Withlacoochee State Forest Reviews

This forest encloses almost 250 square miles, spanning parts of five different counties. By and large, it is as pristine a natural resource as can be found in the southeastern United States. There are areas primitively developed for recreation, but its true beauty and value to us is the opportunity to meander slowly and silently among the flora and fauna and admire the diversity and robustness of its ecosystem.

Great place to bike and hike and kayak. Good place to take family, or go with friends. I have been there many times.

The forest has many trails that can be hiked, biked, driven, horseback ridden or traversed on motorcycle. You can boat on or swim in Silver Lake, and camp in the campground. What a great place for family fun!

The forest has trail to rails through it and those are great for bikes and walking, they do no allow cars on the trail so it is great for kids too.

Want to let everybody know just be careful there's ticks everywhere they're on the picnic tables we found about seven of them on us and even when you're walking down by the water in the bathrooms there's ticks just want to let everybody know beautiful area just to ticks are out of control I just don't want to see people get sick or animals get sick and not realize that it's on them so check your clothes for ticks check your animals just be safe there's a lot of ticks

I love riding my horse for hours upon hours I. The Croom tract...trails are well marked and kept...separate trails for horses, hikers and bikers. Be sure and keep a current Coggins on your horse

We love walking through this state forest. We go at least once a week. There is always something new to see. It's safe and family friendly. Enjoy.

We liked the easy access to water with kayaks. The sites are nice but uneven. The staff are great cause they make it all easy. There is no signal for TV if you like to watch in evenings. Lots of nice trees on the property. The interstate noise didn't bother us. The lake is definitely not silver.

Wow! Love mountain bike riding here. One of our favorite places to enjoy riding in the winter. Lots of deer and shady. Zoom down the hill and get the heart pumping back up it. Sandy in spots makes it even more of an adventure going down hill.

Natural Florida, multiple recreation activities, hiking, birding, kayaking,just watching the river..l

Want to do some serious hiking - try the 46 mile Citrus loop. This trail can be done as 4 smaller loops in day trips from 3 camping sites or do the perimeter trail and primitive camping. The elevation changes and long grades of the Brooksville Ridge can be a challenge. You must cache water as trails are DRY! Do not even try this hike in the summer. Great equestrian trails, Home to the endangered Red-Cockaded Woodpecker, fox squirrels, deer, turkey, and many other species. Be aware of hunting season and scheduled hunts in the area prior to hiking. An please do not forget to make your deposit at the courtesy pay stations

I went to the Citrus Wilderness area tract on aMonday afternoon and I was alone. According to my GPS i hiked 2.25 miles into the woods and did not see another person. About a mile in the forest thickens to old growth and is very serene. There are all types of trails for hiking, biking, horseback riding, four wheeling, etc. There is a campground and you can hike to some caves from various access points.

went to look for fishing location. would have to drive 5 miles down the dirt road to get to beach and hopefully find a good spot along the canel till u hit the beach....maybe when the water is warmer.

My 2 girls and I went here yesterday and enjoyed ourselves.It was our first time and we want to go back. Thankfully we didn't come home with any ticks and only one or two mosquito bites. Bring a back pack with snacks, water, bug spray, a little flashlight so you can see in the caves better. I would bring a regular grocery bag for things collected on the trail. I have a BUNCH of pictures but it doesn't give me the option to post any.

My wife and I visited Dame Cave today. The parking entrance on RT 491 is on the east side of the road directly across from Lone Ct., just north of RT 480. The parking area has white markers and a yellow gate at the trail entrance. Dame cave is only one half mile down the trail. The cave is to the right of a large open area. Go past the two angled posts until you see the cable stretched across the front of the cave. The cave itself resembles a sinkhole. You can climb down into the cave on the right side of the little trail using the tree roots.

It's great to bike, hike, horseback ride. Nice smooth walking/hiking trail. They also have a great motocross track out near the interstate. Back in the day, you could take old cars out there to have fun "mudding" with, but, you know..times have changed. It's now "fru-fru" and monitored.

Lovely trails with very old trees. Wear long sleeved shirts with pants and socks covered in Deet. Make sure your dog is up to date on flea/tick medicine.

Unfortunately The forest is completely infested with ticks. Never experienced anything like that before in 30 years of hiking.

Nice long path to pick your mileage for the day. Plenty of benches, trash cans and places to get off an eat.

I really enjoyed our hike here. Loved the caves. Tree lined trails.
The one thing that bothered me are the markings on the trail. They need updated.
I got separated from those I hiked with for a while and found the markers confusing.

The caves are really fun to go in and check out. Its a true adventure taking walks and exp[loring. Bring bug spray!!! But most of all bring a camera.

This is a beautiful state forest. The mountain bike trails are well maintained and take you from pine barrens to hardwood hammocks. Drunken monkey was a thrill.

We went there for 3 days and its was awesome but theres missing some indications.
We are from quebec so we really dont know the aeras. I met people from there and follow them to have fun outside the main trail.

