until you reach the stoplight at Croom Rital Road. Turn left and proceed north on approximately 3 miles on Croom Rital Road. Follow signs to the Withlacoochee State Forest Silver Lake Recreation Area. Turn right onto Silver Lake Road and continue straight past gatehouse to Day Use Area and Boat Ramp.

Silver Lake Campground

Campsites spread out under the open shade of large oak trees. The campground is located on the northern end of Silver Lake on a gently sloping grassy area, and many sites have a view of the water. A boat ramp is located in the campground. The campground is located adjacent to Interstate 75, so constant interstate noise can be expected.

Trails

• Nature trail and boardwalk

Directions

Take I-75 Exit 301 to U.S. 98/State Road 50. Turn east (away from Brooksville) and proceed about 1 mile until you reach the stoplight at Croom Rital Road. Turn left and proceed north for approximately 3 miles on Croom Rital Road. Follow signs to the Withlacoochee State Forest Silver Lake Recreation Area. Turn right onto Silver Lake Road. After passing the gatehouse, follow the road to the right approximately ¼ mile to the first campground entrance to Silver Lake Campground on your left.

Cypress Glen Campground

Campsites sit high above Silver Lake under the shade of oak and pine trees with several sites having a view of the water. Cypress Glen Campground is more wooded and quieter than Silver Lake Campground, with much less road noise from I-75.

Trails

• Canoe trail
• Nature trail and boardwalk

Directions

Take I-75 Exit 301 to U.S. Highway 98/State Road 50. Turn east (away from Brooksville) and proceed about 1 mile until you reach the stoplight at Croom Rital Road. Turn left and proceed north on approximately 3 miles on Croom Rital Road. Follow signs to the Withlacoochee State Forest Silver Lake Recreation Area. Turn right onto Silver Lake Road. After passing the gatehouse, follow the road to the right approximately 1 mile to the second campground entrance to Cypress Glen Campground on your left.

Crooked River Campground

Crooked River Campground offers Old Florida-style camping at its best. Sites are surrounded by dense understory for more privacy. A staircase provides access to the Withlacoochee River, and a trail connector provides direct access for registered campers to the Florida National Scenic Trail and Withlacoochee State Trail right from the campground. 

Trails

• Canoe trail
• Hiking trail

Directions

Take I-75 Exit 301 to U.S. Highway 98/State Road 50. Turn east (away from Brooksville) and proceed about 1 mile until you reach the stoplight at Croom Rital Road. Turn left and proceed north on approximately 3 miles on Croom Rital Road. Follow signs to the Withlacoochee State Forest Silver Lake Recreation Area. Turn right onto Silver Lake Road. After passing the gatehouse, follow the road to the right approximately 2 miles to end of road to the third campground entrance to Crooked River Campground.   

Tucker Hill Day Use Area 

The Tucker Hill Day Use Area is located on the Hernando County side of the Croom Tract on Croom Road. Day use fee applies.

Trails

• Hiking trails: A Loop is 7.39 miles; B Loop is 8.97 miles; C Loop is 8.09 miles.
• Equestrian trails: Hernando Main Loop is 18.65 miles; Hernando Total is 36.35 miles; Sumter Total is 7.7 miles.
• Off-Road Bicycle Trails:  Blue Trail [ 310.4 kB ] is 32 miles;  Red Connector Trails [ 310.4 kB ] are 7 miles;  Yellow Trail [ 310.4 kB ] is 12 miles.

Note: ALL horses must have proof of current negative Coggins test results when on state lands. ALL children under the age of 16 are required to wear a protective helmet while riding on state lands.

Address

26578 Croom Road (Forest Road 6), Brooksville, FL 34601

Directions

From Brooksville, head north on U.S. Highway 41 to Croom Road (C-480). Take a right and proceed east on Croom Road to trailhead.