Riverbanks Adventure Forum

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

// November 12th, 2009 // No Comments » // 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

Holly Hammock: The Hiker’s Delight – Trailwalker Journey Week 2

// November 8th, 2009 // No Comments » // Adventures, Florida Trailwalker, Hiking

Pretty Lily Pond by Riverbanksoutdoorstore

My second week and third Trailwalker hike was Holly Hammock in the Ross Prairie State Forest.  Hiking guru and author Sandra Friend was gracious enough to invite me up near Ocala on a summer Saturday to hike this with her for her new Edition of 50 Hikes of Central Florida. I was honored to lead clearing the path of giant banana spiders as Sandy trailed marking data points and taking video of the trail. A noble assignment indeed!
I found this trail cozy and inviting as it winds through the forest under fern covered oak branches. The forest floor covered with little gray fluffy spheres of deer moss. We were fortunate to see several Green fly Orchids still in bloom.

While we were enjoying the trek Sandy unveiled to me the history behind this hikers gem.   This trail was designed by master hikers for hikers and is truly an enjoyable trek. The Forest approached Kenneth Smith, Trail master for the Cross Florida Greenway trails, to see if he would mark out a hiking trail in the woods over at Ross Prairie State Forest. Ken was clever enough to enlist Florida Hikes webmaster and hiking guru, Sandra Friend, on his team to mark the proposed trail. With Ken’s acute trail sense and Sandra’s keene eyes, they set out to explore the forest. They flagged the route that deliberately leads you past tremendous sand oaks blanketed with resurrection fern and an occasional Green Fly Orchid, up a ridge into a pine forest, and out onto a wide open prairie. On the prairie, fresh deer and Florida panther prints in the moist packed sand are indicative of visitors who had roamed this path earlier. The trail twists and turns back through the forest under large oak arms and past spiny leafed holly bushes. One can only imagine the delightful scene of the holly festively laden with bright red berries during Christmas time.  This 2.8 mile trail is truly a hike for all seasons!

As we finished the trail, we could see a massive Florida thunderstorm quickly moving our way.  We decided reschedule our plans for other hikes to another time.

As I drove off with my yearning for adventure not completely satisfied, I took some backroads in hopes that I could fine another hike before calling it a day…..I found Lake McKethan my fourth Trailwalker hike…the adventure continues….

See more photos of Holly Hammock on Flickr

 Guide Books: 50 Hikes of Central Florida, Author Sandra Friend

Other Trailwalker Adventures Blogs: Goethe Week 1, Lake McKethan