Withlacoochee State Forest

The Withlacoochee State Forest is 157,479-acre (637 km²) in the western central part in the U.S. state of Florida, near Lecanto, Inverness, Floral City, Brooksville, Ridge Manor, and Dade City.

Withlacoochee State Forest
Northbound entrance sign on US 41
Location	Citrus, Pasco, Hernando and Sumter counties, Florida
Nearest city	Inverness
Area	157,479 acres (637.57 km²)
Governing body	Florida Forest Service

The World Wildlife Fund listed the Withlacoochee State Forest as one of the "10 Coolest Places You've Never Been in North America" by the World Wildlife Fund. Activities include miles of trails for hiking, bicycling, horseback riding and canoeing. It includes several separate land tracts with many natural communities and habitats for wildlife. There are recreation activities for the use of visitors. Many hiking trails run through the forest including the Florida Trail. The many tree species in dense forests include slash pine, longleaf pine, pond cypress, bald cypress, oak, maple, and others, providing dense canopy trails for visitors.[1]

Withlacoochee State Forest was acquired by the federal government from private landowners between 1936 and 1939 under the provisions of the U.S. Land Resettlement Administration. The U.S. Forest Service managed the property until a lease-purchase agreement transferred the property to the Florida Board of Forestry in 1958.

Ghost towns within the community include Mannfield, Orleans, Oak Grove, Stage Pond, Croom, Rital, Richloam, Clay Sink, and others.