We visited a small Pasco County park on the Southeast side of Dade City, FL for a few days and found it to be quite a neat place. Quiet. The park has a small campground, two cabins, primitive camping and group camping. There are spacious facilities for day visitors with pavilions, playgrounds, restrooms and ample parking. The staff here are very friendly and informative. There is no camp store.
We were in campsite #5. It is one of three pull-thru sites. The others are #3 and #4. All the rest are back-in. This one is listed as accommodating up to 50'. The other two are a bit less. The back-in sites accommodate smaller units. Privacy on most all sites is accomplished by distance and angle between sites. We had thick shrubbery on the passenger side. Very few have that luxury. Some have shrubbery at the back of the site.
The loop road splits at this site. Go left to a couple of back-in,
then the entrance road, go right to more back-in sites.
The back-in sites are spacious sites.
Travel through the loop is good for all sizes and heights of RVs.
Before reaching the campground loop is a large field with
hook-ups where camping is allowed. Some prefer more open
camping. The field is often used for county sponsored events.
Before getting to the campground loop road is the
parking lot for the fishing pier and canoe/kayak launch.
No power boats, swim at your own risk.Gator country. Also,
the trail head for the 1.7 mile paved, multi-use trail is here.
Hike it, bike it, roller blade it. Enjoy it.
The Withlacoochee River.
Like glass today.
Cypress knees on the shore. As you can see
the water level is down somewhat.
Boardwalk to the fishing pier. Off to the right side
is a place to launch a kayak or canoe.
Near the fishing pier are two pavilions and a playground.
There are three more pavilions, playground,
and restrooms further down the road.
Starting at the river access parking lot is a 1.75 mile loop paved
multipurpose trail. One may hike, bike or roller blade this moderately
easy trail. There are mild elevation changes along the route.
And, of course, you can use the entrance road,
but the trail is safer and more scenic.
In addition to the paved trail there are the Blue, Red, Green and Yellow unpaved
trails for hiking. All are moderate hiking with some elevation areas. Most are root free, but there are some areas where the trees make the hike a little challenging.
This section parallels the river for a while and is part of the Florida Trail.
The Blue trail is the longest at 2.9 miles and is a loop around the park
and a means to get to the primitive and group campsites.
Typical hiking trail terrain.
The Red trail, .25 miles, terminates into the
Green trail, .5 miles, after crossing a boardwalk.
The Green trail then leads to the observation tower. The Red, Green and Yellow
trails are sort of sub trails connecting to points of the Blue trail loop.
The Yellow trail is .2 miles, and connects the Green and Blue trails. These
connecting trails allow one to be creative and vary the hiking distance.
View from the top. That's the Green/Yellow trail terminus below.
Interesting knot in one of the supports.
Appropriate. Today is Valentine's Day.
Back at the campground stands a circa 1800s church.
And, of course, a cemetery. These gravestones are those of part of the
Bradley family who lived in this area. Story has it Maj. Robert Bradley was an Indian fighter responsible for killing many a Seminole. Seeking revenge a party of Seminoles raided the house and killed two daughters and what they thought was papa Bradley. It was his brother. The major was "out of town" and escaped death only to die later of pneumonia. So the story goes.
Inside the church. It is now being converted
into a nature/activity center.
Also in the campground is a small cabin....
...and a large cabin. Both cabins are what is described as a wood tent.
There is no kitchen and renters must bring their own linens and a means
to cook, eat, entertain, etc. Gas or propane grills are not allowed inside.
So, cook outside or bring a microwave...and ice chest.
And, finally, the campground restroom. Small, but then it's a small campground, dated, but kept clean by the staff.
Enjoy this quiet little county park.
