Export to Trail Guide
Create Guidebook 
Download GPX 
Print Friendly MapThe Good Neighbor Trail runs for just over 10 miles from Brooksville to the Withlacoochee State Forest in western Florida, following the route of the former Florida Southern Railroad Line.
The western end of the trail begins in downtown Brooksville, south of Russell Street, in what was once was a railroad switching yard. Here, the Brooksville Train Depot, dating back to 1885, is open a few days a week for visitors. Inside are historical exhibits and model trains; outside, you'll find an 1880s rail car and picnic pavilions.
On its eastern end, the trail connects to the Withlacoochee State Trail, which links several cities, parks, and wildlife areas along its 46-mile length.
The Good Neighbor Trail is also a link in the Coast to Coast Connector, a growing trail network stretching 275 miles across the state.
On the west end of the trail, free parking and restrooms are available at the trailhead at 70 Russell Street in Brooksville.
Another parking area will be constructed at the entrance to the Withlacoochee State Forest on the east end of the trail and will have a $3 parking fee.
Parked at historic train station. Headed east and after a mile or so found the trail is closed by Duke Energy to update electrical poles. Back to the truck, reloaded our bikes and headed to Mondon Hill Road and parked the truck. Took off for Withlacoochee Trail. On the return ride we spotted a fox squirrel, a hawk having dinner, and a free range chicken. Nice ride!
The Good Neighbor Trail is just the right distance for me. I start at the train station on the west trailhead and head east to the intersection of the Withlacoochie Trail. There are three relatively major road crossing early on in the ride, none of which has required me to stop and wait. The trail rolls through trees and some homes. It’s so quiet almost the entire way. No facilities of any type, but plenty of trees!!
We biked the entire trail to Brooksville to the Withlacoochee trail and back. It’s 10 miles each way. The trailhead in Brooksville is at Russell’s park (off of Russell St, just south of Main St.). There is parking at the trailhead but no facilities. There is nowhere to get water and no bathrooms on the trail. For the first mile, the trail had lots of small tree limbs but it’s been very windy for the past 2 days so hopefully that’s not the norm. The rest of the trail was clean and smoothly paved. There are some little hills. The elevation change was around 370ft. I would ride it again.
Tried this trail today. Came in from the Withlachoochee Trail. Only went about six miles on it because we had a way to go to get back home. Nice, smooth ride with very few other riders. Want to go back and do the entire trail next time and we will come in from the Beooksville end. Could definitely use a restroom and a place to get water along the trail. Other than that, it was a nice ride!
Rode the trail this morning and it is a nice ride. Low grade hills and mostly shaded. However, there is no potable water or open restroom either at the Brooksville trailhead or where the trail meets the Withlacoochee Trail. Restrooms in Brooksville are closed due to vandalism.
We rode from the withlAchoochee state trail to the opposite side in brooksville. Great ride, we packed a squeeze bottle with electrolytes in water and I have the camelbak mule 3L of water. I thought that would be sufficient to ride there and back. We also had 4 miles to go at the start and finish as we put in at the trailhead just north of 50. In total 28 miles. The brooksville end is supposedly in a place that isn’t the best part of town but having the bathrooms and shops near was a real pleasur. If you do this ride, it is absolutely necessary to have plenty of water as there isn’t a drop available for 19
Some inclines, then whee down hill ! But the 93 degree temp was too much. Nice shade along the way but just oppressive heat. Didn’t quite make it to Withlacoochee State Trail but maybe in the fall.
Beautiful ride! Bring lots of water, especially if bringing the kids, as for the most part the trail is unshaded and one bottle of water will definitely not suffice.
Nice ride, almost straight & flat. The western part near Brooksville is somewhat rough & bumpy--probably been around longer than the newer more easterly section which is very smooth. The connection to the Withlacoochee makes it worth doing especially since it's pretty short. Great start in connecting these trails as in other states such as MN, IA, WI.
Nice well paved trail. The new extension is particularly pretty.
The trail now runs the 10 miles from Brooksville to the Withlacoochie. Paving is complete but not officially open. Rode on Sunday but were not allowed when workers present, today. Expect that will end soon. Inaugural Ride set for Oct 14, an event following the annual Withlacoochie ride on Oct. 7
I rode this trail today (3/19/2018) and it is so pleasant. I stopped in Brooksville and had an expresso and muffin at Mountaineer Coffee. What a nice downtown square. Parked at the train depot museum with great bathroom facilities. The trail runs further than the map reflects today. The trail runs all the way east on Richbarn Road to the Croom WMA. I hear that this trail will be a part of the east west connector. So very pleased with the ride. I will watch for the extension into Croom WMA and return. After the ride I drove down to Dade City for good country cooking at Steph's Southern Soul Restaurant.