Theres a big sand pit Where i have fun to hold gaz little bit more.

The Withlacoochee State Park is fantastic! The trails are fun and the scenery is just divine.
It is one of the most beautiful places in Florida.

If you want a really nice place to experience nature, this is it. The admission fee is an honor system and only $2. There are trails that wind all thought the area and are very easy to walk. There are picnic areas and restroom facilities as well. Very nice safe area to visit

This is a State of Florida Forrestry Property with the majority of the property being in Citrus County and some flowing into Hernando and maybe Sumter County. Equestrian, hiking, camping and hunting facilities this huge tract of land changes faces with the seasons. There's a cool ranger named Sid Taylor that works at the Tillis Hill location (campground and equestrian) she can talk for HOURS about native plants, red cockeded woodpeckers, caves and bats and the history of the phosphate industry in Florida. Not a MUST see for everyone, but a true Florida preservation accomplishment. I go there when I need to get lost for awhile and listen to nature.

The Tillis Hills Recreation area campground BEATS the Silver Lake Recreation area by far if you're not wanting to be by a lake. It is QUIET. These state forest campsites are in the middle of the Citrus tract, not next to an interstate like Silver Lake. The campsites are all asphalt, with plenty of room. 50/30 hookups. Large pavillion area. Each campsite has fire ring and a table secured to the ground, but far enough away that you shouldn't have to move it. Large grassy sites, no privacy between, but plenty of room. Many people here brought horses, as this facility has horse stalls and lots of trails for riding. The road to the campground curiously is gravel, which is funny considering the campground is all paved. Wonder if they were trying to keep it a secret. Compared to the state parks these bathrooms are in need of updating, but the toilets flushed and the showers were warm. There were no gate codes, but one night when we returned to the campground after 9 pm when it was dark there was a gate secured with a chain but it was not locked. HIghly recommended if you want a quiet place to sleep out in the woods.

Amazing spot to tent camp. Highly suggest. Very quiet campground (at least in the tent camp area). Lots to do outdoors in the area. Beautiful place.

We took a picnic lunch out to the park - admission was $2.00 each using the honor system as you drive in. The one way road leads you around a winding nature park past a quiet lake with boat ramp to several picnic shelters for group outings. Bathroom are along side- road continues around to the beginning approximately 2.0 mile total. There are several picnic tables and places to park even a RV or camper 36' or less - be tight for something larger. Great little park!

Withlacoochee State Forest truly offers something for everyone. There are trails for hiking, biking and horseback riding. At Croom Motorcycle Area there is 2600 acres of open forest to ride your qualified off road vehicle. The wildlife opportunities abound where ever you go. Communing with nature is a great stress reliever. There are nine campgrounds in the forest and each one offers a special experience.

Make it a point to get out and experience the solitude of this great forest.

We just passed through on our trip to south Florida. Nice place in the north of the state. Nice place for a break.

We have walked on the trails at the Withlacoochee area.

This area of Brooksville, FL and the Ridge Manor area that is nearby offers an opportunity to what Florida's nature areas are like.

Not an overly large location, beautiful area to enjoy the scenery, take a walk in nature, have a picnic or go camping....all for $2.00.
We took a walk along the walkways and river, enjoyed seeing the birds, spent about two hours and had covered it all. But you could stay longer and just relax or have a lunch.

Trails, hiking biking, camping, with its alluring river, canopied by magnificent cypress, and observation tower, this place is well maintained and has all the amenities you would need . also close to the historic district , a great place for exploring.

Parked at the Tucker hill forestry site where there is a fire tower to view. The Florida trail is close by and great for hiking or running in the woods. Not much here but a parking lot but that was all I needed as I was just heading out for a run.

went to Citrus wildlife nanagement for the jeep trails but geard about the caves. licated off 491. heading north rightside of road just oast ild stage coach road. Nice hike to the caves. many diffrent caves in the area.

You never run out of trails to explore. Trails have a lot of variety...flat, uphill, or combined. Not crowded. Multiple entry points.

It's a perfect place to rest, exercise, meditation or simple breath. The forest, the trees, birds, squirrels and all nature help in these goals. I ran for 30 minutes and I feel comfortable, safe and inpired

Besides hiking and enjoying the river we often go horseback riding through the many trail in the forrest. The Cypress House B&B offers excellent guides, save and fun rides. Tweedy, the wangler, knows the trails and can get you to places you would have a hard time seeing on foot. It is amazing how your view changes by being on horseback and how much distance you can cover. Trails lead trough forrested and open areas and around some ponds and some even up and down some hills, yes hills, who would have thought?. Ride the horse into Nobleton and have lunch at River Ratz overlooking the river. If you never tried horseback riding, it is absolutly perfect in the Witchlacooche Forest.

