Established in 1933 as a wayside park off US 41 south of Floral Metropolis, McKethan Lake is now a recreation space inside Withlacoochee State Forest.
Residence to picnic pavilions shaded by historical stay oaks, its day use space is the best start line for a clockwise loop across the lake.
McKethan LakeThere are a number of different marked entry factors to the character path, together with a spur path connecting to it from the state forest headquarters.
A babies’s play space sits close to the lake on the day use space; different waterfront entry factors are widespread for fishing.
A fantastic instance of CCC “parkitecture”Assets
Overview
Location: NobletonLength: 2.1 mile loopTrailhead: 28.64847, -82.33773Address: 15185 N Broad St, BrooksvilleFees: $2 per personRestroom: On the picnic areaLand supervisor: Florida Forest ServicePhone: 352-797-4140
Day use solely. Pets not permitted. The recreation space is a no searching zone.
Instructions
Hike
Throughout the park drive from the waterfront and restrooms, head in the direction of a picnic pavilion. The primary Nature Path signal is to the appropriate of it. Two posts define the doorway.
A well-worn path into climax sandhills, it slips by the shade of laurel oaks. The understory is comparatively open, leaf-strewn with clumps of fallen Spanish moss from the cover.
Clockwise begin on the Nature PathGo a 1-1/2 mile signal, which refers back to the distance clockwise alongside this loop from an entry level simply contained in the entrance gate.
Stroll beneath a big sweetgum, reaching a bench at 0.6 miles. Numbered interpretive markers adjoin vegetation; Marker 22 factors out a yucca.
First bench alongside the loopThe understory turns into denser on a climb by the laurel oak forest, visitors sounds filtering in from US 41. Pines enter the combo, creating a nice layer of needles underfoot.
Flip and descend in the direction of a break up rail fence alongside the park street. Flip left to comply with the sting of the street in the direction of a chimney standing close to the park entrance.
Trailhead kiosk close to the park entranceCross over the park street to a small trailhead close to the exit of the park drive and re-enter the forest at 0.8 miles.
Descend right into a lush inexperienced hammock and cross a bridge, the footpath winding by noticed palmetto. Southern magnolias hold the cover inexperienced.
FootbridgeCross a second bridge and the habitat shifts. Dwell oaks dominate the excessive cover, together with some completely huge specimens. Thick grapevines dangle from excessive above.
Quickly after the incoming path from park headquarters at 1.2 miles, transition right into a straightaway. Younger oaks and sparkleberry crowd the understory.
Excessive cover of oaksGo a bench at 1.4 miles, a cease in a puddle of shade. At 1.6 miles, emerge below a cover of grand previous stay oaks to the park street and cross it.
Enter a fence hole with a Foot Site visitors Solely signal. This pathway results in a slim bridge over a marshy stream.
Bridge over a cove of the lakeFrom the bridge, get pleasure from an open panorama of McKethan Lake. Following the arrow indicators, go alongside a split-rail fence to a picnic spot alongside the park street and cross it once more.
Enter the woods on the Nature Path signal. Towering magnolias stand above the relict sandhills, once more crowded with spindly laurel oaks.
Towering magnoliasGo a 1 Mile signal. An arrow factors out the proper path close to a property boundary with an adjoining pasture.
Coming as much as a shed, flip proper to exit the loop. Going through the massive picnic pavilion on the day use space, stroll all the way down to the parking space to finish this 2.1 mile hike.
End on the day use spacePath Map
Discover Extra!
Be taught extra about Withlacoochee State Forest
Withlacoochee State Forest With greater than 155,000 acres unfold over a number of counties, Withlacoochee State Forest is Florida’s second largest state forest, and arguably the preferred for outside recreationVideo
A stroll by the McKethan Lake Nature Path
Slideshow
See our photographs from McKethan Lake
Close by Adventures
Path Map (PDF) Official Web site
Writer of 45 books, Sandra Buddy established FloridaHikes.com in 2006 to broaden on the sphere analysis she’d accomplished for her first six mountaineering guides. She has been honored with lifetime achievement awards from the Florida Path Affiliation and the Florida Out of doors Writers Affiliation.
