Friends of the Withlacoochee State Trail, Inc.

08/11/2026

RIDE. PROTECT PRESERVE. the Withlacoochee State Trail on October 4th. This is the 29th Annual Withlacoochee State Trail bike ride in Inverness, Florida. Fill your bucket list and ride one of the most popular bike rides in Florida.

Last year’s Annual Ride drew over 800 registrants from all over the world.
YOU riders supported the 100-Year-Old Caboose. Come see what you made happen! The exterior restoration of the caboose has been completed! Thank you.
Sign up to participate for just $30.00! Tee shirt purchase is optional.

Come join the Century Riders while they make their annual visit to the Withlacoochee State Trail to ride 100 miles and also the Metric Century riders who ride 62.5 miles. See the first timers attempt the Century Ride and the Metric Century Ride. Either ride is a feat of stamina.
Go to:
https://www.bikesignup.com/Race/FL/Inverness/WithlacoocheeStateTrailAnnualRide

Anyone can ride in this Annual Event.
We have a 48-mile ride, A 24-mile ride, and for those wishing to join this amazing event, you can do the short ride, our Floral City Ride, only 15-miles or make it an Any Distance Ride. Fun for all ages.

Ride one of America’s best Rails-to-Trails biking and hiking trails, a TOP10 Best Outdoor Trail in the USA (by a readers poll in USA today) for 3 years running!

LEND A HAND. Volunteer to join our happy, friendly trail users who want to join in the fun. https://www.withlacoocheestatetrail.com/blank-2

Sign up for our ride today:
https://www.bikesignup.com/Race/FL/Inverness/WithlacoocheeStateTrailAnnualRide

Enjoy your day on the trail. The Friends

08/03/2026

Anyone remember what year this Ride Jersey commemorated?
Sign up for the 2026 Withlacoochee State Trail Bike Ride.
Century Riders, Metric Century Riders, and Any Distance riders welcome. T-Shirt purchase and Lunch voucher purchase optional! October 4th

https://www.bikesignup.com/Race/FL/Inverness/WithlacoocheeStateTrailAnnualRide

RIDE. PRESERVE. PROTECT.
Run by volunteers and supported by donations. We would love for you to join us!

07/18/2026

On October 4, 2026, Join the Friends of the Withlacoochee State Trail for our Annual Preservation Ride! This event brings together cyclists and community members dedicated to protecting and preserving our treasured trail. By riding with us, you help keep the wheels turning for ongoing trail preservation—ensuring that our trail remains safe, scenic, and accessible for all. Come be a part of the movement and help sustain the beauty and vitality of our trail for generations to come.

Another FUN event by The Friends of the Withlacoochee State Trail, a Top10 BEST Outdoor Recreational Trail in the USA for 3 years running (USA Today).

Become a member at www.WithlacoocheeStateTrail.com
https://www.bikesignup.com/Race/FL/Inverness/WithlacoocheeStateTrailAnnualRide

The Withlacoochee State Trail Annual Ride is on Sunday October 4, 2026. It includes the following events: Century Ride, Metric Century Ride, 48 Mile Ride, 24 Mile Ride, and Floral City Ride - Any Distance.

07/16/2026

Ran into a fine group of every day trail riders. Including the self proclaimed “Mayor of the trail”, far right, and Demi, the manager of the Inverness Trek Bicycle Store. Elvis isn’t wearing a helmet, but he has a roll bar on his pet carrying basket.

07/06/2026

Guess who visited our caboose on the 3rd? Among the dignitaries who were interested to see what this “Walk Through” is about, we were graced by our oldest living Rails to Trails President, that I am aware of, Ken Spilios visited with gifts of artifacts from our trail history. We were entertained by his stories of the beginnings of the trail and his own history, being an Audubon Society President for Citrus County. You may remember the first Blast from the Past post I made about his first venture onto the trail in a previous post, describing the wildlife he encountered on the trail from his first walk after the State of Florida purchased the rail line from CSX. What a wonderful event. We hope to repeat the caboose walk through more times in the future. Thank you to the sponsors, volunteers, and members who made this happen. More exciting things to come on our beloved Withlacoochee State Trail!

07/03/2026

Step Back in Time and Tour The Caboose - July 3rd, 3:00-5:00 pm
250th Inverness Caboose TourThe Friends of the Withlacoochee State Trail invite you to join us on Thursday, July 3rd at the caboose at Liberty Park during the Inverness 250th Patriotic Evening for the unveiling of the beautifully restored exterior of our 100-year-old Magor Company wooden cupola caboose, an enduring symbol of the railroad heritage that gave rise to Florida’s beloved 47-mile Withlacoochee State Trail.

