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| Withlacooche State Trail (Pasco, Hernando and Citrus County) - Paved |
Classic Example of Rails to Trails by GopherT (Limited Ride)
 At 46 miles, the Withlacooche State Trail is the longest paved multi-use trail in the state. It travels from Northern Pasco county through Hernando and ends in Citrus county at Citrus Springs. We have only been able to ride a portion of this trail so far, from the southern end at Trilby to near Nobleton, about fourteen miles one way. Since we have only one vehicle to transport our bikes, this makes for a twenty-eight mile trip, about two hours on a good day for me.
The first few miles from the southern trailhead are pretty bleak, with repeated views of junkyards and an Wal-Mart distribution center, but once you cross a few county roads, you start to get more into the flavor of the area. Within a short time you are inside the Croom WMA, with a whole set of dirt trails to ride. I won't try to review those here, except to say that they are well maintained and plainly marked. On our short trip we saw a bald eagle and several kites (the bird, not Charley Brown's nemesis), as Pepper, our birding expert advised me.
This trail is laser straight at times, showing it's railroad roots, with a broad cutback on the right of way. You need to be on the lookout for motor vehicles at the crossroads, as they are to yield to you sometimes, and you to them sometimes. Don't force the issue if someone in a two ton car wants to go first. Just let them go.
The state site map shows restrooms at all trailheads except the extreme southern one at Owensboro, but plan for closures due to vandalism.
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Trail Review by Mark
Took a couple of days off at the end of April and rode the Withlacoochee Trail.
If you like peace and quiet, I highly recommend staying at the Moonrise Resort.
http://moonriseresort.com/
It is on Lake Tsala Apopka and is almost at the exact mid-point of the trail. Cabins are relatively cheap, particularly if you spread the cost with a few friends. (Thursday evening I witnessed an alligator catch and eat a limpkin - not for the feignt of heart.)
Fortunately, my biking buddy and I had a non-biking friend with us who agreed to drive the pace-truck, so all of our riding was one-way.
Friday we rode south from the Moonrise to the far end beyond Trilby. For several miles you parallel US 41, but then the trail veers to the southeast and you go through deep woods. The southern stretch was dry - lots of cactus blooming with bright yellow flowers. Lots of gopher tortoises. Saw a rabbit and a turkey. Some beautiful homes line this section. Someone with a lot of initiative has set up a trailside rest stop that offers bike repairs and rentals as well as cold drinks. There is a discreet unpaved spur that leads to the Withlacoochee River. It also passes by several large parks.
You pass under I-75 and over SR 50. Somewhere along this stretch we passed a monstrous Walmart distribution center. Rising out of idyllic pastureland is this huge building that is at least a half a mile long. It is surrounded by hundreds and hundreds of semis.
Saturday we rode to the north end and beyond to Dunellon. This end was wetter and there were fewer cactus, but lots of bright purple flowers. This stretch goes through more towns and parallels US 41. There is a spur that leads into Fort Cooper State Park which is worth a ride in its own right.
Overall, we did 59 miles over 2 days. Always wanted to do the Withlacoochee Trail. Guess I can die a fulfilled man.
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