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Length: 29.5 miles (linear) plus 25.9 mile loop The Green Swamp offers a variety of plants, animals, and topography. There are mile-wide pastures, extensive riverine swamps, and relict sand dunes supporting longleaf pine, turkey oak, and wiregrass. The trail passes through many large oak hammocks as well as pine flatwoods, palmetto prairies, and cut-over timber lands which are being allowed to regenerate. One segment of trail overlooks the Withlacoochee River and its rapids some twenty feet below. Deer, feral pigs, alligators, fox, bobcat, otter, and armadillos are frequently seen. There are scrub jays, sandhill cranes, marsh hawks, and many types of waterfowl.
 Grab and Go Hike: Green Swamp West
 Continuing through the vast Green Swamp, the Florida Trail turns north and parallels the Withlacoochee River’s flow towards the Gulf of Mexico, with views from high bluffs. The north end of this segment traverses the Richloam Tract of the Withlacoochee State Forest. Much of the southern extent of Richloam is low-lying cypress swamp along the Withlacoochee, but well-developed pine forests cover the higher elevations, deeply blanketing the trail in a carpet of soft pine needles. The loop trail provides an excellent weekend backpacking outing, and leads through and past some interesting features, including a forest of eucalyptus trees, ancient live oaks, and deep sinkholes. The loop trail can be accessed from several road crossings to take shorter day hikes as well.
After periods of heavy rain, you’ll wade through some of the cypress floodplains. In several places, the trail briefly shares forest roads with limited vehicular traffic and equestrians.
 The trail is located in the Withlacoochee State Forest and the Green Swamp West Water Management Area . North of US 98 and south of SR 50. West of CR 471 and east of Dade City.
Disclaimer: While FTA strives to maintain accurate information and is constantly updating its geodatabase, the trail and development along the trail corridor is constantly changing. The data has been collected from a variety of sources and accuracy varies. FTA provides this data for recreational purposes only and does not intend the data as a survey.
Centerline data Florida Trail System (c) 2007 Florida Trail Association, Inc. Parking for Richloam trail is at Richloam Fire Tower in front of the map board and registration box. For western access to Green Swamp West WMA, park at a large parking area on River Rd just north of the Withlacoochee bridge.. For eastern access, there is a trailhead on SR 471 4.5 miles north of US 98. Botanical Eucalyptus trees Campsites Trial Ford, Gator Hole, Concession Stand, Foster Bridge, High Bluff, Devil's Creek Geologic Withlacoochee River rapids Richloam offers mostly dry hiking, with some wading during rainy seasons. The perimeter trail offers a 26-mile weekend loop. Several different day hikes can be made by utilizing the two cross trails which provide loops of 10, 12 and 14 miles. Green Swamp West has dry hiking through prairies with great wildlife viewing spots. Be aware of hunting season dates as posted on the WMA websites. Take standard precautions for hunting season. Richloam: Camping and campfires only within camp zones. Cooking fires only. No fires during high wildfire potential. Wear blaze orange during hunting seasons.
Green Swamp West: Camping permits for Green Swamp West WMA are required: write SWFWMD, 2379 Broad Street, Brooksville, FL 34609 or call 1-800-423-1476, Extension 4470. |
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