Inverness Area
A town in west-central Florida, Inverness dates back to the mid 1800s, when its name was Tompkinsville. However, the name was changed to Inverness not long past the area around the town was settled. it is said that the name was given by a Scotsmna, who lived in the area and upon looking at the waters of Tsala Apopka Lake and its surroundings thought that the area was just like Inverness in Scotland.
Inverness is located in the center of a number of different public land tracts that together form a swath of hiking opportunities north of the Tampa Bay Metro Area. Divided into seven different tracts, Withlacoochee State Forest, the third largest state forest in Florida, is spread across land west and south of Inverness. The Citrust Tract is home to Florida's longest backpacking loop on a single area of land. To the east of Inverness, several preserves such as Flying Eagle Ranch and Lake Panasoffkee provide great hiking opportunities. To the southwest, Chassahowitzka National Wildlife Refuge protects a section of the coastline. Just to the south of the refuge, Weeki Wachee Springs State Park has a large spring that gives birth to the Weeki Wachee River. To the northwest of Inverness, there are several tractcs of land that provide recreational opportunities. They include Goethe State Forest, Waccassassa Bay Preserve State Park, and some other smaller tracts. In the northwest corner of the region, the historic Atsena Otie Key lies offshore near the town of Cedar Key and its namesake island. Cedar Key Scrub State Preserve offers yet more hiking opportunities near Cedar Key.
Inverness is located in the center of a number of different public land tracts that together form a swath of hiking opportunities north of the Tampa Bay Metro Area. Divided into seven different tracts, Withlacoochee State Forest, the third largest state forest in Florida, is spread across land west and south of Inverness. The Citrust Tract is home to Florida's longest backpacking loop on a single area of land. To the east of Inverness, several preserves such as Flying Eagle Ranch and Lake Panasoffkee provide great hiking opportunities. To the southwest, Chassahowitzka National Wildlife Refuge protects a section of the coastline. Just to the south of the refuge, Weeki Wachee Springs State Park has a large spring that gives birth to the Weeki Wachee River. To the northwest of Inverness, there are several tractcs of land that provide recreational opportunities. They include Goethe State Forest, Waccassassa Bay Preserve State Park, and some other smaller tracts. In the northwest corner of the region, the historic Atsena Otie Key lies offshore near the town of Cedar Key and its namesake island. Cedar Key Scrub State Preserve offers yet more hiking opportunities near Cedar Key.