This Earthcache is located in the Citrus Tract of the Withlacoochee State Forest.
You can reach this Earthcache in most vehicles by using Forest Road 13 from the south. Coming from any other way and you are on your own and may require a high profile vehicle. The Earthcache is located along the Florida Trail and can be accessed from one of two trailheads listed below. The hike is just over 1 mile roundtrip from either trailhead.
This cave is located along the Brooksville Ridge in West Central Florida. The Brooksville Ridge, runs from northern Citrus County down into central Pasco County, the lands are slightly higher in elevation than the adjacent coastal or central portions of the state. The area within the Brooksville Ridge typically has well-drained soils, Karst limerock outcroppings, and is dominated by sandhills, upland hardwood forests and scrub communities.
Karst is a common feature of Florida's landscape. There are many types of Karst landforms, including caves, disappearing streams, springs, and underground drainage systems, all of which occur in Florida. Karst is a generic term which refers to the characteristic terrain produced by erosional processes associated with the chemical weathering and dissolution of limestone or dolomite, the two most common carbonate rocks in Florida. Dissolution of carbonate rocks begins when they are exposed to acidic water. Most rainwater is slightly acidic and usually becomes more acidic as it moves through decaying plant debris.
Limestones in Florida are porous, allowing the acidic water to percolate through their strata, dissolving some limestone and carrying it away in solution. Over many, many years, this persistent erosional process has created extensive underground voids and drainage systems in much of the carbonate rocks throughout the state. Collapse of overlying sediments into the underground cavities produces sinkholes and caves. Dry caves are parts of Karst drainage systems that are above the water table, such as this one.
To log this Earthcache you need to do the following:
1 – Take your picture with GPSr at the cave opening and post it on your log.
2 – Email me with the answers to the following questions.
Estimate how tall the cave is from the floor of the cave to the roof?
Estimate what the width is of the cave opening?
Sources: Southwest Florida Water Management District, Withlacoochee State Forest, State of Florida - Department of Environmental Protection