Overview

The Citrus Hiking Trail is the state’s longest backpacking loop trail in a single contiguous forest and is Central Florida’s most rugged hiking trail, with aggressively rolling sandhills, steep descents into sinkholes, and rock-strewn footpaths. Hikers enjoy a stunning array of contrasting habitats and numerous opportunities for wildlife encounters. It is also a well-groomed trail, easily followed, with a clearly defined footpath and signposts at trail junctions. Orange blazes designate the outer loop, while blue blazes mark the cross trails and side trails.

Backpacking the perimeter Citrus Hiking Trail can take up to 4 days and requires some logistical planning. There are no surface streams, so you must consider this a dry trail. Karst features – sinkholes and solution holes – seasonally retain some rainfall, as do flatwoods ponds. The designated primitive campsites have no water sources.

The Citrus Tract is laced with unimproved roads with loose sand that should be avoided by two-wheel drive vehicles. This road network and the interconnecting trail links make it possible to plan a variety of hikes. The shortest loop, Loop A, takes 8.5 miles to hike from Holder Mine Campground, and is part of the Florida State Forests Trailwalker program.

Obtain a brochure on the Citrus Tract from Withlacoochee State Forest, 15019 Broad St, Brooksville, FL 34601.

Map

The 42,531 acre Citrus Tract in the Withlacoochee State Forest is southwest of Inverness and immediately south of SR 44. Enter at the Holder Mine Recreation Area via Road T10 from CR 581, 2.5 miles south of SR 44, or at the Mutual Mine Recreation Area via Road T16 from CR 581, 5.25 miles south of SR 44. The trail is also accessible via CR 491 and T17, CR 480, T13, T16, T6, and T11B.

 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.

Trailheads

Park at the trailheads for Holder Mine and Mutual Mine Recreation Areas and at the Tillis Hill Campground. If the camping gate is locked, park to the left of the gate.

Features

Campsites

 Three backpacking sites

Gateway Communities

Geologic

Caves

Sinkholes  

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The Citrus Tract has a dry, all-weather trail on alternately flat and hilly terrain.  There are only four permanent water sources along the trail, so check the map first and determine beforehand if you need to cache water jugs at forest road crossings before you start hiking. 

Precautions

Brightly colored clothing is recommended when hiking during hunt seasons.  

Resources

Hiker’s Guide to the Sunshine State

50 Hikes in Central Florida

Citrus Section, Florida Trail

Florida Hikes! Citrus Hiking Trail