Withlacoochee St Forest, Croom Tract, FL

Withlacoochee Croom Tract

This is such a great place to do these kinds of walks. All of the Withlacoochee areas have ways that they can be hacked up in order to make these kinds of trips. This time Koda and I went with Tampa Adventure Group. Dave had everything planned out. When it came time to find our camp site a few runners told us that the low site was underwater so we headed up to the dry site where we have slept before. We went back down to the river around 5ish and filtered some water. The river was crazy high. A good 10 feet higher then it was last summer. The trees had water marks on them telling us that at some point in the near past we would have been neck deep where we were standing.

The one thing I love the most about this area is that it is constantly changing. Sand flats on minute, pine scrub and oak hammocks the next.

The weather was great for this trip although rain was threatening. We hoofed it back to the cars and were on our way prior to getting wet!

Old Fort King Trail Paved Portion

Old Fort King Trail Paved Portion

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This was a nice walk yet not what I would typically do. I chose this as the area had received 2.5 inches of rain a couple of days ago and all of our normal trails would be flooded out. I have to say that the paved portion is really boring... so on the way south we noticed the horse trail coming and going and made a point to take that way on the way back north. After pulling a u turn at trails end we headed back up the horse trail. This was much nicer! Back into the woods! Really nice walk now... The stream crossings were interesting. Usually I would let Koda walk through as it was only knee deep but we just had her groomed so I carried her. The second stream crossing was only mid calf. Nice walk but I will only do this as a last resort. Not enough woods and the hwy is so close that the sound of passing cars is disturbing.


We did this trip 2 days after the area received 2.5 inches of rain so parts were kinda soggy. The first stream crossing was knee high and the second mid calf. Bug sprey is a must if not winter. When in the woods on the horse trail, be mindful of wild life as water is on both sides of the trail. We scared an alligator off the trail shoulder as we walked and I was constantly waiting to walk up on a snake sunning. Keep your eyes open!