Ridge Manor can be explored through a variety of trails and landscapes. At the heart of the community is the 41-acre Ridge Manor Community Park. There is also a linear hiking trail, a paved multi-use trail, and a preserve with a shoreline on Lake Townsen. If you are considering Ridge Manor as a place to stay, these highlights can help you decide how to spend your time in the area.
Comparing Trails and Routes
The River Trail/Croom is a 7-mile linear hiking trail. Its access point is just east of the picnic shelter and restrooms at the Ridge Manor Trailhead of the Withlacoochee State Trail. The River Trail follows the Withlacoochee River to the Crooked River Campground at the Silver Lake Recreation Complex.
The River Trail can also be accessed from the Withlacoochee State Trail parking lot at the intersection of SR 50 and Croom Rital Road. As access information can change with trail conditions, check before your visit. The difference between it and the Withlacoochee State Trail is also useful when choosing a route: At the Ridge Manor Trailhead, the latter is 46 miles long, paved, and multi-use. The 7 miles of linear hiking trail and the 46 miles of paved multi-use trail therefore describe very different route options.
Cypress Lake Preserve and Lake Townsen
Cypress Lake Preserve covers 324 acres and has approximately 600 feet of shoreline on Lake Townsen. The preserve has trails for walking and hiking. This makes it possible to consider Cypress Lake Preserve as a destination in its own right, alongside the linear River Trail route, without reducing both areas to the same kind of outing.
Day Visits and Camping Nearby
Nearby, the Silver Lake Recreation Complex offers a picnic area for day visitors, a pavilion, and a boat ramp. The complex also includes three separate overnight campgrounds: Silver Lake Campground, Cypress Glen Campground, and Crooked River Campground. Day visits and overnight stays are therefore different options to keep in mind when planning.
Crooked River Campground offers tent camping at 26 non-electric sites, as well as a launch point for canoes and kayaks. These details are especially relevant if you are considering camping as an alternative to a stay with a different accommodation focus. Check availability in advance when planning an overnight stay. The River Trail leads to this campground at the Silver Lake Recreation Complex, making the camping options mentioned here a specific destination along the trail.
Local History and a Meal Break
Ridge Manor’s development can also be understood through specific dates. As part of the original development, a golf course opened in 1956. By the late 1950s, Ridge Manor had an 18-hole golf course. The course’s clubhouse opened in March 1959 and quickly became a social hub; it was later demolished.
Nearby, the Croom Motorcycle Area was designated public land for off-road vehicles in 1973. Another local point of interest is the Southern Harmony Cafe in Ridge Manor, which serves homemade Southern dishes combining flavors from Louisiana and Florida. Check whether the café is open before traveling. This way, you can consider local history and a possible meal break alongside trails and landscapes when choosing your destinations.
Discover more destinations: Spring Hill, Timber Pines, Hernando Beach, Weeki Wachee, Brooksville.
For the broader travel overview: Hernando.
