Hike Richloam WMA South Loop for an Enjoyable Walk through Beautiful Pine Forests

Golden Rod and pines 200x300 Hike Richloam WMA South Loop for an Enjoyable Walk through Beautiful Pine Forests

Golden Rod and Tall Pines

Fall is a great time to hike the South Loop in the Richloam WMA tract of the Withlacoochee State Forest and for my 28th Florida Trailwalker Hike, I chose to tackle this 12.5 mile monster as a day-hike. The trail is maintained by the Florida Trail Associationand the West leg of the loop is part of the main trail for Florida Trail thru-hikers. This 12.5 mile trail leads you through many of Florida’s habitats including pine flat-woods, pine plantations, cypress ponds, hardwood hammocks and along a cypress dominated river floodplain. This loop makes for a nice long day-hike or make it an overnight-er by setting up camp in the primitive campsite along the trail near Devil’s Creek Road.

I started at the Richloam Firetower off Claysink Road where there is parking and potable water. Forest Rangers live on site but there are no facilities other than an informational kiosk and parking for visitors. On the east side of Clay Sink Road I picked up a Florida Trail connector trail that lead me through a hardwood forest past a Cypress Swamp for approximately 1.1 miles to intersect the East Loop Trail. This intersection is well marked with signs. I followed the sign that points south for the South Loop Trail. I headed south into a forest mixed with Hardwoods and Pines, out into a wide open Pine Flatwood, and back into the mixed forest. As the canopy gets thicker I will passed several giant oak trees several feet in diameter along the trail. Look closely at the resurrection fern covered branches I noticed a couple of green fly orchid leaves standing strong to their tiny piece of oak branch real estate. Deeper into the shady hardwood hammock I was enjoying the scenery down low - spongy matts of silver moss, spikemoss, lichens, and other odd shaped fungi. I was delighted to notice a lone toothpetal orchid protruding from the surrounding green foliage almost to say “notice me!” The floor was so busy and lush with greenery it was a almost a miracle that I noticed this green colored ground orchid and I wonder how many I missed! As the overhead canopy lightens back up and I come out of the forest, the Giant Bog Buttons that resemble pin cushions are almost three feet tall as they reach for the sunlight. A pileated woodpecker begins to squawk to alert others that an intruder has entered his territory. I know that he soon relaxes when I hear the rat-a-tat-tat jack-hammer sound of them pecking at the soft pine trees. Relieved to be back in the pine forest, I sit on a log to grab a snack and perform some blister maintenance. Same shoes but new socks was the culprit on my big toe this time. I hear a loud ruffle in the Saw Palmetto bushes. I hold my breath and watch as an unsuspecting armadillo waddles out of the forest. I take a few snapshots…he hears me but does not feel threatened…he carries on with his foraging back into the brush. The pine-lands are boasting a variety of fall wildflowers including paint brush, liatris, golden rod, meadow beauty, drumheads, bachelor’s buttons, short leafed genetian, iron weed, asters, and many others. I am like a kid in a candy shop trying to capture these wonderful fall beauties at different angles and lights with my camera.

I notice it is getting late and I need to step it up to finish the hike before sundown. I pick up the pace until approximately mile 8. It is at this intersection, the South Loop Trail intersects the main trail…the National Scenic Florida Trail. There is also a scenic side trail, the Low Water Trail. Other hikes along the Withlacoochee River have always been magical to me amongst Cypress Trees and their knobby knees protruding from the forest floor. This is rare scenery indeed. Although it was getting late, I opted for the longer scenic trail and without regret I must add. I enjoyed walking among the Cypress trees and along the Little Withlacoochee River which begins just up the trail in the Green Swamp. I take many scenic shots of the River and its Cypress laden floodplain.

Bald Face Hornets Nest hanging along the river

As the trail turns away from the river, I notice a football shaped hornets nest. Excited by the find, I hop over a fallen tree trunk and begin to shoot photos taking great care that I do not get too close. I had only seen this type of nest in museums….this was a first encounter for me seeing an active nest. I make my way back to the trail and only a few hundred feet away I spot another hornets nest hanging over the river. This time I take a scenic photo of the river with the hornets nest hanging in the corner. With a new found energy, I pick up my pace, as I now know I will not reach the fire tower before dark. At another resting point, I pull out my detailed Florida Trail map searching for a strategic point on which to exit the trail onto a forest road that will still lead me eventually back to my truck. With three miles to go, the sky is glowing orange in the after-light that appears after the sun dips below the horizon. I have one more mile of forest walk before I reach the old Seaboard Railroad grade. This road will eventually intersect Clay Sink Road not too far from the fire tower. I reach the old railroad tram road just as darkness settles in. I look for the moon, but it does not come out tonight. I enjoy the stars and planet Venus lighting up the skies as I listen to the Owls and coyotes making their nightly calls. Satisfaction from a great day in Florida’s wilderness, I can’t help but wonder what wonderful sights I missed on the two miles of the Florida Trail I had to bypass. I grinned knowing that I won’t rest until I come back…..