Withlacoochee State Trail is a 46 miles (74 km) long paved, multi-use, non-motorized rail trail

Rail trail

A rail trail is the conversion of a disused railway easement into a multi-use path, typically for walking, cycling and sometimes horse riding. The characteristics of former tracks—flat, long, frequently running through historical areas—are appealing for various development. The term sometimes also...

 in Florida

Florida

Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...

 located in Citrus

Citrus County, Florida

Citrus County is a county located in the U.S. state of Florida. As of 2000, the population was 118,085. The U.S. Census Bureau 2008 estimate for the county was 141,416 . Its county seat is Inverness, Florida...

, Hernando

Hernando County, Florida

Hernando County is a county located in the U.S. state of Florida. As of 2000, the population was 130,802. The U.S. Census Bureau 2006 estimate for the county is 165,409 . Its county seat is Brooksville, Florida. The majority of the county's population is in Spring Hill, west portion of Hernando...

 and Pasco

Pasco County, Florida

Pasco County is a county located in the U.S. state of Florida. As of 2000, the population was 344,765. The July 1, 2007 census estimate according to the U.S. Census Bureau for the county is 462,715. Its county seat is Dade City, Florida which is in the northeast part of the county - somewhat...

 counties.

The route

The southern terminus is at U.S. 98

U.S. Route 98

U.S. Route 98 is an east–west United States highway that runs from western Mississippi to southern Florida. It was established in 1933 as a route between Pensacola, Florida and Apalachicola, Florida, and has since been extended westward into Mississippi and eastward across the Florida...

/301

U.S. Route 301 in Florida

U.S. Route 301 in Florida runs from the Sarasota-Bradenton-Venice, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area northeast to the Greater Jacksonville Metropolitan Area. The road is a spur of U.S...

 south of Trilby

Trilby, Florida

Trilby is an unincorporated community in the northeast corner of Pasco County, Florida, United States.Trilby has a non-profit "Greater Trilby Community Association" which exists to improve the life and quality of residents of the Trilby, Trilacoochee and Lacoochee area...

, then runs 6 miles (9.7 km) north where it crosses over U.S. 98

U.S. Route 98

U.S. Route 98 is an east–west United States highway that runs from western Mississippi to southern Florida. It was established in 1933 as a route between Pensacola, Florida and Apalachicola, Florida, and has since been extended westward into Mississippi and eastward across the Florida...

/SR 50

State Road 50 (Florida)

State Road 50 runs across the center of the U.S. state of Florida through Orlando, with its termini at SR 55 at Weeki Wachee and SR 5 in Titusville....

, a mile east of I-75

Interstate 75 in Florida

Interstate 75 is a part of the Interstate Highway System and runs from Hialeah, Florida, a few miles northwest of Miami to Sault Ste. Marie in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan...

, and 40 miles (64.4 km) north, past the Silver Lake Campground, through the Withlacoochee State Forest

Withlacoochee State Forest

The Withlacoochee State Forest is in the western central part in the U.S. state of Florida, near Lecanto, Inverness, Floral City, Brooksville, Ridge Manor, and Dade City.-References and external links:* -See also:* Withlacoochee River...

, close to the Withlacoochee River

Withlacoochee River (South)

The Withlacoochee River originates in central Florida's Green Swamp, east of Polk City. It flows west, then north, and then turns northwest and finally west again before it empties into the Gulf of Mexico near Yankeetown. The river is long and has a drainage basin of...

. The trail continues north through Nobleton

Nobleton, Florida

Nobleton is a census-designated place in Hernando County, Florida, United States. The population was 160 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Nobleton is located at ....

, Istachatta

Istachatta, Florida

Istachatta is a census-designated place in Hernando County, Florida, United States. The population was 65 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Istachatta is located at ....

, and then crosses the Hernando-Citrus County Line into Pineola, the site of the Great Train Wreck of 1956. As it enters Floral City

Floral City, Florida

Floral City is a census-designated place in Citrus County, Florida, United States. The population was 4,989 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Floral City is located at 28°44′N 82°18′W ....

, it runs much closer to and parallel to US 41. South of Inverness

Inverness, Florida

Inverness is a city in Citrus County, Florida, United States. As of 2010, the population recorded by the U.S. Census Bureau is 7,210. It is the county seat of Citrus County.-Geography:...

 across from Citrus County Speedway and the Inverness Airport

Inverness Airport (Florida)

Inverness Airport is a public-use airport located southeast of the central business district of the city of Inverness in Citrus County, Florida, United States. The airport is publicly owned, and contains an aviation unit of the Citrus County Sheriff's Office. It is also located next to the Citrus...

