In addition to our first Adventure Friday at McKethan Lake Nature Trail, we have visited Withlacoochee State Forest on three other occasions. We have visit this the second largest state forest, and the closest one to our home in order to earn our Florida Trailwalker's badge (more about that also back in that previous post on McKethan Lake Nature Trail). The trails we have explored and will share with you today are the Oxbow Trail, the Johnson's Pond Trail, and the Rooks Loop Trail. We also stopped in at the campground at Bear Head Hammock Trailhead as well as driving through the Hog's Head Island Campground. We have found the area to be beautiful, even if this time of year is HOT! Most of the pictures in today's post were taken by Kate, age 6.
Oxbow Trail
This trail is in the Two Mile Prairie area of Withlacoochee. It is listed as a .76 mile trail, but round trip, we traveled 1.39 miles according to the All Trails app. It has largely been developed into the current grounds by local boy scout troops, as part of four different Eagle projects. It has several areas cleared for primitive camping spots along the trail. The trail also looks out across the Withlacoochee River several times, and while the views are nice, unfortunately the trail isn't well kept up. There were several instances that without GPS navigation through All Trails, we couldn't have followed the trails. Portions of the trail resembled a game trail more than a marked and widened hiking trail.
The area is also a victim of campers with poor habits. Rather than packing it all in and then packing it all out, we found old campfires along the trail, full of burnt aluminum beer cans, other areas where camp sites had been partially left behind (things like plastic tarps left behind and broken tent poles), and still more areas where someone just dumped trash and left broken coolers. There was far too much trash for us to gather and take out, and much of it appeared to have been there for some time. We had planned to have a picnic lunch here, but the one picnic table was broken and there were no grills in the area, so we opted to continue down to Bear Head Hammock Trailhead, at the other end of the Two Mile Prairie area in the van.
All in all, the trail was beautiful in areas, but the poorly marked trail and the poor upkeep for the area means we probably won't return to this trail. However, if you'd like to make a visit the trailhead location is 2787 E Withlacoochee Trail, Dunnellon, FL. Entrance at this area of the park is free.
Bear Head Hammock Trailhead
This area has equestrian trails and a primitive campground. The campsites are more than large enough for an rv or a horse trailer, but they don't have any electric or water hook-ups. The campsites each have a grill, fire ring, and small fenced lean-to for camping with horses. We didn't explore any of the trails in this area, but we did use an empty campsite in order to grill hot dogs. The kids afterward used the wide open areas under the trees for some sword play. They didn't have a bath house but there was a single bathroom, apparently in pretty disgusting condition according to all the kids that used it. There is also a single pump for non-potable water, presumably for watering horses.
All in all, it was a very pretty campground that we might think about visiting in the future, but be prepared to boondock and I'd steer clear of the bathroom. Sadly as it is an unmanned area of the park, it's just not in optimal condition. If you'd like to make a visit the trailhead location is 7112 N. Lacanto Hwy, Hernando, FL. Entrance at this area of the park is $2 for a car load of up to 6 people over the age of six.
Johnson's Pond Trail
This trail is also in the Two Mile Prairie area of Withlacoochee. It is listed as a 2.6 mile trail; however we took the side loop and hiked 2.8 miles. The trail begins in a pine forest, and continues into a hardwood forest. It takes a lazy loop passing near Johnson's Pond, with an off shoot to get to the pond. Unfortunately it wasn't much of a view. The viewing platform on the lake is blocked off, and is in poor shape. The pond itself has a tiny portion of clear water out in the very middle, but is mostly full of algae and lily pads. It is listed on the state forest website as being a place for fishing; however, there is no where clear enough to fish, and the view is contemptable. One good thing I can say is despite their being a few limbs down in places the trail was very clear. One of our children, after being told repeatedly to get shoes and after they all confirmed that they had on shoes before leaving, didn't wear any shoes, but walked the entire trail barefoot.
Despite there not being much to see, the trail was clearly marked, and while the it was a little overgrown in places it was well kept. However, with other nicer options we probably won't return to this trail. However, if you'd like to make a visit the trailhead location is 3042 E Withlacoochee Trail, Dunnellon, FL. Entrance at this area of the park is free.
Rooks Loop Trail
This trail is in the Homosassa Tract of Withlacoochee. It is listed as a 2.7 mile trail. It initially follows the forest road, before turning off near the ponds and making a loop back to the starting point. HOWEVER, we were never able to find the turn off to the loop, so we walked the forest road back to where it ended around 3 small ponds. The ponds also had wide paths around them for a vehicle to drive back there, so we walked around them and then took the same path back to our starting point, doing about 2.2 miles in total.
The portion of the trail that we walked was beautiful, and we saw a few types of forest as well as the three ponds. Near the ponds the mosquitos were bad enough that we opted to skip our mid trail snack and just drink our bottle of water on the way back to the car. It was wide well kept, and shaded most of the way, though at times we were in the sun, since the path was so wide.
All in all, the trail was nice, but we couldn't find the rest of the path. However, if you'd like to make a visit the trailhead location is W. Burnt Bridge Road, Homosassa, FL. Entrance at this area of the park is free.
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