On our trip last week to do other trails in the area we came across this one by chance, and glad we stopped. The signage through Brooksville to the trail is good so we found it easily, good parking at the museum, First of all the trail is not 10 miles long but maybe 5 where it comes to an end there is construction straight ahead that we will come back to sometime. Maybe that will make it 10 miles. You cross many roads but light traffic, some shade. Nothing great about trail but it was very pleasant to ride. We saw a pair of eagles by the power lines,
We rode this trail couple days ago expecting it to be only about 4 miles but were pleasantly surprised it is now 12.5 miles return from start to finish
there are slight grades witch makes it nice when we to the end there was excavation eq there so it looks like they are still working it will be great when done
I did this nice 4 mile trail this morning. The trail ends at the corner of Weatherly Road and Richbarn Road. Richbarn Road continues on for a few miles so you could extend your trip a bit. The start of the trail at Russell Road is just off South Main Street. The further extension into Withlacoochee State Forest requires a mountain bike and a willingness to deal with a rough surface. Youker
On my 10/16 tour across Florida I too found that this trail stopped unexpectedly at Weatherly Rd. where I headed North and then East on Croom Rd.
The previous poster has it all correct regarding hills, lack of shoulder, availability of water, etc. No traffic though so it was a pretty easy ride over to the Withlacoochi Trail. My Google Maps street view showed Croom Rd. not entirely paved but in fact it is now paved all the way. I stayed overnight at Silver Lake Campground just off the Withlacoochi a mile south of where Croom Rd. meets the Withlacoochi. Will be nice when its all done. The surface on the Good Neighbor was very good and the trail varied from shaded forest to paralleling a power line. Over all not too bad.
The Good Neighbor Trail runs about 4 miles from the Russell Street trailhead to Weatherly Road. I would say it is about 20% shaded. There is no indication that the planned connection to the Withlacoochee State Trail is underway. Following the guidance of another rider, we then rode north on Weatherly Road to Croom Road. At Croom Road, we turned east and headed toward the connection point with the WST. Weatherly Road is a winding 2-lane road with no bike lane, shoulder or sidewalk so you are dependent on the care of the passing drivers. The road takes you through a picturesque stretch of 'gentleman farm' country and seems to get little traffic. Croom Road is the same - two lanes, no sidewalk, no bike path - but much hillier. Two of the hills are quite steep, and you may have to walk your bike up the hill along the side of the road. There are restroom facilities at the Tucker Hill recreation area about halfway between the Croom / Weatherly intersection and the Croom / WST junction. I would rate the sections this way: Good Neighbor Trail - easy / moderate; Weatherly Road - moderate; Croom Road - difficult (it is advanced and not appropriate for recreational riders).
Having ridden this trail recently and although it's intended connection to Withlacoochee Trail not completed, you CAN get there from here.
The trail presently "ends" at Weatherly Rd. BUT once there you can take Weatherly Rd to the left (N), where you will find a pleasant and meandering ride to the NEWLY paved CR 480/Croom Rd. Take a right(E) and follow it through gorgeous wooded CHASSAHOWITZKE/CROOM WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT AREA, until you intersect the Withlacoochee Trail south of Nobleton. From here you can chose to go south to the Ridge Manor Trailhead (facilities) or north toward quaint Floral City and Inverness beyond. Total distance from Weatherly Rd to W.T approximately 7.5 miles. Enjoy!
This trail begins in Brooksville at the Train Depot and ends at the Withalacoochie Forest. Total paved trail including Barn Ridge road is approximately 6 miles. Supposedly on the map, it shows the trail extending to the Withlacoochie Trail, but after riding it today, I found out that it is unfinished.
This goes a little farther than the last time I rode it. It will be nice once it connects to the Withlacoochee, hope that's soon. Connectivity is what it's all about.
The trail starting in Brooksville is a very nice ride with the path in good shape and a nice peaceful ride. However, you run out of pavement at just under 4 miles in. If you are adventurous and on a mountain bike, you can ride a semi-paved dusty road the rest of the 10 miles, but if you are on a road bike, I would forego that portion of the trail.
Rode the trail to Weatherly from the trailhead and it was a gorgeous and peaceful ride. I am excited for the next segment to become paved to I can connect to Other trails!
Got to the GNT by way of Withlacoochee trail and rural roads. Our second trip to good breakfast at Cracker Country Restaurant by recumbent bike and trike.
Rode the 4 miles of paved trail this am. Delighted the uphill return was a long, slow grade & not a hard ride at all. What a beautiful trail. Can't wait for it to connect to the 46 mile Withlacoochee Trail. Brooksville, this will bring people downtown. Had lunch at Rising Sun Cafe & will try barbecue next.
My daughter and I decided to get a little exercise today so we hit the GNT. Starting out at the beautiful wooded trail head in Brooksville, we headed east to the trail's current terminus at Weatherly Road and then back to the trailhead. A gopher tortoise along the path, well maintained, paved and shaded shallow grades and beautiful weather made for a great way to spend the afternoon.
_208513_nb.jpg)
TrailLink is a free service provided by Rails-to-Trails conservancy
(a non-profit) and we need your support!
