Discover Journey and Pure Magnificence at these 5 Preserves on Florida’s Journey Coast, Brooksville – Weeki Wachee

 

Famous as being ‘environmentally delicate lands,’ preserves provide a number of the richest biodiversity and delightful landscapes in Hernando County. Get pleasure from a pure escape with household and mates, whether or not by strolling, mountain climbing, biking and even horseback using. Though all of them make for an reasonably priced journey, every park provides one thing distinctive that even locals are shocked to seek out! Learn on to discover these 5 hidden gems and uncover which one is prone to grow to be your subsequent favourite hidden gem.

 

1. Cypress Lakes Protect

 

Positioned in Ridge Manor on the japanese fringe of Hernando County, this protect is an underrated decide for a brief hike in a very stunning setting. Containing over 300 acres, Cypress Lakes Protect provides peaceable views of a wide range of habitats alongside a 1.5-mile part of the Florida Nationwide Scenic Path. Highlights embrace the cypress swamp, with its stunning outdated cypress timber (some monumental) that hikers can view from the path; one other is the wood bridge over a sinkhole the place water drains from the cypress swamp.

 

Trailhead: 32375 Cortez Blvd, Ridge Manor, FL 34602

 

More information and map of Cypress Lakes Preserve

 

 

 

 

2. Fickett Hammock Protect

 

Just like the Cypress Lakes Protect, this spot provides a brief hike near Brooksville and Weeki Wachee. A 2.3-mile loop path by means of hardwood hammocks, flatwoods and sandhill provides loads of shade and tree species, in addition to a stream that flows seasonally. Leashed canine are allowed; please assist preserve this path stunning by choosing up after your pet.

 

Trailhead: 15842 Centralia Rd, Brooksville, FL 34614

 

More information and map of Fickett Hammock Preserve

 

 

 

3. Lake Townsen Protect

 

Lake Townsen Protect provides one thing for everybody and facilities that make it an excellent alternative for households with youngsters. Bounded by the Withlacoochee State Forest to the north and the Withlacoochee River on the east, 374 acres provide miles of trails for mountain climbing and biking, in addition to 5.5 miles of horseback using trails. Guests have entry to the paved Withlacoochee State Path plus many park facilities, together with a small boat ramp and fishing pier, picnic pavilions, restrooms, playground, baseball, basketball and volleyball courts.

Location: 28011 Lake Lindsey Rd, Brooksville, FL 34601

 

More information and map of Lake Townsen Preserve

 

 

 

4. Chinsegut Hill

 

Positioned atop the very best level in Hernando County, Chinsegut Hill is the location of an antebellum dwelling located on a 114-acre protect. Open Saturdays and Sundays, the manor home museum provides excursions for $5 per individual. Without spending a dime, you’ll be able to stroll the grounds across the dwelling whereas having fun with a number of interpretive indicators that assist inform its historical past. Surrounding the grounds are quite a lot of habitats, together with sandhill, pine and hardwood forests. A brief mountain climbing path leads guests to Lake Lindsey, though it’s not nicely marked. For a deep dive into its pure historical past, join a guided nature walk of the grounds and trails at Chinsegut Hill Historic Web site, supplied month-to-month.

 

Location: 22495 Chinsegut Hill Rd, Brooksville, FL 34601

 

 

5. Weekiwachee Protect

 

With over 10,000 acres preserving the southernmost coastal hardwood hammock in western Florida, the Weekiwachee Protect is a pure gem. Positioned simply south of the famed Weeki Wachee Springs attraction, the protect protects a wide range of habitats together with a number of miles bordering the Weeki Wachee River, parts of the Mud River, dense hardwood swamps, freshwater and saltwater marshes and pine-covered sandhills.

 

Earlier than it grew to become a protect, limestone mining close to the doorway to the park created distinctive options of excessive cliffs and enormous freshwater lakes. As we speak guests can get pleasure from roughly 5.5-miles of paved and unpaved trails, in addition to 4.3 miles of marked forest roads to discover by foot or bicycle, or for strolling along with your leashed pet.

 

A great place for wildlife viewing, the Weekiwachee Protect is listed on the Nice Florida Birding and Wildlife Path, each for birding and the small inhabitants of Florida black bears residing within the protect. Observe that the bears are each shy and infrequently seen, spending most of their time deep within the forest away from people; look ahead to scat and different indicators alongside the paths.

 

Location: 2345 Osowaw Blvd, Spring Hill, FL 34607

 

More information and map of Weeki Wachee Preserve

 

 

These are only a few of the out of doors adventures you’ll discover in and round Brooksville and Weeki Wachee. Discover our Land Adventures and uncover extra methods to get pleasure from on our trails, parks and preserves on Florida’s Journey Coast.