Marjorie Harris Carr Cross Florida Greenway: Inglis Dam

Park your car at the Inglis Dam Recreation Area and boat ramp for access to the foot trails, plus Lake Rousseau, the Withlacoochee River and the Cross Florida Barge Canal. At the dam, scope the reservoir for wintering waterbirds such as Ring-necked Duck, Greater Scaup, Ruddy Duck and Common Loon. In spring and summer, Barn Swallow nests beneath the dam. Cross the dam and walk north to the 1,200-acre Inglis Island, where nearly 4 miles of multi-use, unpaved loop trails lead through pine flatwoods, mixed hardwood hammocks and cypress swamp. A new, 2-mile, multi-use paved trail leads from the dam to Mullet Point, the island’s northwest corner. Check the edges for warblers (springtime is best) and other migratory songbirds. White-crowned, Grasshopper, Song, White-throated, Field, Chipping and Vesper Sparrows overwinter in the grassy fields. Look and listen for Chuck-will’s-widow, Common Nighthawk and Barred Owl. Limpkin and Loggerhead Shrike have turned up here, as have Pine Siskin, Le Conte’s Sparrow and Cliff Swallow. Boat ramps above and below the dam allow for waterbird observation on both the river and the lake.