, there is a paid access trail leading to Fort Cooper State Park

Fort Cooper State Park

Fort Cooper State Park is a historic site in Inverness, Florida, United States. It is located two miles south of Inverness, on U.S. 41 on South Old Floral City Road. On June 13, 1972, it was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places...

. Within Inverness itself, the trail runs beneath Florida State Road 44, with access trails on both sides running east. Beneath the bridge under US 41, another trail leads to Whispering Pines Park. In Hernando

Hernando, Florida

Hernando is a city in Citrus County, Florida, United States. The population was 8,253 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Hernando is located at ....

, the trail is briefly detoured around Citrus County Road 486, then continues through Holder

Holder, Florida

Holder is an unincorporated community in Citrus County, Florida, United States. Holder is located around the intersection of U.S. Route 41 and County Road 491 . West of this intersection is a crossing for the Withlacoochee State Trail....

, and Citrus Springs

Citrus Springs, Florida

Citrus Springs is a census-designated place in Citrus County, Florida, United States. The population was 4,157 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Citrus Springs is located at ....

, where it finally ends at Gulf Junction just south of Dunnellon

Dunnellon, Florida

Dunnellon is a city in Marion County, Florida, United States. The population was 1,898 at the 2000 census. As of 2004, the population recorded by the U.S. Census Bureau is 1,951...

.

Parking for the trail is located off U.S. 98

U.S. Route 98

U.S. Route 98 is an east–west United States highway that runs from western Mississippi to southern Florida. It was established in 1933 as a route between Pensacola, Florida and Apalachicola, Florida, and has since been extended westward into Mississippi and eastward across the Florida...

/301

U.S. Route 301 in Florida

U.S. Route 301 in Florida runs from the Sarasota-Bradenton-Venice, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area northeast to the Greater Jacksonville Metropolitan Area. The road is a spur of U.S...

 at the Owensboro Junction Trailhead, C.R. 575 / Trilby Trailhead, S.R. 50 Trailhead, Silver Lake Campground, Townsen Lake Regional Park off C.R. 476, Desoto Trail Kiosk off U.S. 41

U.S. Route 41

U.S. Route 41 is a north–south United States Highway that runs from Miami, Florida to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Until 1949, the part in southern Florida, from Naples to Miami, was U.S...

, Wallace Brooks Park in Inverness, South Citrus Springs Trailhead and Gulf Junction Trailhead, which is also in Citrus Springs.

History

The railroad was formed sometime in the 1880s as the Inverness and Brooksville railway. It connected with the Florida Northern Railroad

Florida Northern Railroad

The following railroads have been called Florida Northern Railroad:*Florida Northern Railroad - a former railroad north of Jacksonville, Florida*Florida Northern Railroad - a short line railroad near Ocala, Florida...

 in Citrus Springs and the South Florida Railroad

South Florida Railroad

The South Florida Railroad was a railroad from Orlando to Tampa, Florida, becoming part of the Plant System in 1893 and the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad in 1902.-History:...

 in Dade City. In 1892, the Silver Springs, Ocala and Gulf Railroad

Silver Springs, Ocala and Gulf Railroad

The Silver Springs, Ocala, and Gulf Railroad was assigned land grants on March 12, 1879 by the state legislature of Florida. This was accomplished by Florida State Law Chapter 3170. This law required a set completion time in order for the land grant measures to take effect...

 built an extension through Inverness and Hernando, and in 1893, the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad

Atlantic Coast Line Railroad

The Atlantic Coast Line Railroad was an American railroad that existed between 1900 and 1967, when it merged with the Seaboard Air Line Railroad, its long-time rival, to form the Seaboard Coast Line Railroad...

 acquired the SFR as well as the SSO&G. In 1946 ACL built a bridge over the Seaboard Air Line Railroad

Seaboard Air Line Railroad

The Seaboard Air Line Railroad , which styled itself "The Route of Courteous Service," was an American railroad whose corporate existence extended from April 14, 1900, until July 1, 1967, when it merged with the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad, its longtime rival, to form the Seaboard Coast Line...

tracks and the newly aligned US 301. In 1967, the Atlantic Coast Line and Seaboard Air Line Railroads merged. In 1987 CSX decided to abandon the 47 mile railroad. In 1989 the state bought the railroad for their "rail-to-trails" program.

Hazards

• Steep embankments, most notably north of Inverness and between Istachatta and Floral City.
• Swampland between Istachatta and Pineola.