Overview

Withlacoochee River Park provides a diverse variety of activities for day hikers, backpackers, and families, from canoeing the Withlacoochee River to exploring nature on the interpretive trails and exploring history at the 1800s Florida history village and the 1700s Native American village and at the annual primitive arts festival.

The orange-blazed Withlacoochee River Park Trail leads backpackers out beyond the park boundary along a rugged but beautiful route to hidden campsites in the Green Swamp. The trail is located on a 700 acre parcel owned by the Southwest Florida Water Management District along the west bank of the Withlacoochee River. The parcel is managed by Pasco County Parks and Recreation Department as part of Withlacoochee River Park.

The trail passes through numerous diverse and picturesque habitats, including along the cypress-lined banks of the Withlacoochee River, over sandhills ablaze with wildflowers in the fall, and through long green tunnels created by fern-draped live oaks.

Inside the park boundary, a 2.5-mile yellow blazed interpretive trail crosses the orange-blazed trail and provides access to most of the park’s activities, including a tall observation tower.

Map

East of Dade City. From the intersection of River Rd with US 301 truck route in Dade City, go east on River Rd 4.5 miles and turn right on Auton Rd just before crossing a wooden river bridge. The park entrance is immediately on the left.

 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

Follow signs to the primary trailhead at the canoe dock parking area. The trail can also be accessed from the southwest picnic shelter parking.

Features

Campsites

History

Florida pioneer village

Native American village   

Conditions

Level but sometimes rugged hiking through floodplain forests, oak hammocks, sandhills, cypress stands and marshlands along the Withlacoochee River.  

Precautions

The trail will flood when the river is high. Marshy areas may be flooded after a rain. There are many trails in the park: follow the orange blazes carefully. The southern primitive site is rarely used and may be overgrown.

Restrictions

  Park is open sunrise-sunset. Obtain a free permit for use of the primitive campsites along the trail. The park also has primitive campsites within an easy walk of the picnic shelters. 

Resources

50 Hikes in Central Florida

Central 3 Loop Trails

Hiker’s Guide to the Sunshine State

Florida Hikes! Withlacoochee River Park

Withlacoochee River Park (Pasco County)

Withlacoochee River Park (SWFWMD)