BROOKSVILLE, FLORIDA
I haven’t had great luck on this trail. I brought my own luck. Weather
At 46 miles, the Withlacoochee State Trail is one of the longest paved rail-trails in Florida.
With a generally flat terrain and many access points, the trail is an ideal venue for all skill and fitness levels of cycling, running, walking and skating. An unpaved equestrian trail parallels portions of the paved trail. The trail corridor traverses three counties (Citrus, Hernando and Pasco), offering an enjoyable, varied journey as it runs through small towns, ranches and six distinct natural communities between Citrus Springs and Dade City.
Pancake flat and very wide. It is a nice trail.
I first came here in the late afternoon of November 17, 2021. I found the trailhead at Flora City. It has parking and restrooms. I was about halfway on the trail and my decision was to ride north or south. I met a local who advised me to ride north.
I was soon riding with a guy and enjoying the scenery, Inverness was around Mile 7 heading north. Definitely in the lake region. I continued up to Hernando before the need to turn around as I would be losing sunlight. I had a nice ride on the trail that day but didn’t quite make it to the end.
On March 23 I came to Brooksville. The trail wasn’t far away and I rode to it and went south to the southern terminus at Ownesboro. From there I rode 15 miles north to Nobleton before turning around. The trail here is very wooded.
When I got back to the hotel I felt buggy. And for good reason. There were at least four bugs on my jersey or in my hair including an inchworm.
Nobleton is just south of Flora City, the segment I rode in November. I went back the next day and was going to finish the trail.
(Facing south so it’s 800 miles FROM RIchmond)
I started north and was retracing what I had ridden in November. By the time I reached Inverness, the skies had opened up and I was soaked. It wasn’t a lot of fun and that’s what riding should be about.
A neat feature on this trail can be found every mile. These are mile makers. They begin with the letter R followed by a distance. This was the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad and its headquarters was in Richmond, Virginia. It was wild to think that Richmond was only 800 miles away by rail. And I wished it was a paved rail trail. But it’s not.
The trail is wide. It passes lakes and swamps. For summer rides the heavy canopy presents needed shade from the Florida sun. Sadly, for me, it did not form an umbrella to protect me from the rain.
I would not necessarily make this a destination ride as it lacks fixtures associated with some rail trails. But if you are anywhere in the area and want to put in a few miles, definitely go here.
MILEAGE: 73.9