This seems to be a little known day trip from Orlando. There are four cave about a mile down an easy walking trail. Great adventure for young and old! You need to bring a flashlight as it is dark in the caves, and you will be doing a "self guided" tour. The head of the trail is on Citrusway, or #491, near Lone Court, on the opposite side of the road. There is no sign marking the trail, just a small peace sign spray painted where it begins, and probably a few cars parked there. Do not go to 15003 Broad Street. This is just a Forest Ranger Office, and not the location of the caves. Walk down the path until you come to a clearing where there is a steel cable just in front a large hole in the ground. This is actually the skylight for Dames caves. Head to the right side of the clearing and you will find the cave entrance. There is also a path on the left side of the clearing that leads to Peace cave. We were there with four generations, the youngest 2 years old, and the oldest, my 91 year old mother! She made it down into Dames Cave (with a little help!) and we all really enjoyed our day. No charge to get in, but no bathroom or other services.

Very nice place to walk trails and enjoy the peace and quiet.We didn't see many other people but sure did enjoy the animals we saw.That always makes it extra nice.

If you want beautiful nature, and a place to just relax and enjoy the day, this is the place for you.

For anyone that has horses and is looking a great place to ride in an area that is extremely horse friendly, this is it. Trails are fantastic - most of them are wide enough to ride abreast so you can actually chat with your riding partner. All forested so shady in most areas. Trails are mostly sugar sand with a few areas on forest roads that might be lime rock. We loved it so much that we bought a place right beside the forest. There is so much else to do in the area. Canoeing, kayaking, hiking, biking, fishing - I can go on and on. We fell in love with this area.

I've been to this forest three times now and I can't get enough of it. The woods are lovely and deep. The trails are well marked. It's a perfect place for an off road hiking or running adventure.

We really enjoyed our stay at Hog Island. Rates were incredibly affordable and the sites were nice. Bath house could use a some updating, but that's no big deal. The proximity to the river was great. Really hit and miss on how quiet it is at night - one night it was hard to get to sleep with the loud neighbors up past midnight, but the other two nights were peaceful and quiet. River Ratz cafe is about a couple of miles down the road and a nice place to stop. Lovely place to camp.

Hiked the Croom trail A. This is a great multi use area. The trails are designated for hiking, mountain bikes, and equestrian. I was also told they had a motor cross section as well. There is a usage fee of $2 per person. The trail head has restrooms and water. The trail was dry and the terrain ran from flat and easy sink holes and hills! The eco systems along the trail kept changing and will hold your interest. We did not have any problems with bugs and there was plenty of shade.

Great trails for walking. We also drove down one of the logging trails, but we did have a Jeep. It was sandy.

Silver Lake Recreation Area in the Withlacoochee State Forest 3 miles off SR 50 near Ridge Manner will return to its serene beauty once the I-75 construction is complete in 2 years or so. Silver Lake has beautiful hiking trails, good fishing and a wonderful staff who love the forest. Camping in 2 camp grounds with utilities and one with 23 primitive sites is best during the winter months. Many campers have come there for many years so there are a lot of friends there. Come join them. You'll be glad you did. There is a busy day use area with a good boat launch as well.

Great place to hike, bike ride or just walk and see nature and get some fresh air. The hiking paths are marked very well. You can even bring your dog hiking with you.

I LOVE LOVE LOVE this forest. I've ridden it many times and still manage to find new trails. The trails are well marked and the land is used for horses, hiking, etc. It is also well maintained. They have controlled burns that help the forest. I would highly recommend.

The state forest provides many different opportunities to explore the natural features of inland Florida. My wife and I headed for the McKethan Lake Recreational Area, where we spent a most enjoyable day. Entrance was $4 per car, paid by honesty box. On the day we visited, there were no more than a handful of other visitors. The vistas across the lake were serene, and there were plenty of tables provided for picnics. The rest rooms were spotlessly clean. My wife and I took the 2 mile nature trail, a level saunter through the woodlands. Free leaflets are provided to interpret the various stations. Later we visited the nearby visitors' centre. The staff there spoke about the forest with great enthusiasm. There were plenty of leaflets and maps on offer as well. If you are in the area and like to experience the native features of the state, this is definitely worth a visit.

The bike trails are great, smooth wide and go through some beautiful and peaceful areas. One day we saw deer standing on the trail--very cool!

We really enjoyed our visit today! A little saddened at the graffiti and broken glass in caves. But def a must see and a pleasant hike in!

Withlacoochee has a 92 mile paved rails to trails for road bikes roller blading, 60 plus miles of pristine forest single track mountain biking and separate designated hiking trails. Also canoeing kayaking fishing

I always enjoyed the many campgrounds in the is beautiful forest area but now I can never get in unless it is Summertime which is terrible in Florida. The State contracted with Reserve America which may be fine for people coming in out of the area, but spots seemed to get reserved and never occupied. Rich people reserve when they think they might want to camp but often never show up. The loss to them is nothing. Others will reserve a few sites and try to sell off at a higher price to someone else. No one is checking this. Locals get locked out except for 2 or 3 walk-in sites which are not enough and the worst sites on the property. The State and Reserve America make more money but it does no good for a local family wanting to take the kids out for a weekend. Otherwise, the campsites are nice (some times not level), access roads can be rough (Hog Island, River Junction, and Tillis Hill), and bath houses showing some wear. The no alcohol policy and no dog policy have helped with noise and rowdiness issues, but some partying still goes on. Had I rated these facilities 5 years ago I would give 5 stars. Now I would have to say 3 stars because of the changes the State has made.

