Considered one of 5 administration areas in Inexperienced Swamp Wilderness Protect, the East Tract protects huge swaths of land close to the headwaters of the Withlacoochee River.
It’s a distant wilderness, an intricate mixture of swamp and mesic uplands that additionally provides water to the Hillsborough, Peace, and Ocklawaha Rivers.
The western hall of the Florida Path snakes throughout the property, threading by way of a mosaic of wetlands into the Inexperienced Swamp West Tract and past.
Entrance to the Inexperienced Swamp East TractDeveloped and maintained by Florida Path Affiliation volunteers, the Weekend Loop supplies choices for a day or in a single day hike alongside a well-maintained path.
It has spectacular pure surroundings and fascinating historic options.
The hike may be considerably shortened by combining the Florida Path with the Day Loop for a 7.8-mile spherical journey.
Withlacoochee RiverSources
Overview
Location: Polk CityLength: 15.5 milesTrailhead: 28.303056, -81.918528Address: 17301 Rockridge Rd, Polk CityFees: FreeRestrooms: Seasonal transportable bathroom at hunt examine stationLand supervisor: Southwest Florida Water Administration DistrictPhone: 352-796-7211
Open half-hour earlier than dawn – half-hour after sundown, leashed canines welcome.
Seasonal searching happens. Examine hunt dates prematurely and put on blaze orange throughout hunts.
Instructions
Hike
Beginning at a big Florida Path kiosk with maps and details about the world, look to the east for orange blazes main into the woods.
The trail winds by way of a mixture of shady hammocks and open pine forests whereas monitoring northward, utilizing a forest street to circumnavigate a few moist areas.
Trailhead kioskRising from the forest at 2.3 miles, the path takes a pointy proper flip to cross the Withlacoochee River on a big bridge.
Relying on latest rains, darkish tannic water could also be flowing swiftly underneath the bridge, or it might be a dry riverbed.
After a couple of extra water crossings, keep on the grime street as orange blazes lead into the woods, seeking to the proper for a white blaze indicating the loop path.
Withlacoochee river bridgeA mowed hall leads eastward atop an outdated logging tram, providing barely elevated views of the encompassing forest.
Wood bridges cross a couple of seasonally moist areas the place the tram dips into swampy depressions.
Swamp boardwalkAt 4.2 miles, white blazes curve left the place a 0.2-mile blue blazed path results in the Tillman Hammock campsite, a comfortable spot underneath the oaks with picnic tables and a fireplace ring.
The path turns westward, navigating shrubby mesic flatwoods bordered by a mosaic of cypress domes.
Tillman HammockObserve a slim pathway reducing throughout a sea of palmetto and gallberry dotted with scattered pines.
An array of grasses and wildflowers line the path, together with rose gentians, yellow milkworts, tarflowers, and milkweeds.
Pine savannaThe path crosses a mud street at eight miles, getting into an oak hammock that was as soon as the positioning of the Stewart homestead.
Just a few constructions stay at the moment, notably a gravesite and cattle dipping vat.
Grave on the outdated homesteadReturning to the Florida Path at 10.3 miles, flip left to comply with orange and white blazed timber which might be quickly joined by a blue blaze.
This part of path is shared with the Weekend and Day loops. The trail leaves pine flatwoods, getting into a shady hydric hammock earlier than reaching a railroad grade.
Path junctionAt this junction, a tenth of a mile spur results in an overlook the place the tram would have continued into the cypress swamp on a bridge.
Observe the tramway eastward for 0.8 mile, because it passes an intersection with the Day Loop earlier than curving onto the primary forest street.
From this level, proceed south for two.7 miles alongside the orange blazes to complete the hike on the trailhead.
Tramway overlookPath Map
Discover Extra!
Video
Mountain climbing the Inexperienced Swamp East Weekend Loop
Slideshow
See our photographs from Inexperienced Swamp East
Close by Adventures
Path Map (PDF) Hunt Dates Official Web site
