9110 SE CR 337 352-465-8585 Dunnellon, FL 34431 fl-dof.com/state_forests/goethe.html MAPS: available at the Black Prong, Apex and Tidewater trailheads, all located along CR337, and as downloads from the Goethe forest website. An extensive trail system allows hikers, horse riders, and cyclists to experience over 53,000 acres of vital wildlife habitat. The Goethe State Forest contains 15 different natural communities, including one of the largest remaining long-leaf pine forests in Florida. This extensive oldgrowth forest has one of the largest redcockaded woodpecker populations on state lands in Florida. Other rare animal species include the Florida black bear, gopher tortoise, Sherman’s fox squirrel and bald eagle. Rare plants include the hooded pitcher plant and coontie. Goethe forest is prized by horseback riders, birders and wildlife watchers. Fishing, hunting and overnight camping are allowed with permits; contact Forest staff to arrange details. 68
place to view hardwood-dwelling songbirds such as hooded warblers, parula warblers and red-eyed vireos. To catch a glimpse of wading birds and ducks such as herons, egrets, sandhill cranes and an occasional wood stork, visit Buck Island Pond, which is located in the Apex Tract west of CR 337 and at Deer Pen Pond, located off of CR 337 at the northern boundary of the forest. Swallow-tailed kites and bald eagles are frequently seen while driving or walking along the roads in the Apex Tract. Trailheads located off CR 337: BLACK PRONG trailhead is just north of CR 326. APEX trailhead is located on CR 337, just south of SR 121. TIDEWATER trailhead is on CR 337, just before you get to CR 336. The three trails above are for mixed use, including mountain biking and horses. Trailheads accommodate horse trailers. BUCK ISLAND POND is also on CR 337. It is not designed for horse trailers. The new hiking trail goes near the pond and an observation platform as well. The Black Prong (Orange Section) intersects this new loop and there is a horse trail connector there also. Additional Resources: Checklist of Birds: fl-dof.com/state_forests/sf_pdf/goethe_ bird_list.pdf Friends of Nature-Based Equine Tourism: TheGoetheTrail.com
photos: courtesy Goethe State Forest
GOETHE STATE FOREST
Birding on the Big Cypress Trail BIG CYPRESS trailhead: follow SR 121 east from US 19, or west from CR 336, look for Cow Creek Road, a dirt road that is in fine shape for passenger vehicles. At the first fork stay right and drive 3.2 miles to the parking area. (Cow Creek Road connects with CR 326 if you continue 3 more miles north.) The Big Cypress Trail remains a littleknown, out of the way hike. The roundtrip is only a half mile but it leads to one of Florida’s amazing botanical wonders: a towering cypress tree more than 900 years old. The trail is an excellent spot for viewing brown-headed nuthatches, red-cockaded woodpeckers, great crested flycatchers and eastern towhees in the pine flat woods running along Gasline Road and Cow Creek Road. Big Cypress Trail, accessible at the trailhead on Cow Creek Road (5 miles south of CR 326), is an excellent