Welcome to the volunteer page. We help the Florida
Forest Service maintain the shared use trail system at
Goethe State Forest in Levy County, Florida. Please click
on the Forest link for more info and maps of the trails.
Our trails are excellent for wildlife viewing, either by
hiking, biking, riding horses or driving carriages.
Unlicensed vehicles and ATV's are not allowed on the
forest. Open roads that have name signs are drivable
(weather permitting) by cars and trucks. The trails are
color coded and are marked going one-way for safety.
There are three trailheads for shared use. They are all
along CR 337. The northern trailhead is Black Prong and
it is just north of CR 326. The middle trailhead is
Apex; this is also the site of the office complex. It is
located on CR 337, just south of SR 121. And Tidewater
is at the bottom of CR 337, just before you get to CR
336. The newest trailhead is Buck Island Pond and it is
on CR 337 too. It is not designed for horse trailers.
There is a hiking trail that goes near the pond and an
observation platform as well. The Orange Trail
intersects this new loop and there is a horse trail
connector there also. Maps are located on the Forest
web page.
All of these trailheads have picnic tables, water spigots,
a bulletin board(kiosk), fire grills and hitching posts.
Tidewater and Black Prong both have beautiful
restrooms; Tidewater and Apex have large picnic
shelters also. There are approximately 20-30 miles of
marked trails at each site, making the Goethe Trail
System one of the largest in the South. There is a
board walk trail to the Big Cypress Tree off of Cow
Creek Road and the Forest is also part of the Great
Florida Birding Trail.
The Watermelon Pond Trailhead is now open. This is
north of Bronson on CR 337, just north of the Alachua
County line. The electric is not on yet for the well so
you may want to bring water. Here are the WP hunt
dates.
For more information on the Goethe Trail System, click
here.
Goethe is also a Wildlife Management Area, click for
the dates when hunting is allowed. The trails remain
open but caution and respect are highly recommended.
Notices of hunting dates are posted on the kiosks at
each trailhead. For more detailed information about the
forest, click on the Goethe State Forest web link or
call (352) 465-8585.
User fees are being collected at each trailhead, please
use the envelopes provided and keep your stub. Annual
permits that are good at all State Forests (and are the
best value) are available at the office . Please
remember to have a copy of your Coggins Test papers
with you AT ALL TIMES, even on the trail!
For other wonderful places to explore Visit Levy County!
Forest Service maintain the shared use trail system at
Goethe State Forest in Levy County, Florida. Please click
on the Forest link for more info and maps of the trails.
Our trails are excellent for wildlife viewing, either by
hiking, biking, riding horses or driving carriages.
Unlicensed vehicles and ATV's are not allowed on the
forest. Open roads that have name signs are drivable
(weather permitting) by cars and trucks. The trails are
color coded and are marked going one-way for safety.
There are three trailheads for shared use. They are all
along CR 337. The northern trailhead is Black Prong and
it is just north of CR 326. The middle trailhead is
Apex; this is also the site of the office complex. It is
located on CR 337, just south of SR 121. And Tidewater
is at the bottom of CR 337, just before you get to CR
336. The newest trailhead is Buck Island Pond and it is
on CR 337 too. It is not designed for horse trailers.
There is a hiking trail that goes near the pond and an
observation platform as well. The Orange Trail
intersects this new loop and there is a horse trail
connector there also. Maps are located on the Forest
web page.
All of these trailheads have picnic tables, water spigots,
a bulletin board(kiosk), fire grills and hitching posts.
Tidewater and Black Prong both have beautiful
restrooms; Tidewater and Apex have large picnic
shelters also. There are approximately 20-30 miles of
marked trails at each site, making the Goethe Trail
System one of the largest in the South. There is a
board walk trail to the Big Cypress Tree off of Cow
Creek Road and the Forest is also part of the Great
Florida Birding Trail.
The Watermelon Pond Trailhead is now open. This is
north of Bronson on CR 337, just north of the Alachua
County line. The electric is not on yet for the well so
you may want to bring water. Here are the WP hunt
dates.
For more information on the Goethe Trail System, click
here.
Goethe is also a Wildlife Management Area, click for
the dates when hunting is allowed. The trails remain
open but caution and respect are highly recommended.
Notices of hunting dates are posted on the kiosks at
each trailhead. For more detailed information about the
forest, click on the Goethe State Forest web link or
call (352) 465-8585.
User fees are being collected at each trailhead, please
use the envelopes provided and keep your stub. Annual
permits that are good at all State Forests (and are the
best value) are available at the office . Please
remember to have a copy of your Coggins Test papers
with you AT ALL TIMES, even on the trail!
For other wonderful places to explore Visit Levy County!
| The Goethe Trail, Inc. Dedicated to nature-based equine tourism |
