Withlacoochee State Trail Ridge Manor Trailhead 9 miles give or take :)

I'm revisiting the first hike I ever did with Suncoast Outdoors <3. This hike is about 9.5 mile in and back in the Withlacoochee State Forest from the Ridge Manor Trailhead, in the direction of Crooked River.

We will hike the orange and blue trails and enjoy a lovely combo of open sky and forest canopy, and pine needle/dirt and sugar sand trails that loosely follow the curves of the Withlacoochee River. There's lots to see including the river, cliffs, cypress domes, oak hammocks, pine nurseries, wildlife, and hopefully a few colorful winter flowers.

Because of the season, this should be a dry hike and many trees will be bare so please plan for lots of sun. If it happens to rain, I will still see you there with your rain gear (really a must if the temps are low). We will hike at a moderate pace and take short breaks as required plus one 20 minute break for a snack.

On the day of the hike, please meet me at 8:45 am at the pavilion next to the bathroom and the parking lot. We will leave at 9 am sharp. You will need at least 2 liters of water, snacks, bug spray, sunscreen, a hat, hikers, and anything else you deem necessary for your comfort. There are very few benches so you may want to bring a ground cloth to sit on during the snack break. There are bathrooms and water at the trailhead only.

My number on the day of the hike is 813-713-2492.

For information about the hike, visit https://floridahikes.com/tag/ridge-manor.

I am asking that everyone signs up (no guests) so everyone can agree to the waiver and agree to the following conditions:

ASSUMPTION OF RISK

YOUR ATTENDANCE AT A "SUNCOAST OUTDOORS " SPONSORED EVENT IS YOUR EXPRESS ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF UNDERSTANDING AND UNCONDITIONAL ACCEPTANCE OF FULL PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY AND LIABILITY FOR ALL ASSOCIATED RISKS.

Possible risks from participation include, but are not limited to: injury from a trip and fall, venomous snakes, stinging insects, venomous spiders, wildlife encounters, heat stroke, dehydration, hypothermia, noxious vegetation, weather related injury, insect or airborne transmissible virus and disease, smoke inhalation, wildfire, and falling trees.

I am not a professional guide, just a volunteer for the group.