Through the generosity of our sponsors and donors, and especially the support of the more than 800 cyclists who participate in our Annual Ride each October, this historic caboose has been brought back to life. Countless volunteer hours and the talents of dedicated craftspeople have transformed this railroad treasure into a lasting reminder of the people, places, and stories that shaped our community. The caboose stands as more than a restored railcar. It represents the spirit of stewardship that has guided the Friends of the Withlacoochee State Trail for decades—volunteers who plant trees, maintain the trail, preserve its history, and work to ensure that future generations will enjoy one of Florida’s premier hiking, running, and bicycling destinations.

Visitors are invited to step inside and experience a temporary museum featuring photographs, artifacts, and stories celebrating the history of the caboose, the railroad era, and the remarkable transformation from rails to trails.

We hope you will join us as we honor the volunteers, donors, cyclists, and community partners whose dedication made this restoration possible.

Preserving the past. Stewarding the present. Inspiring the future.

Event: 250th Celebration of America Inverness Patriotic Evening
Place: Inverness Liberty Park - Inverness Trailhead Caboose 286 N Apopka Avenue Inverness, FL 34450
Date: July 3, 2026
Time: 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm
Admission is free. All are welcome.

06/27/2026

https://naturecoaster.com/step-back-in-time-and-tour-the-restored-caboose-on-july-3-in-inverness/?fbclid=IwRlRTSASs1KZwZG9mA2ZkaWQWUJcNUL75FofbCqgc7rrr4ntCI5YjSWV4dG4DYWVtAjExAHNydGMGYXBwX2lkCjY2Mjg1NjgzNzkAAR4nlDjJpvUbEey-DERXLgylBf06MtxWWI3Ev2eTlJJ12kj-w2XIujY2nw4OYA_aem_Mm0w8FBULQORlr1ADs9aKA

INVERNESS, FL – The Friends of the Withlacoochee State Trail will welcome visitors on Thursday, July 3, for the unveiling of the beautifully restored exterior of a 100‑year‑old Magor Company wooden…

06/18/2026

Step Back in Time and Tour The Caboose
- July 3rd, 3:00-5:00 pm

The Friends of the Withlacoochee State Trail invite you to join us on Thursday, July 3rd at the caboose at Liberty Park during the Inverness 250th Patriotic Evening for the unveiling of the beautifully restored exterior of our 100-year-old Magor Company wooden cupola caboose, an enduring symbol of the railroad heritage that gave rise to Florida’s beloved 47-mile Withlacoochee State Trail.

Through the generosity of our sponsors and donors, and especially the support of the more than 800 cyclists who participate in our Annual Ride each 1st Sunday in October, this historic caboose has been brought back to life.

Countless volunteer hours and the talents of dedicated craftspeople have
transformed this railroad treasure into a lasting reminder of the people, places, and stories that shaped our community.

The caboose stands as more than a restored railcar. It represents the spirit
of stewardship that has guided the Friends of the Withlacoochee State
Trail for decades—volunteers who plant trees, maintain the trail, preserve
its history, and work to ensure that future generations will enjoy one of
Florida’s premier hiking, running, and bicycling destinations.

Visitors are invited to step inside and experience a temporary museum
featuring photographs, artifacts, and stories celebrating the history of the
caboose, the railroad era, and the remarkable transformation from rails to
trails.

We hope you will join us as we honor the volunteers, donors, cyclists, and
community partners whose dedication made this restoration possible.

Preserving the past. Stewarding the present. Inspiring the future.

Event: 250th Celebration of America Inverness Patriotic Evening

Place: Inverness Liberty Park - Inverness Trailhead Caboose
286 N Apopka Avenue
Inverness, FL 34450

Date: July 3, 2026

Time: 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm

Admission is free. All are welcome.

06/18/2026

June Slow Ride has been cancelled for today. Rolling thunderstorms have already caused power outages in Hernando County as the storm is headed this way. You can always see status of our events at:

We are stewards committed to maintaining the infrastructure that keeps our trail beautiful. From restoring resting areas to maintaining the tree canopy, we ensure a shaded path for every Friend and visitor.

05/28/2026

Flashback Thursday article

"This is crazy," said McCann, pleased just to be out and hiking on a pretty morning. "I'm doing something I love to do and they pay me for it. Can you believe that?" This week we met with Janice McCann to do a video interview about her husband Jim McCann, the first CSO President for the Withlacooche...