The drive takes 1–3 hours, depending on the usage and how many stops visitors choose to make along the way. This trail runs along the northern shoreline of Lake Apopka for more than 14 miles. Get to know the area. A portion of the St. Johns River Water Management District’s Lake Apopka Loop Trail will be temporarily closed from Tuesday, February 18th, through Thursday, February 20th. Need to enter and park (in a temporary bike parking area) at the Wildlife Drive TH. They just recently reopened after being closed due to the coronavirus pandemic. Portions of the Lake Apopka Loop Trail will be intermittently closed to all public access during construction to raise internal levees. We love to take out of town visitors there to see the gators, birds and various plants. On February 20, 2014, the Lake Apopka Loop Trail, which goes through the NSEA, was opened to the public. Following the lake’s edge through the property, the Loop Trail covers more than 20 … There is an additional 2.6-mile trail (the red trail) for biking, hiking and horseback riding. • Speed limit: 10 miles per hour • Maximum vehicle length: 25 feet • No trailers allowed. You don’t see as many animals on the bike trails, but it is a worthwhile ride. The trail offers a number of activity options and is accessible year-round. 2. It's 11 miles long with a 10 mph speed limit, but there is so much to see along the that it easily takes over 2 hours to drive the trail. For the past few decades, people have been trying to resuscitate the lake and while that effort continues, activists and the St. Johns River Water Management District have been reintroducing migratory birds to the reeds and marshes along the shoreline. status date description; May 19, 2019 @ 6:15am. This lake is popular among anglers who enjoy fishing for bass, black crappie and bluegill. The drive around the Lake Apopka Loop Trail is seeing Florida in its natural state. One of the special highlights of this property is the Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive. We have been to this drive at least 10 times in the last year. Following the lake’s edge through the property, the Loop Trail covers more than 20 miles and provides hiking and biking opportunities. 39 reviews #5 of 9 Outdoor Activities in Apopka "There is nature galore with many species of birds and alligators everywhere." For more information, check out their website. This is a great trail for a short day hike, biking and photography - I saw several gators, herons, egrets, several species of song and water birds. To help with social distancing, you are only allowed to drive through the park right now, though you cannot get out of your vehicle. This trail runs along the northern shoreline of Lake Apopka for more than 14 miles. All material © 2001-2021 by VISIT FLORIDA®, all rights reserved. The lakeside part of the park is also a trailhead for the Lake Apopka Loop Trail. The most spectacular and unique environmental sanctuary in all of Central Florida. Vehicles likely will share portions of the road with hikers and bicycle riders exploring the Lake Apopka Loop Trail. Lake Apopka was originally a beautiful clear fishing lake noted for its world famous bass population. It is a slow leisurely drive that lowers the blood The Lake Apopka Loop Trail covers more than 20 miles, providing hiking and biking opportunities along and in close proximity to the Lake Apopka shoreline. The best day we had spotting alligators was 52 in April, 2019. status date description; May 19, 2019 @ 6:15am. 2. Following the lake’s edge through the property, the Loop Trail covers more than 20 … Lake Apopka Loop Trail Parking area Information kiosk Observation tower Field station Picnic shelter Restrooms Wildlife drive • Open Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and federal holidays. Lake Apopka North Shore Wildlife Drive Tips and Information. It is always different and you feel like you have left civilization behind. 2. The Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive is open between sunrise and sunset on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and the following federal holidays: New Year’s Day — Jan. 1 Martin Luther King Jr. Day — Third Monday in January Presidents’ Day — Third Monday in February Memorial Day — Last Monday in May Independence Day — July 4 Labor Day — First Monday in September Columbus Day — Second Monday in October … ... there is a Pump House that signals the start of a 1.5-mile stretch where you share the road with cars on a nature drive on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. This route starts at Orange County's Magnolia Park with 1/2 mile of paved trail and then 17.5 miles of dirt road and jeep track along the north shore of Lake Apopka. The public’s use of the Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive will not be affected by the construction. 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