The Florida Forest Service offers camping discounts for individuals age 65 and older, active-duty military or honorably discharged veterans, and for individuals 100% disabled at applicable camping facilities on Florida's State Forests. If you qualify for any of these discounts, please call the Reserve America Call Center at (877) 879-3859 and provide the appropriate document number (e.g., driver's license number; military ID number) to have the documentation added and your profile updated. Once this is complete, your discount will automatically apply upon checkout. The Florida Forest Service reserves the right to verify documentation provided to Reserve America.   
Important Notice:   
The Florida Forest Service will close all campgrounds and recreation areas on State Forests if the county where the State Forest is located is placed under a Tropical Storm or Hurricane WARNING by the National Weather Service. Reservations will be automatically refunded for closures related to tropical weather.   
Krul Campground Info: Day Passes are not valid for entry at Krul Campground. Reservations are required for entry and are available 2 days in advance here. Annual passholders also require a reservation, but will be admitted for free.
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Important Notice: The Florida Forest Service will close all campgrounds and recreation areas on State Forests if the county where the State Forest is located is placed under a Tropical Storm or Hurricane WARNING by the National Weather Service. Reservations will be automatically refunded for closures related to tropical weather.
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Crooked River Group Camp Withlacoochee State Forest, FL

Average Rating: 4.2
Average Rating: 4.2
Average Rating: 4.2
Average Rating: 4.2
Average Rating: 4.2
15 Ratings
Crooked River Group Camp is located within the Croom Tract of Withlacoochee State Forest (Hernando County), and a short 5-mile drive from I-75. On the shore of Silver Lake, which is part of the Withlacoochee River system, this campground is part of the Silver Lake Recreation Complex. ...
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FACILITY OFFERING:

Camping
Description
Crooked River Group Camp is located within the Croom Tract of Withlacoochee State Forest (Hernando County), and a short 5-mile drive from I-75. On the shore of Silver Lake, which is part of the Withlacoochee River system, this campground is part of the Silver Lake Recreation Complex. Recreational activities nearby include: boating / paddling / watersports, wildlife viewing, bicycling, hiking, and fishing.
Geography:

The Withlacoochee River, Little Withlacoochee River, and Jumper Creek have all been designated as Outstanding Florida Waters, and each meanders through this forest which spans across 5 counties and exceeds 165,000 acres. Withlacoochee is a Native American word meaning "crooked river". This accurately describes the Withlacoochee River as it makes its 70-mile journey from the Green Swamp, in northern Polk County, to the Gulf of Mexico at Yankeetown. Complementing the natural water features are the open pine sand hills, dense woodlands, and canopied roads and trails. Tree species found on the forest include slash pine, longleaf pine, pond and bald cypress, maple, southern magnolia, hickory, and various species of oak. There is also an abundance of colorful wildflowers during the Autumn, including goldenrod, thistle, and blazing star. These natural features create excellent habitat for bald eagles, fox squirrels, gopher tortoise, white-tail deer, and turkeys, to name a few. For additional information about Withlacoochee State Forest, please Click Here.

Recreation:

In 1999, the Withlacoochee State Forest was ranked #1 on the World Wildlife Fund's "10 Coolest Places You've Never Seen in North America". Facilities include many miles of trails for hiking, bicycling, horseback riding, and paddling. Seasonal hunting is available in most of the forest, and fish are plentiful in the many lakes and flowing waterways. Full-facility, primitive, and group camping are available at numerous locations. Many day-use facilities are available on Withlacoochee State Forest for picnicking and wildlife viewing. And, the Croom Motorcycle Area provides a developed campground and 2,600 acres of off-road trails for motorcycle and all-terrain vehicle (ATVs) enthusiasts. For additional information about Withlacoochee State Forest, please Click Here.

Facilities:

Youth Group Area is for organized youth groups (I,e, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, Cub Scouts, Church or Civic Youth Groups, etc.) of 25 or less people only.
Area is for tent camping and has fire pit and/or rings with grates and/or grills and picnic tables.
Day Use Area has picnic facilities, restrooms and a pavilion which is available to rent.
Access to boat ramp and hiking trails including the Withlacoochee State Trail.
Access to river for fishing, boating/canoeing/kayaking from campground.
Leashed Pets only

Nearby Attractions:

Attractions/Theme Parks

  • Central Florida major theme parks (within 1-1.5 hour drive time)
  • Professional and college sports stadiums (within 1 hour drive time)
  • Art Galleries
  • Boyett's Grove (Brooksville)
  • Bushnell Motorsports Park
  • Dade City Wild Things Zoo
  • Florida Bass Conservation Center (Webster-south of SR 50)
  • Lowry Park Zoo (Tampa)
  • Museum of Drag Racing (Ocala)
  • Nature Coast Botanical Gardens (Spring Hill)
  • Pioneer Florida Museum (Dade City)
  • Rock Crusher Canyon (outdoor concerts and events)
  • Tree Top Adventures/Zip Line (several within 1-2 hour drive time)
  • Webster Farmer's Market

Wineries (Clermont, Land o Lakes, Spring Hill, Tarpon Springs, Mt Dora, Eustis, Oxford, Orlando)
County/State/National Parks, Preserves and Refuges
  • Chassahowitzka National Wildlife Refuge
  • Chinsegut Conservation Center
  • Dade Battlefield State Park
  • Good Neighbor Trail
  • Florida National Cemetery
  • Van Fleet State Trail
  • Weeki Wachee Springs/Buccaneer Bay
  • Withlacoochee State Trail

Services & Amenities:

Within Park
  • Bathhouse
  • Fire Rings
  • Fishing
  • Hiking
  • Picnic Tables
  • Restrooms
Within 10 Miles
  • Camping, Primitive
Alerts and Important Information
This area is for organized youth groups (Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, Cub Scouts, Church Groups, etc.) only.
Youth Group Area will accommodate 25 or less campers.
Leashed pets Allowed. Before bringing a pet to a Florida State Forest campground, please review Florida Administrative Code 5I-4 and adhere to the following rules: Pets must be on a leash (unless signs in the area indicate otherwise). Pets may not damage natural or manmade resources or create a nuisance. Pets must be well-behaved at all times and confined in the owner's camping sleep quarters during designated quiet time. Visitors must pick up after their pets and properly dispose of all pet waste in trash receptacles. Visitors must comply with section 828.30, Florida Statutes, requiring rabies vaccinations.
Bathhouse is accessible within campground and to Youth Group Area.
Please contact WSF Dispatch at 352-797-4140 before you begin hiking to verify if there will be any prescribed burns during your trip.
No hunting allowed in campgrounds. Please contact myfwc.com for specific hunting seasons and dates if planning on using any of the hiking trails.
Wildlife Management Area is close by. It is recommended that visitors wear 500 square inches of Blaze Orange while hiking in the area during hunting seasons.
Per Florida Administrative Code, 5I-4006(4)(k), Chainsaw use in camping facilities is prohibited. Operation/use of chainsaws in other areas of the forest requires a Fuel Wood Permit.
Firewood is generally available on-site within the campground for a donation to the Friends of the Florida Sate Forests. Donations are used to make improvements to campgrounds and recreation areas..
Contact Information:
Mailing Address:
Crooked River Group Camp Withlacoochee State Forest
15003 Broad Street
Brooksville  FL  34601-4201
Phone Number:
Information:  (352) 797-4140