Trail Overview
Trail 19 connects Trails 2, 4, and 6 in the northwest part of the Citrus Wildlife Management Area. The trail is only 1 mile long, but one of the most technically challenging trails in Florida. Ruts, obstacles, and switchbacks are up to 4 feet high. You might need a winch to prevent flipping the vehicle. The road conditions are a mixture of packed sand, loose sand, and some deep holes that can turn into 4-foot deep mud holes after rainy days. The road is not always wide enough for two vehicles to pass. 4WD and high clearance are necessary. All vehicles must be street legal. ATVs are prohibited. Citrus Wildlife Management Area includes nearly 50,000 acres in Citrus and Hernando counties, just west of Inverness. This natural area is one of seven large tracts that make up the Withlacoochee State Forest. A daily-use or recreational permit is required to enter the State Forest.
Difficulty
This narrow trail has significant rutting and obstacles that require high clearance and four-wheel drive. Vehicle damage is possible, so this trail is recommended only for experienced drivers equipped with recovery tools or for those using a second vehicle.
History
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. It is currently the third-largest State Forest in Florida and is divided into several distinct tracts of land.