I heard about this place from the Captain at River Ventures (great manatee touring company) and decided to check it out before coming home to Miami. I am glad I did. The caves were difficult to find, I suggest you google map (peace cave) before going...it was pretty fantastic to be near caves that are wild and unkept.

We had also gone to Caverns State Park in the panhandle...and that cave system is gorgeous. Great to see a kept state park and a wild site. Both systems had bats.

The 12-mile intermediate mountain bike trail is fun, though it is really hairy at the start and finish. My boyfriend fell at the beginning of it and I fell near the end (very high roots, etc.). Once you get through the initial challenge (and remember there is a little of that towards the end) it is pretty smooth riding.

The best part of hiking alone is being able to control the noise. If you are quite you'll enjoy the breeze through the trees, the flapping of the butterfly wings, the song of the mockingbird, the sound of your own heartbeat and you can't miss the crow call. Actually this forest is one of best kept secrets around. The true naturalist will respect its dignity by cleaning up after themselves and others if need be. When I hike I take along a garage bag as I think GOD is blessing me with the forest experience. Therefore the least I can do is thank HIM and pick up trash if its there. After HE put it there for us. It's my way of saying Thank You.

A suggestion...stop by the Ranger Station. Talk to the Ranger and ask where you can find caves. Get a map and take a compass. Never, ever go without a good water supply and a cell phone (just in case). Be a good Scout.

Large sites, and well-maintained. Right off the Withlacoochee Rail Trail and near the Croom Mountain Biking Trails. Friendly camp host and many like-minded cycling neighbors. Watch out for curious armadillos and enthusiastic screech owls if you are in a tent/bikepacking. Water & electric at these sites or the option of no electricity at Crooked River Campground just a wee bit farther into the recreation area (and much nearer the river).

We visited the Croom Motorcycle area for our anniversary in Feb. Beautiful weather. It is a great place to go if you're looking for a campground that is all about 4 wheel/dirtbike riding. The campground is perfectly set up with electric, water, picnic table and fire pit. It was a big area. The trails were great too. There was something for everyone. Wet, sandy, rocks, wood trails, etc. The riding stopped at dark and started back up at sunrise, so you were able to enjoy the quietness of the park and well as the adventure of the riding. Would definitely recommend this park to anyone looking to ride.

Pull off on the side of the road at the trail head. You'll see the cars. About a half mile east flat walk through the woods on a well marked trail. Go during the dry months as I'm sure the caves and trails would be muddy in the summer. Found a few of the caves. The ones we found were easy to navigate and did not go very deep. The broken beer bottles and bits of graffiti were the only drawback. Nice activity for a cool day.

Do they have boats and horses to rent there at the park are the park open on major holidays like Thanksgiving and Christmas and New Years

Nice walk on the trails. We went early which was nice because we did not encounter any other people until on our way out. Also, going that early the bugs weren't out yet. That also started on our way out. Terrible signage. The caves have graffiti and trash. I have to say that the trash wasn't has bad as I would have expected. Doesn't appear that the forestry service takes care of the caves. Very dangerous as it was very slippery. I'm from NH and these are not caves like I expected.

Many trails to walk and see nature. Birding is good at Withlacoochie River Trail. Big observation tower. Some trails are paved and easy.

We walked along the trails, which were kept very clean and clear. The shade from the trees made walking very enjoyable.

We had heard so much about the Croom Hiking Trails that we made time to stop over on a trip to Tampa. There are a number of food choices and hotels at the this exit. The Silver Lake Trail Parking($2 each person) is literally right next to I-75 . If you've driven I-75 north of Brooksville you've probably driven right by and never noticed. The first part of the trail is under the interstate and therefore a bit disappointing. After you have walked a bit, the trail becomes more like a real hiking trail, but the short loop we were on never got far enough away to lose the interstate noise. Walking along the Withlacoochee River was interestesting. But these trails are used heavily and we met a group of canoeists and numerous bicyclists. No, they were not supposed to be riding on the walking trail, but they were there anyway, The canoeists were camped right in the way, in the middle of the trail. It was a Friday of a holiday weekend, the beginning of hunting season, and we saw a large group of hunters also. So the disappointing parts of this hike were the sheer number other people AND the interstate noise.

We have kayaked on the Withlacoochee river here many times. Its a great place if you like a rugged nature adventure, there are not a lot of place for service, so bring what you need.

