Recreation at Withlacoochee State Forest

Recreation Tracts:   Citrus | Headquarters | Homosassa | Jumper Creek | Richloam | Two Mile Prairie | Croom

Withlacoochee State Forest has outstanding forest and water resources that offer a variety of recreational opportunities attracting over 1.1 million visitors annually.

All formal organized group activities, including picnicking, trail use and overnight camping, require a State Forest Use Authorization. To obtain a State Forest Use Authorization, please call the Visitor Center at (352) 797-4140 and we will assist you with your plans.  

Citrus Tract

Citrus and Hernando Counties 

The Citrus Tract encompasses nearly 50,000 acres and includes three recreation areas with camping. Enjoy camping, hunting, wildlife viewing, hiking, birding, picnicking and horseback riding. 

• Citrus Tract Map [ 1.2 MB ]
• Citrus Wildlife Management Area: Hunting

Holder Mine Recreation Area

Citrus County 

The Holder Mine Campground campsites are shaded by live oaks and turkey oaks. This campground is popular with hunters during archery and small game seasons.

Trails

• Hiking trails
  • Citrus A Loop Trail is 8.6 miles. 
  • Citrus B Loop Trail is 17.3 miles. 

Address

• Address: 3049 East Trail 10, Inverness, FL 34452
• GPS Coordinates: 82º 22.958’ W   28º 48.027’ N

Directions

From State Road 44 in Inverness, turn south at the traffic light at Applebee's on Pleasant Grove Road (C-581). Drive approximately 2.5 miles (passing the fire tower) to Forest Road (Trail 10). Turn right (west) on Forest Road (Trail 10) and continue approximately 2 miles to Holder Mine Recreation Area and Campground. Do not attempt to enter the Citrus Tract for the Holder Mine Campground using any other directions or by relying on Google Maps, Google Earth or other mapping resources that provide driving directions that are different than these.

Mutual Mine Recreation Area

Citrus County 

Mutual Mine Campground has campsites in a horseshoe formation next to a picturesque, rain-filled lake that was formerly a mine pit.

Note: This area is for permitted campers only. Parking for trails is located outside the campground.

Trails

• Hiking trails
  • Citrus C Loop is 16.9 miles.
  • Citrus D Loop is 19.4 miles.

Address

• Address: 4771 East Trail 16, Inverness, FL 34452
• GPS Coordinates: 82º 21.341’ W   28º 45.487’ N 

Directions

From State Road 44 in Inverness, turn south at the traffic light at Applebee's on Pleasant Grove Road (C-581). Drive approximately 5 miles to Forest Road (Trail 16). Turn right (west) on Forest Road (Trail 16) and continue 500 feet to entrance to Mutual Mine Campground on left. Access requires gate combination 24 hours per day. Do not attempt to enter the Citrus Tract for the Mutual Mine Campground using any other directions or by relying on Google Maps, Google Earth or other mapping resources that provide driving directions that are different than these.

Tillis Hill Recreation Area

Citrus County 

Horse stalls at Tillis Hill

Whether you want a day's ride or a full equestrian camping trip, enjoy riding through some of the most beautiful public lands in Central Florida at Tillis Hill Recreation Area.

The Tillis Hill Day Use Area has a day use fee. Facilities include campsites, dining hall, pavilion and a commercial-sized grill/smoker. All amenities require reservations. To reserve, visit Reserve America or call 1-877-879-3859.

Group activities require a State Forest Use Permit, which can be obtained by calling (352) 797-4140.

Trails

• Equestrian trails
  • One Day Trail is 12 miles.
  • Two Day Trail is 24 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

• Address: 9231 South Trail 13, Inverness, FL  34452
• GPS Coordinates: 82º 24.882’ W   28º 43.700’ N

Directions

From Pleasant Grove Road (C-581), turn (west) on Stage Coach Trail (C-480) and continue approximately 4 miles to Forest Road (Trail 13) and turn right (north). Continue approximately 1.5 miles to the fork in the road and take the right fork up the hill to Tillis Hill Recreation Area and Campground. Do not attempt to enter the Citrus Tract for the Tillis Hills Campground using any other directions or by relying on Google Maps, Google Earth or other mapping resources that provide driving directions that are different than these.

Headquarters Tract

Hernando County 

This tract includes recreation at McKethan Lake and Colonel Robins Group Area. The visitor center for Withlacoochee State Forest is also located on this tract.

Visitor Center 

Hours

The Visitor Center is open Monday through Friday, except holidays, from 8 a.m.–noon and 1p.m.–4:30 p.m.

Hours may change without notice. Please call ahead at (352) 797-4140 if you plan to stop by.

