Riverbanks Adventure Forum

Lake McKethan – A Small Park with Large Forest Wonders – Trailwalker Journey Week 2

// November 12th, 2009 // Adventures, Florida Trailwalker, Hiking

 

Orange Pumpkin Mushroom by Riverbanksoutdoorstore

After a delightful morning hike at Holly Hammock, I felt charged and was not ready to go home despite the large storm system that rolled in off the Gulf.  As I drove south towards Tampa, the rain began to fade into overcast skies.  As I was heading east toward the Gulf, I spotted a sign that said Park next right.  On an impulsive decision, I turned right not knowing what was in store but desperate to salvage my outing, I came upon a Recreational Park named Lake McKethan still within limits of the Withlacoochee State Forest.  As I drove around the paved circle drive,  grand live oaks with branches covered in resurrection fern near a small lake grabbed my attention.  I stopped the truck to take photos of these majestic oaks.  Several Tropical Checkered Skippers and Phaon Crescent butterlies fluttered in the wildflowers thriving in the boggy soils along the the bank.  After shooting photos,  a Nature Trail sign caught my eye.  I decided to get my daypack and set out to explore this trail. The trail was well marked and had simple interpretive posts identifying different trees and bushes of this habitat. I was greeted by a Tiger Swallowtail that kept landing three feet in front of me taunting me to take his photo. To my wonderment, the moist oak hammock was home to a diverse selection of fungi of many shapes, sizes, and colors. Bright orange pumpkin fungi, cupped Oyster Mushrooms, and the flat layered pancake mushrooms were three of several fungi amongst the oaks.  At my halfway point, the trail spit me out in front of a Kiosk on which the Trailwalker emblem was posted. My fourth Trailwalker hike was on the Nature Trail at Lake McKethan in the Withlacoochee State forest.  I was elated! I plunged back into the forest to finish the last mile with a spring in my step.  The next half of the trail winds through swampy lowlands with spots of wild coffee, a variety of  ferns, and oaks.   After a 2 mile trek, the trail led me to a bridge over the south part of the lake back to the Oaks under which I parked.  

What a delightful time I had on this overcast, rainy day!  With two more Trailwalker Trails under my belt I headed for home…pleasantly reminiscing the stories shared by my friend Sandra and the sites of  Holly Hammock and Lake McKethan I was fortunate enough to see today.

View more photos of Lake McKethan on flickr. 

Trailwalker Blog Posts: Goethe Week 1, Holly Hammock Week 2