We ran Moon Over Croom trail race Saturday night and then rode the bike path through the forest Sunday morning. It was beautiful, mostly shady and clean. I haven't been on a trail with so many road crossings but they were well marked and I felt completely safe. We want to come back to ride again and possibly rent a house for the weekend!

great trail for hiking or biking. well located on SR 50

i took my family here more than once to see these caves off of 491 in Brooksville, fl. we had a great time walking together on the trails to get there. once we took our dogs.

This is a great place to camp. There are a lot of different camp grounds, with electric and water, for tents and campers. You can hike, fish, or just relax. My family has camped here several times.

Great for a day of exploring nature. Just be sure to avoid the areas where the motorcyclists are as they can be dangerous.

Love the forests of FL - always cool to visit and hike and kayak!

Nice cg, large sites 50 amp electric. KUDOS TO MANAGEMENT as I called to request that foliage get cut back because I received a coulpe scratches on rv coming in. Two days later truck and crew came in and did the necessary trimming. Thank you Withlacoochee Forest, I will come back.

46 miles of trails that can promise you a thrill. Travel through many environments and be prepared for elevation changes! This is not "flat Florida" Make sure you carry water as these trails are dry. Call Dept of forestry to obtain permit prior to hiking as portions open to hunters in season - . 3 local campgrounds and a colony of endangered red-cockaded woodpeckers are pluses to hiking here. Great trails for hiking and horseback. There are even shallow caves in the southern portion of the forest. I have guided hikes for days out there and not seen another human...many coyotes, hog, deer and turkey though!

We came here for the Fool's Run event put on by Tampa Races. a 50 Mile, 50 K and 16 mile run. It's a beautiful place to spend the day whether or not you're running through it's trails. We'll come back next year for sure!

We love this place. Great to kayak the River and check out the hiking.

Wonderful place to visit! Lots of wildlife to see. If you have a Florida State Park pass for the year, you and another person can get in free.

There are two Withlacoochee rivers, one way up north. this one is in counties surrounding Crystal River. There are many stretches that are great paddling. Beautiful water fowl, etc.

State park is beautiful with well marked trails. Restrooms are clean and located by the parking lots. There are sections of old growth forest in the park. The huge magnolia trees are breathtaking. As of October there are a lot of ticks in the park so check yourself when you are done with your walk.

the scenery is great and most of the fauna is old florida. the forest settings are quiet and serene, public areas are clean and well kept

What an incredible place. Very nice for biking, hiking, horses and atv's. We saw a family of deer. What an incredible sight. I wouldn't miss this treasure.

Nice place to get lost in the woods. Some trails are well marked and some are not. The really strange thing about this National Forest they do not allow dogs. Only Hog Island. Make sure you were plenty of bug and tick repellant. We are always picking off ticks every time we go into this park. Haven't seen to much wildlife.

The caves systems are really cool, and we stopped by on a whim on a road trip through Florida, and I'm glad we did. You go at your own leisure, and we even saw a bat. Very nice! It's dubbed "trail 13" that will take you there and is marked by pilars off co. road 491. Excellent! Stop by! :) Tip: Try getting in through the small spaces too within the caves (they often lead you to other parts of the cave)!

We wanted a good hike through the Withlacoochee State Forest (note the correct spelling), but we spent quite a while finding it. There are patches of state forest scattered over several counties, and we wasted an hour driving to the ranger station north of Brooksfield. The excellent trail we finally found is called the Annutteliga Hammock Trail, and it is not far from US 19. Here's the way I'd go back: From Crystal Springs, take 19 south about 10 miles past Homosassa and turn left on Oak Park Blvd (FL 480). After 5-6 miles, turn right on LeConto Hwy (FL 491). The trailhead is just past Hebron Baptist Church on the right. Drive up a dirt jeep trail a couple of blocks to the trailhead.

The trail is 4 miles in a large loop through mixed forest with light undergrowth. The path is marked by orange blazes, with double blazes where the trail turns. It is fun to follow the blazes, but you have to keep an eye out, because the path is well-covered with pine needles and is not always obvious. The area traversed by the trail is a geological formation called the Brooksfield Ridge, and it features sinkholes, rock outcroppings, and other interesting sights. The only wildlife we saw was a blacksnake, and it was as started by us as we were by it!

This path is long enough to stretch your legs and burn off a few calories. I would rate it easy to moderate.

We rented bikes to travel the trail around a lovely lake. Bike paths are well maintained and smooth. The scenery is fantastic - peaceful and refreshing. A great time

We stayed at the Crooked Creek Campground and we thought it was better than some Florida State Parks. We we would have loved to stay here longer but we had start our trek back to Minnesota. The campsites were well marked and defined and the bathroom, while not amazing were very nice for a State Forest. Highly recommend camping (we tent camped) here if you are driving through on I-75.

We tubed down the river and it was great! Slow and so relaxing, I actually fell asleep! But the river just carries you drifting down. LOL until my grandkids saw me - they'd been waiting at the out put for over an hour!

The sun was out, and it was warm, a perfect day for stroll taking in the beauty and wildlife. A relaxing visit.

