Alongside the western banks of the Withlacoochee River north of downtown Inverness, Potts Protect protects over 8,500 acres of land throughout the river’s watershed.
Not solely offering habitat for quite a few species, its open wetlands support in replenishing the aquifer.
Historic oakAlong with a strong path system, the property provides a primitive campground and a hike-in backpacker’s campsite.
Constructed and maintained by the Suncoast Chapter of the Florida Path Affiliation, the paths could be tough to comply with.
Orange blazeOrange blazes typically mark the primary route. A number of the paths have been torn up by firebreaks, and in some sections, path markers are few and much between.
Probably the most correct path information is the georeferenced map on the water administration district web site, which might use the GPS on a cellphone to point out location in actual time.
Hardwood hammockAssets
Overview
Location: InvernessLength: 12.2 milesTrailhead: 28.906556, -82.278861Address: 2988 North Hooty Level, InvernessFees: FreeRestrooms: Vault bathroom at campgroundLand supervisor: Southwest Florida Water Administration DistrictPhone: 352-796-7211
Open half-hour previous to dawn till half-hour after sundown. Leashed canine welcome.
Seasonal looking happens all through this property. Examine forward earlier than you make plans for outside recreation.
The drive up campsite should be reserved on-line, backcountry tenting is first come, first served.
Instructions
Hike
Beginning on the trailhead close to the entrance gate, stroll about 100 toes down the primary entry street, on the lookout for a slender pathway branching off into the woods on the left.
Orange blazes prepared the ground because the path winds by a shaded forest of combined hardwoods, cabbage palms, and pines.
Palm and oak hammockAt 0.9 miles, the path takes a pointy flip to the east, crossing a muddy part on a bridge earlier than tracing alongside the sting of a basin marsh.
Signage and blazes get somewhat complicated across the 1.5 mile mark. To remain on the large loop, comply with orange markers to the west after a brief distance alongside a grassy forest street.
Muddy crossingWandering deeper into the protect, the pathway weaves between prairie ponds in an open pine flatwoods neighborhood that slowly transitions to a jungle-like mesic hammock.
Reaching an entry street at 3.1 miles, flip proper to comply with a large pathway in direction of the northwestern nook of the loop.
Pine flatwoodsWildflowers flank the path alongside a straight drive that makes a gradual climb out of the lowlands, traversing hilly scrub and scrubby flatwoods.
At 5.8 miles, flip proper onto a blue blazed aspect path, being positive to not comply with orange blazes any additional the place firebreaks have made the path very tough to hike on.
Part alongside the entry streetKeep to the precise on the subsequent junction in lower than half a mile, rejoining the orange blazed path because it enters a dense cover as soon as once more.
Take your time selecting by this floodplain forest as vegetation is so thick in spots that the following blaze could be troublesome to search out.
Floodplain jungleClose to the 8 mile mark, a aspect spur results in an inviting backcountry campsite a brief distance from the river.
If the water stage is low sufficient, you’ll be able to stroll previous the campsite for a couple of hundred toes all the way in which to the cypress lined riverbank.
Primitive campsiteMeandering throughout a lush panorama below the thick cowl of hickory, magnolia, and majestic reside oaks, proceed straight by a junction with the yellow path at marker 11.
Follow the orange blazes to stay on the trail because the route continues southward, opening to a discipline alongside the Withlacoochee River at 11.4 miles.
Path marker 11A number of picnic tables and hearth rings for the primitive campground sit on a bend within the river, overlooking sluggish flowing tannic water.
On the far aspect of the clearing, comply with the filth street because it winds previous a lined pavilion and knowledge kiosk, returning to the trailhead at 12.2 miles.
Drive up campsite on the waterPath Map
Discover Extra!
Video
Mountaineering Potts Protect
Close by Adventures
Path Map (PDF) Reserve Campsite Official Web site
