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3.67 out of 5 Rider Rating 3.67
26 Reviews

Green Swamp Tour - Northeast of Tampa

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By Guest (0 McR Points) on Sep 30, 2008

Rider Reviews

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6ft10on1100
6 McR Points
March 27, 2015
This is a good run. BUT. just north of Deen Still…
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Guest
January 10, 2014
Nice scenic ride with little traffic. Rockridge…
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Written Directions

Begin at the intersection of I-75 and Hwy 50. There is a Cracker Barrel and all the fast food places there. Head East on 50 almost to the city of Mascotte and look for Hwy 565 (Bay Lake Road). Take a right on to Hwy 565 (Bay Lake Road) and take this down to Lake Erie Rd where you want to take a left and continue to Hwy 33. At Hwy 33 turn right and go down to Green Pond Rd where you want to turn right. Stay on Green Pond as it turns into Rockridge Rd. Follow Rockridge Rd until the stop sign and turn right to remain on Rockridge Rd. Then follow Rockridge Rd across Hwy 98 to Old Dade City Rd and turn right. Take Old Dade City Road as it heads north up to Hwy 98. Turn left on to Hwy 98 and almost immediately turn left on to Hwy 54 heading west. Take Hwy 54 into Zephryhills, where the tour ends. Ride Safe.

Scenery

A scenic tour of the Green Swamp Preserve and some nice rural roads. Allow two hours for the ride plus gas and food stops. The Green Swamp Wilderness Preserve is an official Florida protected area found in the adjoining corners of three different counties - Sumter, Lake, and Polk. This is a large preserve consisting of 560,000 acres of wetlands, flatlands, and low ridges. Sections of the area are bounded by well defined and visible sandy ridge lines. The rainwater that flows across the surface to help form the headwaters of four major rivers: the Withlacoochee, the Ocklawaha, the Hillsborough and the Peace. The protected status of the area and as well as the nice collection of natural water bodies combine to form a nice quiet & rural feel that motorcycle riders from all around the area ride in to enjoy.

Drive Enjoyment

This one has lots of twisties for Florida and a good amount of nice rural riding. Another bonus is you will find very little traffic to get in your way.

Tourism Opportunities

Eat at the beginning of the ride because there are not a lot of options for food on the tour. You'll also pass through one of the sections of Withlacoochee State Forest which is the 3rd largest state forest in FL yet it is broken up into many sections (you'll be going through what is called the Richloam Tract). At the end of your ride, you'll end up in Zephyrhills where you'll find a lot of restaurants.

Motorcycle Road Additional info

- View the weather forecast for this area from Yahoo weather .
 

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Guest
December 29, 2008
0 McR Points
Motorcycle Type : Touring
Took the route yesterday with a friend. It is one of the best routes I have ever taken in Florida. The scenery is great, the back roads are twisty and very rural. I'm saving this route in the GPS for future rides.
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Guest
December 23, 2008
0 McR Points
Motorcycle Type : Cruiser
This is a Great ride I haven't completed it all just found this site but I have ridden part of it through the Green Swamp area on numerous occasions it is where me and the wife head to get away from it all.
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Guest
December 15, 2008
0 McR Points
Motorcycle Type : Standard
Just rode the tour with John who created it, and it is everything as he described . . . lots of wide open country with no traffic. This is a very nice relaxing ride and is well worth it.
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