22,000 acres of pines and majestic oaks. Hiking, biking, canoeing on the Withlacoochee River,nature walks, horseback riding, fishing, off road bicycling,ATV trails, fishing, hunting, birding, wildlife observation, picnicking or just sitting quietly by the river reading a good book. It is a blessing just to be able take a daily walk in this forest.

Beautiful terrain, forest types from basic swamp type to old oaks lining the roads. Loved the differences within a few feet from each other.

Great campground, large sites, peaceful & relaxing. We stayed on site 34 and after scouting out all others I would pick this one again. Nice areas for walking the Dogs. Fishing areas, hacking trails, just overall good park. Also, there is a great pizza restaurant on SR 50 called Monticello,s Pizzeria. Do bring bug spray wasn’t to bad though; compared to what I read from others. The biggest negative is the Bathrooms, they ate dirty!!!!! We had Friends who stayed in sites 33 & 35 also very nice sites.

Trails are easy to follow, just follow the one were the ground is beat down more. Lots of spiders, so watch your step, and ground is slippery. Bring plenty of water with you. Most of the caves are to small to climb into.

Exciting place to see Nature at its best! Especially Florida, how it once was. Very serene, watch out for bugs, wear protection. Very educational.

My husband and i went to coit road/high bluff to try to fish. The roads are so washed out that it makes it impossible to get there with out a truck. Even then some areas our trucked bottomed out. After to slow ride out there we found it to be totally over grown. You can hardly access the river. It is sad really. We have been going out there for more than 25 years.. We wont be back until they clean it up.

So quiet, out of the way of all the rush of life. Very nice bath house facilities. Booked online and just drove in and went to camp site and setup. How easy is that? We will be back, thanks.

This was fun as a group to explore some caves a hike around for a while. Not something I would do again soon. I would rather be on the water in this area, so much more to do.

Went with my girlfriend and was amazed. The forest was silent and gorgeous. Paths were maintained and clear. Climbed through Vernal cave and Peace cave and was blown away. It isn't often that you can find caves in the middle of a forest that have zero commercialization or crowds. Just me, her, and nature. Awesome.

This hike re-opened my eyes to the beauty of Florida. Many different environs as your hike on the well marked trails. Very big so many more hikes to come!!

I visited the Burnt Pride Rd. part of the Withlacoochee State Forest birding trail and was disappointed. Very run down. Needs many road repairs, signs and post signs painted, new maps (the big wooden structures that have maps, brochure, forest news, etc.). And and don't know how far back that road goes, but I eventually turned around because you have no idea what to expect or when you'll arrive.

One of few places in Florida that offers tubing. While the water may be cold to some, it's very refreshing and relaxing on a hot day. Arrive early to beat the crowds. Great way to spend the day enjoying Mother Nature.

Start at Hwy 50 and you have a short trip to Trilby or forever if you go north. Smooth and mostly flat rail to trail with light dappled shade. Silver Lake is a good put-in point for kayaks and canoes and there's excellent camping there as well.

Love this state park! Love running in this state park even more!! We normally run around the Croom tract....and need to stay longer to explore other parts of the park as well. Nice little elevation gains. Trails well maintained.

Had the best ride ever scenery was so calming, great place to reflect . Our Friends want to plan a group ride together on the trails so many starting points to view different settings.

We camp here all the time with our horses. Great stables and 50 miles of trail riding at its best. The sites and bathrooms are clean. They have sunny and shady sites available.

So many good things- price, views, clean bathrooms, and distance between sites. We stayed in site 16 which had great view of the lake HOWEVER completely ruined due to close proximity of interstate 75- traffic noise all day and night. Drove through Cypress and distance from highway seems better!

I travel to this park a two to three times a year. I am a trail runner and camper. The park is huge with great trails for biking, hiking and running. All trails are well marked. You can also RV camp in a designated camp ground. The park is very well maintained.

Dames cave and peace cave are a short (under 30 mins) from the roadside parking. Caves are small and easy to access but still cool- my dog enjoyed it. Trail is clearly marked. There are campgrounds in the area- not too far from towns with basic amenities but plenty of nature and quiet country roads to explore. I did it as an overnight trip from Sarasota.

Whether hiking, biking, or kayaking/canoeing, the Withlacoochee Forest is a perfect location for outdoor adventure. Located amazingly convenient to most anyone in central Florida, this versatile habitat will make a day trip or a weekend excursion into a beautiful memory. The Withlacoochee River has numerous birds, turtles, and an occasional gator to observe. Hikes can be short or long loops, or point-to-point. Biking can be on paved reclaimed railway thru the woods or off-road. The river is fantastic with varied take-out points along the way. Make sure you check the water levels if it hasn't rained in a while.

Some of the older Scouts in our Troop (when I was Scoutmaster) created our own "Wilderness Triathlon" and had a strenuous, but rewarding weekend to remember. Enjoy!

