One among a number of separate items of the expansive Withlacoochee State Forest, the Citrus Tract protects nearly 50,000 acres of countryside in rural west Central Florida.
A well-liked vacation spot for mountaineering, horseback driving, looking, and off roading, the property boasts numerous miles of forest roads, and one of many largest mountaineering loops within the state.
Sandhills predominate the Citrus TractConnector trails break the 39.1-mile Citrus Mountaineering Path into 4 elements, labeled A, B, C, and D.
The path system was established and is presently maintained by the Florida Path Affiliation, and all 4 loops embrace a chunk of the statewide Florida Path.
The southwest nook of the Citrus Mountaineering Path is surprisingly rockyLoop D is arguably probably the most fascinating route, because it travels via uncommon habitats, passing exceptional landforms sculpted by water over time.
The official parking for the path system is at Holder Mine within the northeastern nook of the forest, and ought to be used if leaving a automotive in a single day.
For at the present time hike, entry the D Loop through a forest street main previous a set of well-known caves.
Descending into an space with cavesAssets
Overview
Location: LecantoLength: 14.7 milesTrailhead: 28.709278, -82.451472Address: S Lecanto Hwy, LecantoFees: FreeRestrooms: NoneLand supervisor: Florida Forest ServicePhone: 352-797-4140
Open daybreak to nightfall until tenting. Leashed canines allowed.
That is an awfully well-liked looking floor, so be aware of scheduled hunts and put on blaze orange. Keep away from backpacking throughout deer looking season.
Don’t depart a automotive in a single day alongside path entry factors at S Lecanto Hwy or Stagecoach Path. The one official in a single day parking is at Holder Mine.
Instructions
Hike
Starting on the roadside pull off, search for a sandy forest street main into the woods behind concrete boundaries meant to forestall autos from driving into the forest.
Comply with the large pathway eastward, reaching the primary karst characteristic in a half mile. Dame’s Cave is difficult to overlook, with a big tree standing alongside a gap within the earth.
Gap main into Dame’s CaveThick tree roots slither down into the cave, offering a kind of handhold for folk who want to descend into the subterranean chamber.
The forest street passes a number of smaller caves and intriguingly rocky landscapes earlier than reaching the yellow-blazed path at 0.7 miles.
Sandhill groupFlip left to start the loop clockwise, following a well-defined pathway solid with dappled shade beneath an open cover of pine and oak.
Tree cowl step by step turns into sparser because the path traverses contoured terrain in an expansive sandhill forest, reaching a blue blazed cross path on the 4 mile mark.
Tough inexperienced snakeFlip proper, following the blue path eastward right into a strikingly quiet a part of the forest the place the sound of wind whooshes within the treetops towards a backdrop of chirping crickets and birds.
Lizards skitter via the leaves as hikers strategy, and snakes would possibly benefit from the mowed pathway to bask within the solar.
Flip proper at an intersection with the Florida Path at 5.7 miles to remain on the D Loop.
Florida PathOrange blazes lead throughout grassy pine prairies dotted with gnarled reside oaks and clusters of noticed palmetto because the path heads southward.
Attain Stagecoach Path at 9 miles. At this level, the Florida Path turns to observe the street east.
D Loop continues throughout paved CR 480, switching again to yellow blazes whereas coming into a deeply shaded hardwood forest.
Circling a grassy prairie round Stage Pond, the trail curves to the west, passing a camp zone with benches and a hearth ring at 10.6 miles.
Taylor Camp ZoneThe path crosses FR 13 in 1 / 4 mile, then begins to descend right into a low space the place it traces the ravine of a seasonal creek.
Relying on the time of yr and up to date rains, the stream could also be dry or speeding over massive chunks of limestone within the creek mattress.
RavineRounding a small clay canyon close to the origin level of the ravine, the trail turns north to cross Stagecoach Path (CR 480) once more.
Depart the hardwood hammock, coming into a patch of sandhill habitat.
The terrain turns into more and more tough whereas following sloping topography in the direction of Lizzie Hart Sink, a big space of uncovered karst.
Lizzie Hart SinkThe path fastidiously weaves throughout a surprisingly rocky surroundings, circumnavigating the craggy melancholy the place bunches of untamed espresso develop proper on high of limestone boulders.
Heading north from the sink, start a gradual ascent from the rock-strewn blended hardwood forest, passing a stand of cabbage palms.
Rocky terrainReturn to a sunny, fireplace dependent sandhill group. In a brief distance, the path reaches the primary forest street.
Shut the loop at 14 miles. Flip left to observe the street for 0.7 miles again to the parking pull-off close to Dames Cave.
Leaving the hardwood hammockPath Map
Discover Extra!
Be taught extra in regards to the Citrus Mountaineering Path
Citrus Mountaineering Path 39.1 miles. Savor a rugged hike via rolling hills and rocky terrain on certainly one of Florida’s longest backpacking loops once you tackle the Citrus Mountaineering Path close to InvernessVideo
Mountaineering Citrus Loop D
Slideshow
See our images from Citrus Loop D
Close by Adventures
Annutteliga Hammock Path Discover fascinating karst topography with uncovered limestone beneath a shady cover within the Withlacoochee State Forest, passing a primitive tenting space alongside this 4.8 mile loop.
Potts Protect Span a scenic jungle of shady hammocks, floodplain forests, pine flatwoods, and scrub habitats on a path system created and maintained by Florida Path Affiliation volunteers.
Whispering Pines Park At Whispering Pines Park, a community of nature trails explores a densely wooded family-friendly metropolis park with racketball courts, disc golf, a public pool, splash pad, and extra. 
Chinsegut Conservation Middle Tract Uncover the great thing about Could’s Prairie on the coronary heart of the Chinsegut WEA Conservation Middle Tract, an unlimited wetland the place sandhill cranes collect.Path Map (PDF) Hunt Dates Reserve Campsite Official Web site
