Connect with Nature off the Beaten Path! Discover and Explore the Real Side of Florida Many Don't See!
Our Favorite Hiking Trails around Citrus County
There’s no shortage of hiking trails on the Nature Coast, and these locations highlight the Real Florida that exists beyond the hotspots and attractions. Whether you’re searching for wildlife, clearing your head, or just getting some fresh air and movement, every trail offers something a little different. Visit during the week and you’ll often have these places almost entirely to yourself!
Coastal Trails in Crystal River, Florida
ChurchHouse Hammock Trail
What to Look for: This part of the Crystal River Preserve features a hardwood forest of longleaf pine, live oaks, and cabbage palms. Native plants like beautyberry and swamp mallow hibiscus. Gopher turtles have nesting sites throughout the area, which is also a great nesting site for fox squirrels and songbirds.
Know Before You Go: There are nearly 4 miles of boardwalk style trails to explore, winding through a coastal wetland and palm hammock ecosystems.
Seven Mile
Loop Trail
What to Look for: Explore a variety of native habitats in one place. Discover coastal palm hammocks, tidal creeks, salt ponds, and longleaf pine forests. This massive habitat supports a diverse variety of wildlife including barred owls, pileated woodpeckers, white tail deer, river otters, and southeastern kestrals.
Know Before You Go: This is our favorite trail within the Crystal River State Preserve. You don't have to hike all 7 miles to enjoy the best parts.
Dixie Shores
Lake Trail
What to Look for: This area is apart of the Great Florida Birding and Wildlife Trail. Early mornings are very active times to see Osprey, Herons, and sometimes Deer. Native plants like black eye susans attract many species of butterflies. If you enjoy fishing, this is a great spot to throw a line in.
Know Before You Go: There are about 3 miles of short trails that highlight backwater wetlands with mangroves and salt marsh shorelines.
Hiking Hideaways around Homosassa Springs, Florida
Chassahowitzka
Salt Marsh Trails
What to Look for: Discover the backwaters of Homosassa River with sweeping views of the tidal creeks and salt marsh from Lastinger Tower. Explore a network of trails through a small forest of native plants and trees. During Spring and Summer flowering plants are blooming, and there are lots of butterflies and dragonflies to see. Winter & Fall provide lots of bird observations and encounters, along with cooler temperatures. Grab some bug spray, and get a sense of what Old Homosassa felt like back in the day. This is a cool spot to fish, and kayak, as well.
Know Before You Go: This is a very easy trail system, and the wooden Observatory Tower is only a few minute walk from the parking area.
Hog Pond
Wildlife Trails
What to Look for: Discover a variety of habitats in one sort of unexpected place: shaded pine flatwood forests, sandy scrub marshes, swampy wetland pockets, and a series of freshwater ponds. These ecosystems support many wildlife and native plant species, including: gopher turtles, white tail deer, fox squirrels, blue flag iris, and cabbage palms. Sunrise is one of the best times to see the most bird species!! This recreational area has many opportunities for biking, fishing, hiking, birdwatching, and wildlife photography.
Know Before You Go: This location is very easy access in Homosassa on HWY 19. There are more then 5 miles of natural and paved trails.
Dames Cave
Forest Trails
What to Look for: Explore a very easy, and well marked, trail system that takes you through a thriving pinewood forest with pockets of oak hammock and dry sandhill habitats. There are more then 8 miles to explore and several caves to access, with Dames Cave being the most notable. Wildlife is abundant in this area, especially when it is less crowded: look for unique species like the elusive fox squirrel, groups of wild turkey, and migratory kettles of swallow tailed kites. Be on the lookout for the rare and stunning pine lillies in Spring.
Know Before You Go: This is a more off the beaten path location central to Lecanto and the Citrus Tract of the Withlacoochee State Forest.
Wandering near the Withlacoochee River
Potts Preserve
Wildlife Trails
What to Look for: Discover wide open pine flatwoods and marshy wetlands along the Withlacoochee River. Listen out for the distinct calls of Limpkins, Sandhill Canes, and Pileated Woodpeckers. Spot deer moving quietly through the palmetto scrub. In Spring and summer, you can find all sorts of native flowers blooming: butterwort, pickerelweed, narrowleaf sunflower, and more. This is a great spot with easy access to downtown Inverness.
Know Before You Go: There are more then 30 miles of expansive natural trails to discover within this protected wildlife preserve.
Withlacoochee
State Trail
What to Look for: There are many access points around Citrus County. As the trail passes through forest near the Withlacoochee River, you’ll notice huge live oaks and scattered cypress trees creating a shady canopy overhead. In spring and summer, purple blazing star flowers brighten the trails edges. The trail itself follows a historic railroad line from the early 1900s that once carried timber and citrus throughout Florida.
Know Before You Go: This paved trail is one of the longest in Florida, at 47 miles long, passing through small towns, forest, and floodplains.
What to Look for: Explore cypress swamps, longleaf pine habitats, and mixed forests along the eastern edge of the Withlacoochee River. Listen and look for hawks, limpkins, osprey, and other native bird species - very active during Winter. In the Spring and Summer look for goldenrod, coral bean, and sandhill milkweed flowers in bloom. Once a railroad hub for timber, this area has been beautifully reclaimed with great access to Withlacoochee State Forest.
Croom Tract
River Trail
Know Before You Go: This trail system has 27 miles of connected hiking loops that wind around the eastern edge of the Withlacoochee River.
Withlacoochee Gulf Preserve
Know Before You Go: There are nearly 5 miles of hiking trails surrounded by 400 acres of undeveloped wetlands on the Gulf Coast. Officially designated as a Great Florida Birding and Wildlife Trail Network.
What to Look for: Paved, natural, and boardwalk paths take you through forests of pine and cabbage palm, past tidal marshes, and around several salt ponds. Native shorebirds are most active here, including roseate spoonbills and different species of herons. Climb the 30ft Observation Tower forsweeping views of the coastline and tidal creeks coming from the mouth of the Withlacoochee River.
Located at: 1001 SE Old Rock Rd, Yankeetown, Florida
Buford Spring Nature Preserve
Know Before You Go: This short boardwalk trail takes you through a serene cypress swamp, giving you a firsthand look at a thriving wetland habitat. It's short and easy, just under a mile roundtrip, ending at the beautiful blue waters of Buford Spring.
What to Look for: Observe a variety of native plant species like the purple pickerelweed, white swamp lily, and blue flag iris. Spot many species of herons and listen to the loud call of the pileated woodpeckers.
This cypress wetland supports a thriving ecosystem that includes otters, turtles, and native butterflies.
Located at: