Exploring The Trails Of The Green Swamp Wilderness Preserve

Ivana Dragojevic
05/05/2015

This area is an ideal place to visit and explore some of central Florida’s flora and fauna found in its natural state.

 The Florida’s Nature Coast attracts a large number of residents who enjoy actively exploring the great outdoors. This area is filled with an endless number of parks, forests, and wildlife preserves.

 If you love getting out and embracing nature, then you will feel right at home living at the Villages of Citrus Hills. You can leave the community heading in any direction and run into a great place to explore nature. 

One of our favorites among those places is the Green Swamp Wilderness Preserve. 

Located 90 minutes southeast of the Villages of Citrus Hills, the Wilderness Preserve offers 110,000 acres of land filled with an amazing array of trails and local wildlife. 

For those who are looking to combine a great selection of trails with a magnificent collection of birds, butterflies, and other wildlife, it simply doesn’t get any better than this!

Green Swamp Wilderness Preserve is divided into five distinct areas, so let’s take a look at what each one contains: 

Colt Creek State Park 

When you are ready to get your feet wet in the Green Swamp Wilderness Preserve, Colt Creek State Park is the perfect place to start. The park contains just over 5,000 acres of land and 12 miles of trails that are available for hiking, bicycling, and horseback riding. 

 This is a great location for birding. There have been more than 100 species of birds seen along these trails over the years, and almost as many species of butterflies have been spotted.

 In addition to the trails, there are also three lakes for fishing and two primitive youth campsites designed for groups like Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts. Each campsite can accommodate up to 20 people.

 Green Swamp East Tract

 At just over 51,000 acres, the East Track is the largest portion of the preserve. This area is completely dedicated to trails. 

There are 71 miles of unpaved roads for bicycling, as well as 13.9 mile and 7.7 mile loops for hiking. You will also find trails marked with orange symbols that denote the 32.4 miles that are part of the Florida National Scenic Trail. 

Hampton Tract 

The 11,000 acres of the Hampton Tract include 28 miles of multi-use trails that can be used for bicycling, hiking, and horseback riding. There are also a number of primitive camping sites located throughout this area. The trails located in the Hampton Tract are known for being very wet and can be difficult to navigate at different times of  the year. While this is a reason to avoid these trails for some, others take the muddy trails as a challenge. 

Terms and Conditions:

No purchase necessary to enter or win. One (1) entry per tour will be provided upon completion of an in-person tour of The Villages of Citrus Hills between May 1, 2026 and July 15, 2026, regardless of the number of tours completed.
Prize consists of a trip for two (2) to the 2026 U.S. Open, including event tickets for one day of play, round-trip coach airfare, and standard hotel accommodations. Drawing will be held on or about July 17, 2026.
Winner will be notified via phone and/or email and must accept the prize within 5 days or an alternate winner may be selected. Odds of winning depend on the number of eligible entries received.
Travel dates, event tickets, and accommodations are subject to availability and may be determined at Citrus Hills’ sole discretion. Prize is non-transferable, has no cash alternative, and cannot be substituted except at sponsor’s discretion. Taxes, upgrades, and additional expenses not expressly included are the responsibility of the winner.
Employees, affiliates, and immediate family members are not eligible. Offer subject to change or termination at any time without notice. Additional terms may apply.
The US Open is a registered trademark of the United States Tennis Association. This promotion is not affiliated with, sponsored by, or endorsed by the USTA. 

Terms and conditions:

Offer valid on new construction homes purchased through Citrus Hills Construction with a fully executed purchase agreement between May 1, 2026 and May 31, 2026. Citrus Hills Construction will pay the buyer’s customary lender and title closing costs when the home is closed through Manatee Title, LLC. Closing costs must be verified by an official Closing Disclosure prepared by Manatee Title, LLC. Citrus Hills Construction will provide a credit at closing for eligible closing costs as reflected on the final settlement statement. Offer does not include prepaid items, property taxes, homeowners insurance, optional upgrades, or non-standard lender fees.
Offer is non-transferable and may not be combined with other incentives unless expressly approved in writing. Offer subject to change or termination at any time without notice. Additional terms and conditions may apply. See Sales Executive for details.

GET YOUR FREE BROCHURE

By clicking submit, I agree to be contacted by Citrus Hills Investment Properties and affiliates via call, email, and text. Communications may include newsletters, promotional emails featuring move-in ready homes, travel incentives, seasonal updates, and club and activity information. To opt-out, you can reply “Stop” at any time or click the unsubscribe link in emails. Message and data rates may apply.