Riverbanks Adventure Forum

ATV Riding/Camping at Croom, Withlacoochee State Forrest, FL

// June 6th, 2009 // No Comments » // ATV, Adventure Vacations, Camping, Motor sports

Honda TRX90 Muddin'

Croom Offroad Motorcycle Area is located off SR 50 and I-275 on the outskirts of  Brooksville, Florida.  It is 2600 acres of land dedicated for ATV and Motor-Cross Bikes and it is great place for family riding.  The park was established in 1973 with the efforts of an organization called the Florida Trail Riders, who are advocates of responsible trail riding and have worked together with the Florida Department of Agriculture to establish safe riding practices.   The terrain is hardwood hammock, tight scrubs, and some wetlands during the rainy season.

Motorcross Bike at Croom

Parts of it are abandoned mining areas pits that are now part of the  Withlacoochee State Forrest, and that makes for some interesting hill riding.  There is also a lake in the front that can be a huge mud pit during the dry season.   There is also a coral area that is fenced off for the little tikes that are learning how to ride.  Croom definitely has something for everyone. There are easy trails for beginners, wide trails full of whoops for the racer, tight winding trails that can challenge even the best rider, tight hill climbs in mine pit areas, and plenty of areas with water.

Honda Foreman 450 4x4, Croom

The camping area is near the back of the park and has amenities for RV hook ups.  During the winter months, this camping area fills up fast and they do not take reservations.  Although it is nice to wake up and start riding first thing in the morning without having to unload, the Silver Lake Campgroundoff Croom Rital Road is a nice second choice and is just minutes from the Motorcycle Area. For those of you who prefer not to camp, there is a Holiday Inn on SR 50 just outside the entrance of the park and are used to hosting riders.

Camping at Croom Motorcycle Area

Our Clan Camping at Croom

We happen to live only an hour from here so naturally that is the place we frequent the most for ATV riding.  There are plenty of trails mapped out by the Forrest rangers, however, there  are also many trails cutting through the woods. This makes for fun riding but can get the average person temporarily disorientated.  The 2600 acres are fenced in so it hard to get lost.   It is easy to get confused and is not a bad idea to carry a GPS until you are familiar with the park. 

Despite the $45 annual riding fee, this area continues to be one of the most popular riding areas in the state.  (see the link below for rules and regulations on riding) 

Rules and Fees

ATV Riding Family Fun in Big Cypress National Preserve, Fl

// May 30th, 2009 // No Comments » // ATV, Adventure Vacations, Big Cypress Swamp Florida, Camping

It was New Year’s Eve 2002 we decided to camp Big Cypress Swamp and take our kids out on their ATV’s.  This time of year is the dry season in Florida and the mosquitoes at their seasonal low which is considered normal activity in other parts of the United States.  The water in the swamps are also at their seasonal low and we were bound to get into less trouble.  We set up Camp on Lost Dog Prairie and immediately got busy looking for firewood. 

Camping on Lost Dog Prairie

 A fire is a must out here. It is still the home of many wild animals including black bear, wild hogs, deer, rattlesnakes, and the endangered wild panther.  We sat around the fire sharing stories and anticipating tomorrows adventure of riding through the swamps.  

Riding Honda TRX90 on Prairie

 Two of the younger kids had 90′s cc engines.  We let them ride around the Prairie but unfortunately they would not have enough power to take on the muddy areas.  After a hearty breakfast we packed our lunches and headed out. We had a Honda Foreman 450 4×4, 2 Honda 250′s, and one Polaris 500.

Muddin' in Big Cypress Swamp - Honda Foreman 450

We had a great time riding!  We rode through water, we rode through mud, we got stuck, we got out…we got stuck again and could not get out.   

ATV Stuck in Mud, Big Cypress Swamp. FL

Luckily a local past time of riding through the swamp  with a   home -made   Swamp Buggy is still pretty popular. 

Swamp Buggy 1

Swamp Buggy 2

We watched a few swamp buggies pass by..too proud to ask for help..until we finally broke down and decided we weren’t getting the Polaris 500 out without some extra horse power.  We flagged down the next buggy and begged them to pull us out.  After hooking up the tow rope we were out in under a minute.  Nothing like a John Deere tractor engine on a homemade frame for heavy duty pulling!

ATV Rescue by Swamp Buggy

After that we went back to camp to rest and get some dinner.  Hot Cajun sausage with homemade Seafood Gumbo hit the spot after a fun day of riding.  We rode back out on the prairie looking for firewood again to get us through the night.  After the sun went down we went out for a little night ride.  All the ATV’s had headlights.  At 12:00 AM we celebrated the New Year. ….by watching other camper’s fireworks and by sending off some of our own. 

The next morning  a storm was heading our way.  We had to get up and pack up camp quickly.  The rains came down just as we were pulling away.  A memorable time with some old friends and some new.  And family adventure we can talk about for a lifetime.

Big Cypress National Preserve Rules and Regulations for OHV use

About the Author: Barbara is the owner of  an on-line store Riverbanks  Outdoor Store for several years and has frequently engaged in outdoor sports for years including camping, mountain biking, whitewater rating, kayaking, snorkeling, and hiking.    Barbara also hosts a blog Riverbanks Adventure Forum that focuses on product reviews and adventure vacations.

Product Review for GoPro Motorsports Hero Wide Angle Lense

// April 10th, 2009 // No Comments » // ATV, Helmet Camera, Motor sports, Waterproof Video Camera

Camera footage included!
I would also like to add that the unit runs on “AAA” batteries. In order to record the full 56 minutes uninterrupted, it is worth the extra money to purchase the lithium batteries.

About the Author: Barbara is the owner of  an online store Riverbanks  Outdoor Store for two years and has frequently engaged in outdoor sports for years including camping, mountain biking, whitewater rating, kayaking, snorkeling, and hiking.    Barbara also hosts a blog Riverbanks Adventure Forum that focuses on product reviews and adventure vacations.