| STATE PARKS, COUNTY PARKS AND WITHLACOCHEE TRAIL: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Centrally located on Florida’s Nature Coast, more than one-third of Citrus County’s 682 square miles is protected as federal, state or county protected areas. According to biologists, these tracts of parks and wilderness provide habitat to 27 species of mammal, 68 species of bird, 35 species of fish and 41 species of reptile. From the list, 12 species of bird and mammal found in Citrus County are considered threatened or endangered by the state or federal government, including the Florida black bear, the manatee, the scrub jay, the red cockaded woodpecker, the peregrine falcon and the Southern bald eagle. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| The Chassahowitzka National Wildlife refuge is a vast tract of protected coastal wetland filling the southwestern corner of Citrus County and stretching south along the Hernando County coast. The Chassahowitzka is only accessed by water from the village of Chassahowitzka on US19, south of Homosassa. Boating, airboating, diving and fishing activities within the Chassahowitzka National Wildlife Refuge are strictly regulated. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| The 47mile long Withlacoochee Trail in eastern Citrus is the newest of six parks and historic sites managed by the state in Citrus County. From Citrus Springs at the north end, the trail parallels US 41 through Citrus County and the Withlacoochee River in Hernando County to its southern terminus at Trilby in Pasco County. The trail is designed for use by backpackers, hikers, equestrians and bicyclists. Almost all of the trail in Citrus County is paved, only 3-4 miles is not paved. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Two miles southeast of Inverness on Old Floral City Road and the Withlacoochee Trail, Ft.Cooper State Park offers visitors fishing, swimming, canoeing, boating, nature study programs and horseback riding opportunities. Primitive camp sites with corral facilities are also available. An important outpost during the Second Seminole War (1836-1842), Ft.Cooper Park staff offer interpretative programs throughtout the year. A re-enactment of a Second Seminole War battle is staged annually during a March weekend. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Snaking through the state and county parks in eastern Citrus are the seven lakes of the Tsala Apopka Chain, a world famous wetland mecca for bass fishermen. Many of the state, county and city recreational areas around Inverness provide easy access to the Tsala Apopka wilderness for the fisherman or canoeist. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| The vast Withlacoochee State Forest spans most of eastern Citrus and Hernando counties, offering visitors a variety of nature related activities including hiking, canoeing, hunting and camping. Hunting is permitted on the Citrus Wildlife Management tract during the season. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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FLORIDA/STATE/LOCAL PARKS & PRESERVES: |
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