Address

15003 Broad Street, Brooksville, FL 34601

McKethan Lake Day Use Area

Three pavilions and numerous picnic tables are nestled around the lake. The nature trail offers visitors a chance to view wildlife such as white-tailed deer, hawks and owls. There are four species of southern pine: longleaf, slash, loblolly and sand.

Day-use fee of $2 per person is applicable to all day users, including pavilion users. To pay day-use fee, visit the Web Store at Reserve America on the morning of your visit.

Trails

• McKethan Lake Nature Trail is 2 miles and included in the Trailwalker program.

Address

15185 Broad St., Brooksville, FL 34601

Colonel Robins Group Area and Primitive Campsite

Colonel Robins gives groups a place to camp surrounded by nature and wildlife.

Trails

• Nature trail

Address

 13000 Broad Street, Brooksville, FL 34601

Homosassa Tract

Citrus County 

• Homosassa Tract Map [ 265.7 kB ]
• Homosassa Wildlife Management Area

Features

• Birding
• Hiking
• Wildlife viewing

Trails

• The Rooks Loop Trail is 2.7 miles and is included in the Great Florida Birding and Wildlife Trail.

Directions

The Homosassa Tract office is located on U.S. Highway 19 six miles south of Homosassa Springs at the fire tower and Burnt Bridge Road. Take Burnt Bridge Road for 2 miles west to the end of the road. Park in the lot near the kiosk.

Jumper Creek Tract

Sumter County 

The Jumper Creek Tract is located along the east side of the Withlacoochee River in Sumter County. Jumper Creek runs through the center of the area and flows north into the Withlacoochee River.

• Jumper Creek Tract Map [ 292 kB ]  
• Jumper Creek Wildlife Management Area: Hunting

Trails

• Canoe trail

Richloam Tract

Sumter, Pasco, Lake and Hernando Counties 

With over 56,000 acres, the Richloam Tract encompasses pine flatwoods, oak hammocks, bottomland hardwoods and cypress swamp. The Little River parcel, located in the northwest portion, is closed to hunting.

• Richloam Tract Map [ 1.4 MB ]
• Richloam Wildlife Management Area, Baird Unit: Hunting

Trails

• Multi-use trails for hiking, biking and horseback riding
  • Little River Trail [ 392.8 kB ] is 8 miles and is included in the Trailtrotter Program.
  • The Van Fleet State Trail starts at the Mabel Trailhead.
  • Richloam Work Center Trailhead: East Loop is trail 8.6 miles and the North Loop trail is 13.3 miles.
  • Richloam Firetower Trailhead: South Loop Trail is 12.4 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.

Revels Pond Day Use Area

Located near the entrance to the Baird Unit on County Road 471.

Features

• Picnicking
• Fishing
• Leashed pets allowed

Two Mile Prairie Tract

Citrus County 

Enjoy a variety of natural upland and wetland plant communities including sandhills, scrub, hardwood hammocks and open prairie. 

• Two Mile Prairie Recreation Site (Southwest Florida Water Management District)

Bear Head Hammock

Trails

• Equestrian Trail is 8.4 miles and included in the Trailtrotter Program.

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

7112 N. Lecanto Highway (C-491), Hernando, FL 34442

Johnson Pond

Trails

• Hiking Trail Loop is approximately 2.6 miles.

Address

3042 East Withlacoochee Trail (C-39), Dunnellon,  FL 34434  

Oxbow

Trails

• Hiking Trail Loop is 0.76 miles and included in the Trailwalker Program.

Address

 2787 East Withlacoochee Trail (C-39), Dunnellon,  FL 34434  

Canoe Trails

The Withlacoochee South River flows through the Withlacoochee State Forest. The takeout is at the bridge on U.S. Highway 41 before Lake Rousseau. Distances below are in river miles.

• U.S. Highway 98 bridge to State Road 50/U.S. Highway 98 bridge is 6 miles.
• State Road 50/U.S. Highway 98 bridge to Silver Lake/River Junction is 6 miles.
• Silver Lake/River Junction to County Road 476 bridge at Nobleton is 10 miles.
• Silver Lake/River Junction to Iron Bridge is 3 miles.
• Silver Lake/River Junction to Hog Island is 6.5 miles.
• County Road 476 bridge at Nobleton to County Road 48 bridge is 9 miles.
• County Road 48 bridge to State Road 44 bridge is 14.4 miles.
• County Road 48 bridge to Shell Island. Shell Island to Two Mile Prairie Canoe Camp is 4.5 miles.

Additional Canoe Trail Information

• Withlacoochee South River Paddling Trail (FWC)