Crooked River Group Camp Withlacoochee State Forest

Open — Open year-round. Reservations can be made up to 11 months in advance through Reserve America.

About

Crooked River Group Camp is situated within the Croom Tract of Withlacoochee State Forest in Hernando County, just a short 5-mile drive from I-75. The campground sits on the shore of Silver Lake, which is part of the Withlacoochee River system, designated as an Outstanding Florida Water. This tent-only group camp is specifically designed for organized youth groups including Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, Cub Scouts, and church or civic youth groups of 25 or fewer members. The Silver Lake Recreation Complex provides access to a variety of recreational activities including boating, paddling, fishing, wildlife viewing, bicycling, and hiking. Withlacoochee State Forest spans over 165,000 acres across five counties and features open pine sand hills, dense woodlands, and canopied trails. The forest is home to bald eagles, fox squirrels, gopher tortoises, white-tailed deer, and turkeys. Tree species include slash pine, longleaf pine, cypress, maple, magnolia, hickory, and various oaks. The forest was ranked number one on the World Wildlife Fund's "10 Coolest Places You've Never Seen in North America" in 1999. The youth group area includes fire pits or rings with grates and picnic tables. A bathhouse is accessible within the campground, and a day use area features picnic facilities, restrooms, and a pavilion available for rent. Campers have access to boat ramps, the Withlacoochee State Trail, and river access for fishing and paddling. Leashed pets are permitted with proper documentation and adherence to forest rules.

Directions

Via I-75: Take Exit 301 for SR-50/US Hwy 98. Head east on SR-50/US Hwy 98 to the third traffic light at Croom-Rital Road. Turn left (north) on Croom-Rital Road and continue approximately 3.5 miles to the entrance to Silver Lake Recreation Complex on the right. Follow the road to the right for the campgrounds. Crooked River Youth Group Area is in the last campground at the end of the campground road.

Nearby Campgrounds