This forest has very nice ATV and motorcross trails to run. The park is very nice by itself with a lot of wild life including armadilos. There are some facilities and camping grounds

The river is quite often too low for tubing or canoeing at the highway 50 end. The facilities seem to continue to be updated. I've been going to Silver lake since the sixties.

If you want a longer hike and great beauty, take a hike here. You can come alone, with a friend or bring the kids, if you love the forest you will love it here.

We have gone to the forest several times just to enjoy and relax. Many trails and nature sites are throughout the forest. The Withlacoochee River is very peaceful to explore and watch for wildlife. Just don't go during mosquito season!! We have also volunteered a time or two to help clean up the area to keep our protected areas clean.

Check out this beautiful forest on horseback at St Francis Sunny Side Up Farm Animal Rescue, a 501c3 rescue. 8507585931

This park is all that and more you can camp have a family picnic ride dirk bikes 4 wheelers fun for entire family. Lots of land and forest to explore.

We did an evening trail run and had a blast!
The only downside to this park, as with any wilderness area in Florida, is that there were Spiders!
I had to use my LED lights more to check for spiders than monitor the trail path to keep from running into huge spiderwebs! The Withlacoochee has some Huge spiders and large webs so if that's your thing, I guess that would be a plus. For me, it was just kinda yucky.
Regardless of eight-legged creepy crawlers, we had a great time!
If you're driving out on Croom Rd towards the Fire tower to park, keep going! It's really far out there! Like 10 miles off the main road.

Beautiful old Florida riding trails. Well marked and easy to get to from our Bushnell B&B just across the street. Once deep into the forest, you can imagine what it was like 100's of years ago. They are doing a good job keeping the trails cleared. Just a few instances of downed branches, as with any forest trail. We rode for at least 2+ hours on gaited horses going at a fast pace so there is lots of riding time out there. Loved it!

We just love going here for a relaxing afternoon. It's always so pretty and during the week it is not busy at all. There are very nice bike trails here, and horse trails as well.

Bike, hike, horseback, canoe, kayak, paddle boat, air boating well marked trails both paved and un paved. Come find nature at its best.

This is a great place to camp and lots of fun trails and exploring! River is easy to access and there are lots of areas to hang and picnic! Would like it if they had reservations for the camp sites, though I know they will be switching to that in April!

Lots of trails to take. River so peaceful. Very pretty. We climbed the tower this was fun. Very clean park. You can fish and kyack the river. Definitely go back. Camping also large pavilions. Very nice.

This is a beautiful park, lots of trails some marked, with facilities. You can ride horses, bikes, hike. There are birds and wildlife.

Hiked in the Citrus Wildlife Management Area recently and found some amazing terrain. Never thought I’d find caves in Florida. Dames cave, Peace cave, and many others. Several connected together if you’re brave enough. Lizzie Hart sinkhole is pretty special as well and has a great backstory. Incredible area to hike.
Highly recommended!

We had our reception at McKethan lake - while it was a little tricky for our guests to find the exact spot for entrance we made a map with Google Earth screen grabs of the entrance and that worked! :)
The space was clean and beautiful and the Park Rangers were supper helpful! One of our guests lost a small ring on the way to her car and the Ranger helped us look for it as the sun set and promised to help find it the next day when the sun had set.
The location was beautiful, the bathrooms were clean and operational, the playground by the lake was perfect for kids to play in and the location was flawless for photos. Over-all it was a wonderful day and the park was perfect :)

so many trails for hiking and lots of wildlife to see. very beautiful Also a camping site and many creeks, ponds rivers etc

Very swampy. Fun time. Winch or buddy required to get out. Saw 1 deer and lots of greater sirens. Bring boots too.

We stopped for a quick visit to the Ridge Manor Trailhead on Croom Rital Road I would have loved to walk down to the river but I had my elderly mother with me and she wasn't up to it. They have a paved path, too. I hope to stop again and explore more!

Don't look for tourist services here... this forest is about 65,000 acres of semi-wilderness in my back yard..... not crowded, and few trails, but an easy walk as the ground has little elevation changes. You can have the opportunity to spot deer, turkey, coyote, and maybe even a bear....and there is one area that even has a small cave for spelunkers..... ( caution here!) easy access but parking is mostly alongside the road.... and stay out of here during hunting seasons.

Excellent examples of Florida woods, well marked roads cross cut the area. Friendly rangers and friendly locals.

I have biked about 60 rails to trails in North America and the Withlacochee is definitely in the top 10 (and perhaps the top 5.)
Has pretty well everything you would want in a bike trail -- especially the southern part (more scenic)

I have hiked several different areas of this state forest as part of the Florida Division of Forestry's Trail Walker's program. I have enjoyed the diversity of the forest habitats - pine woods, mixed hardwoods, cypress swamps, etc.

I highly recommend stopping by the Visitor's Center. They have helpful maps for the various sites of the Withlacoochee S.F.

I also recommend joining the Friends of the Forest for $20 (tax deductible) and then getting an annual entrance/parking pass using the Friends of the Forest discount.

