🌳🌲🌴Hog Island to River Junction via Iron Bridge <14 mile hike

Hello peeps, this is one of my favorite in and back events. This is a ‘cool’ place to hike for at least 4 reasons. The trail is mostly shaded. There are 3 points of interest (Hog Island Recreation Area, Iron Bridge, River Junction). We will be on the National Scenic Florida Trail. We will have a lunch break over looking the wonderful Withlacoochee if we can find a good spot at JR.

The trail is also mostly packed dirt, grass/weeds, pine needles and dead leaves. We will cross over a few roads. There are changes in elevation so you will feel like you are hiking uphill at times (especially early on). There are four steep climbs (banks to go up and down at the 1st road and 2 quick hills near Iron Bridge). Before River Junction, we will go under an i75 bridge. The entire trail is well marked with yellow blazes but there are places we can easily walk off. We will see lots of cypress knees but we aren’t hiking through them. The trail could have some downed trees and branches and some wet spots--as hikers we will be ready for anything.

On the day of the hike, we will meet at 815 am and head out at 830 sharp. We will meet at the boat launch/picnic area at Hog Island Recreation Area.

When traveling to Hog Island and you are on Sumter County 635, do not turn on 647 if instructed by your GPS. Proceed on 635 – it becomes a packed dirt road and Hog Island appears before you turn left on the curve. Enter the park where you see the park sign. Once you enter, continue for about 5 minutes – this road may have lots of potholes that you can easily drive around if you go slow. Turn right at the picnic area/boat launch sign. Parking begins on your right.

There is a daily fee of $2.00 and it's payable online on the day you need it at: Pass Details - Florida State Forests. An annual Florida State Forest Pass will cover you, too.

Important:
~ If tick seasons has started, you are going to leave with some ticks.
~ There are bathrooms in the campgrounds (Hog Island & River Junction) but no guarantee they will be open.
~ We are not hiking the foot trail – it's not the Croom Hiking Trail.
~ The trail definitely has ticks and loads of mosquitoes. Recommended: tights tucked into socks, permethrin on your clothes, picaridin or deet on your person.
~ This is a rain or shine event unless there is a threat of thunder and lightning.

Please do not sign up if you haven't done over 14 miles in just over 5 hours on a hike with changing elevation. This is a difficult hike because of the pace, distance and terraine.

For this hike, you will need at least 3-4 liters of water, snacks, bug/tick spray, hiking boots (no sandals) and anything else you deem necessary for your comfort. For the snack break, you might want to bring sunscreen, a hat, and a ground cloth to sit on.

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

I am asking everyone to sign up (no guests) so everyone can read the waiver & agree to the 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.
Any questions or concerns, please comment below. Thanks.