Hog Island Recreation Area

Sometimes I have mixed feelings about sharing secret spots as they become more and more crowded. I love this park within the State Forest. Nice sites, small and quiet with a great hiking trail and river to paddle. Staff is excellent and park is very clean. In the winter firewood is available with an honor system for payment. Nice amenity.

  

The only reason for not giving it 5 stars is the very reason we love it and that's because the hookups are water only and no electricity. This keeps the big rigs out and campers who want to bring their entire house with them. 

  

What no electricity really means to us is we can't camp at Hog Island in the Summer because what we do like on weekends is sleep we don't get during the work week. Just too hot without AC for us.

  

Other than that, this is a really secluded park with a great hiking trail and paddling on the Withlacoochee. Other than that, bring your own fun as it's kind of a hike to the nearest town (Brooksville or Inverness)

One of our favorites

The [Hog Island Recreation Area](http://www.freshfromflorida.com/Divisions-Offices/Florida-Forest-Service/Our-Forests/State-Forests/Withlacoochee-State-Forest/The-Croom-Tract-at-Withlacoochee-State-Forest#hog) is located on the eastern bank of the Withlacoochee river close to the small town of Nobleton. Part of the recreation area includes the Hog Island Nature Trail, part of the [Trailwalker Program](http://www.freshfromflorida.com/Divisions-Offices/Florida-Forest-Service/Recreation/Hiking) and officially certified as part of the longer [Florida National Scenic Trail](http://www.floridatrail.org/). The Hog Island Campground (fl-dof.com) provides nicely shaded and dry campsites for tent and RV campers with picnic tables and fire rings at each site. These sites are amazingly screened from each other with natural understory vegetation and access to the Withlacoochee River. Restroom with showers (which could use a little love and care), water spigots and a dump station are located nearby. Campers arriving by canoe can stay at a riverside campsite that includes access to drinking water.

This is a good campground with pretty decent warm/hot showers and electric hookups, so you aren't going to really be spending a few days completely off the grid. Although, cellular service is spotty, but mostly usable. The camp hosts were really nice and supposedly no pets are allowed, but I definitely heard some dogs at night. Just a few steps away is the Hog Island boat ramp, nature trail and a section of the Florida National Scenic Trail leaving you with lots to do.

**You get your standard nice campground features**

·       Large shared picnic area

·       Good fishing

·       Canoe and boat launch

·       No pets allowed.

*I heard some dogs and there were basically no one around, so maybe the host let some people get away with it…

·       2-mile loop [Nature Trail](http://www.freshfromflorida.com/Divisions-Offices/Florida-Forest-Service/Recreation/Hiking/Florida-Trailwalker-Trail-List-by-State-Forest).

·       Hiking trails:

*    - River Trail/Sumter is 7.2 miles.

·       Equestrian trails: 

*    - Hernando Main Loop is 18.65 miles.
*    - Hernando is 36.35 miles.
*    - Sumter is 7.70 miles.

Nice and secluded.

stayed with friends for a weekend r&amp;r. didnt do much but was nice. bathrooms again are good.

another sweet spot in the woods.

Nice enough campground. Sites have good privacy. My main complaint is that there is nothing else to do nearby.

Good Place to Chill

Great smaller recreation area that has nice, mostly private, sites. Water only, no electricity. The highlight of this area is the ability to kayak so make sure to bring yours. Wildlife was crazy the night we stayed. Like others have said, make sure to bring in everything you need as it’s a hike back to civilization. 

Give It A Shot!

The sites are good sized Some privacy between them. Hiking trails in the area. A boat ramp area to basically launch canoes or kayaks. Pretty nice paddling you can go either way and make it back to the boat ramp.

Cozy weekend stay

Si te gusta disfrutar del aire fresco y el canto de los pájaros este es un lugar genial. También puedes traer tu bici, Kayak o simplemente caminar por los senderos. 
Si agregaran electricidad a las áreas de camping ganarían 5 estrellas. Es un lugar muy hermoso y con frías noches, no olvides traer tu cámara 📷


Aire puro

This was our 1st camping trip in years. This is the only place I could find an opening for Memorial day weekend near by. We liked it. Most sites pretty  private. But no electric hook up. And there is a tick problem. But overall we will go again.

Nice campground in Florida 

 The sites are spacious and spread apart pretty well. I stayed in location number two, which is fairly close to the bathroom. The hiking trail was less than a ￼ quarter of a mile away. The boat launch/kayak launch was closer to the site. Very quiet at night, which was very peaceful.