My only complaint is about some of the users of the forest. Each time I hike I end up carrying out at least a bag or two of trash - bottles & cans - left by others.

Been going here from years ago. Great place to trailer in your horse. Mostly hikers try the nobleton restaurant too.

We took the 1.9 mile trail around McKethan Lake. Very flat, easy walk. The area is very interesting, and the nature trail points out a number of unique items. A few of the markers seem to be missing or hard to see. Very nice that the trail passes a park area midway that has restrooms.

We have been riding trails in Florida for the past two weeks and this is one of the best. I have never seen a bike trail with a maintenance truck blowing the leaves off the trail. Today we saw the truck cleaning the trail twice. We also,spoke to a volunteer policing the area. It was beautiful with places to picnic and rest. There were short walking trails to the river. There were trees beginning to flower as well as jasmine flowers blooming; lots of palms, Spanish Moss, pine trees. It was a wonderful ride!

What a wonderful area provided for our pleasure. Great to let the kids run loose, bike on paths provided, tables for picnic. If you walk in far enough there is a little pond to sit by. now is a perfect time to go outthere.

There are so many things to enjoy in the Withlacoochee State Forest. I particularly enjoy the marked and mapped horse trails. It is the perfect place to trailer in your horses, park at a comfortable camp with water and power and ride for hours or days and days! There are also special marked trails for hiking and a bike trail. A portion of the forest is set aside for dirt bikes and ATV's The Forestry Service keeps the trails well marked and maintained.

Spent the weekend in Tillis Hill Campground. It is small and requires advance reservation but very nice. There is a barn to bring your horse. Each camp site includes water & electric hookups and a fire ring. The facilities are clean with showers and hot water. There is also a large pavilion if you wanted to have a group event or party. Note that no pets are allowed (I guess other than horses). Close to trails.

We didn't actually go through the state forest entrance, we parked on the 'unofficial dames caves parking lot' area found on Google maps if you search Dames caves. The trails we were on were great. (:
A lot of people complain about the graffiti on the caves but I kinda like it... Granted I am an artist. Spraying male parts is not art in my opinion though. I would love to go back - it's a two hour drive from us sadly. My four year old loved the caves as well and was going in before I was and grabbing my hand because he wanted to keep going. Little explorer.

Love driving through here on a weekday. It is usually sparsely visited unless hunting season is upon us. Old FLorida at its best.

If you're looking for a Classic Florida adventure in a wild, untamed tract of land, look no further than Withlachoochee State Park. It's the third largest state park and spans 50,000 acres. It offers a multitude of recreational opportunities for biking, hiking, horseback riding, fishing, wildlife viewing, birding and enjoying peace and solitude. I enjoyed driving in remote sandy roads wit no one in sight, photographing wildflowers and walking. It was so peaceful and off the beaten path.

This place is awesome, you have to walk about a mile tops but it's so worth it. There's lots of giant caves some so big you can camp multiple tents in them

This is a State of Florida Forrestry Property with the majority of the property being in Citrus County and some flowing into Hernando and maybe Sumter County. Equestrian, hiking, camping and hunting facilities this huge tract of land changes faces with the seasons. There's a cool ranger named Sid Taylor that works at the Tillis Hill location (campground and equestrian) she can talk for HOURS about native plants, red cockeded woodpeckers, caves and bats and the history of the phosphate industry in Florida. Not a MUST see for everyone, but a true Florida preservation accomplishment. I go there when I need to get lost for awhile and listen to nature.

For those of you who don't follow the crowds and want to encounter real Florida, my buddy and I have been hiking the Coochee for over 30 years. An incomplete list of the wildlife we have encountered consist of deer, armadillos, opossums, squirrels, raccoons, gopher tortoises, ampullaria snails, owls, hawks, eagles, ospreys, vultures, cranes, including (even as a native) my first bluebirds and a variety of other birds. Snakes include, rattlesnakes, cottonmouths, water snakes, rat snakes, coach whips, black snakes, ring necked, corn and coral snakes. We've come upon, alligators both adult and babies, turtles, otters, coyotes, bob cats and feral pigs. We've seen too many insects to list, and we have "fed" some of them. However, things have changed drastically as overpopulation continues to suck up the aquifer and almost all of the ponds and small lakes have dried up, particularly in the Richloam tract.

We have been unable to find the abandoned Frick Eclipse steam engine trailer, we think is in the Croom tract. If anyone has the coordinates, please forward them. For those of you that also go there, please leave it intact. Some time ago, someone stole the small headstones of "Little Jinky", his mother and aunt in the Richloam. Only those who saw those markers long ago know where the graves are. We have also rescued dogs and kittens that were dumped in the forest.

It covers a vast area, you need more than one day to explore, full of wild life and natural resources, a lot of different trails. Worth visiting for sure.

This is a nice state forest to visit while in the area. Take a scenic bike ride or walk on the bike trail-- there's dozens of places you can put in, including a location right off of Cortez Blvd (I-75 exit 301). There's no charge, of course.