Lake Apopka North Shore
| Address: | 24600 County Road 448A, Mt Dora, FL 32757, USA |
| Phone: | +1 386-329-4404 |
| Site: | sjrwmd.com |
| Rating: | 4.7 |
| Working: | Open 24 hours Open 24 hours Open 24 hours Open 24 hours Open 24 hours Open 24 hours Open 24 hours |
Location
Photos 100
Reviews 62
LI
Libardo Lambrano
Lake Apopka is one of the best places in Central Florida for bird watching. There is a great variety and the area is easily accessible from Orlando. The area is undergoing a massive restoration, and the city organizes events on a regular basis where guides take bird lovers to amazing areas of this preserve. The most important event is perhaps the Lake Apopka Wildlife Festival & Birdapalooza in January that I highly recommend. If you are lucky enough, you can also spot otters, alligators, armadillos, and raccoons. Not all areas are accessible by car and some distances are too long for kids. So if you plan to bring the family plan ahead, bring good food and all you may need during your stay. This is a fantastic place to admire nature and capture great images of unique Florida species.
MA
Martinez
The shores of Lake Apopka have been inhabited since the beginning of time. Central Floridas oldest artifacts have been excavated here! The biking is great and can be a 30-mile journey, depending on which path you choose. Trail head starts at Magnolia Park and goes to Clay Island in Lake County. You can also start at the North Shore trail head in Mt. Dora, which is the one I favor because it puts you in an area where there is no car access. I have seen most wildlife in the late Fall/winter months to include bobcats, otters, Bald Eagles, Peregrine falcons (among other raptors), gators, raccoons, black racers, banded snakes, and a plethora of bird species. This place is REAL Florida and holds a place in my heart. Ps- DO NOT FEED THE GATORS!
SC
Scott Simmons
This is the absolute best place to look for birds and other wildlife in Central Florida. Its a beautiful There are several entrances to the area, but my favorite is an 11-mile drive through a marshy wonderland. Wading birds can be seen throughout the drive, sparrows and other song birds are common near the Lust Rd gate, and the sod fields can have many shorebirds during the right time of year. Ive logged over 200 species along this drive, which I think is the most Ive recorded in any one location. I highly recommend it for anyone interested in wildlife. The drive is open to cars on Friday through Sunday and national holidays.
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Jestina Roché
Great area for birding. I highly recommend the Clay Island Trailhead and the 11 mile wildlife drive. Bittern, Glossy ibis, Virginia rail, Snipe, Green heron, Blue wing teal, Harrier, Ring neck, Shoveler, Fulvous whistling duck, Limpkin, Black bellied whistling duck, Glossy Ibis, Coot, Osprey, palm warbler, blue gray gnatcatcher, pine warbler, Ruby crowned kinglet, cormorant...
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Edward Michalski
If you look at the (label) location on the Google map, you will see a road going directly to the east. This road is closed off with a gate. There is a small walkway space open to go through. From that location you must walk nearly a mile if you want to get to the shore. The shore can give a nice southern view of the lake, especially if there are storms coming through.
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a shatzer
Great spot for birding and viewing other wildlife like bobcats, otters, turtles, and gators. This is an active restoration area tasked with converting over 20,000 acres of old farmland back to natural wetland conditions. Admission is free!
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Taliwacker Lewis
Man did I catch some strange fish here. First one I pulled out of the depths had four toes. Next, I pulled up a baby deer. Howd that sucker even get down to the bottom of this lake, I mean it was still alive and well too. Crazy stuff man.
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L Hanna
Cant recommend the one-way driving tour highly enough. As a park, there are a number of trails. We took the "short" one and it was a plenty long walk. You could spend a long time exploring here. Good birding and interesting vegetation.
MA
Martha Garito
Great place to go to see wildlife. On Friday-Sunday and holidays, it is open for cars to drive the numerous roads. Some are inland and others around the lake. Take your time and enjoy nature at its best.
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Zachery Seymour
For the Pokemon hunters or photographers this is a great 10mph drive on a gravel road. Love going just to enjoy the scenic drive more than anything. Make sure to bring snacks, drinks, and tunes!
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Barbara Devine
What an incredible wild life drive. Saw dozens of different birds, an otter and alligators. Leave yourself time for this ... Took us two hours to do the 11 mile drive.
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Tina Willis
We love this park and run and bike hear often. No development and nice wildlife all along trail, which runs along Lake Apopka. Highly recommended!
IA
ian Morton
Visited hoping to see wildlife and saw plenty of all kinds birds reptiles and was completely free plus all wildlife were in natural habitat.
JO
John Hancock
We love the Lake Apopka Nature Drive! The wildlife and nature here is absolutely beautiful and a slice of Old Florida close to home.
AL
Alex Dominguez
Nice park and excellent trail. Just be careful part of the trail is shared with cars but all of it its just wonderful.
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Robert Wright
Gator, birds, and wildlife of all kinds.. 11 mile loop. No way out once you start so watch it with small kids
JJ
Jj Bregoli
Most fantastic time in Florida, in my opinion. Just to get away from the tourism and see ACTUAL Florida.
BO
Bobbi Frick
The clean up and restoration of Lake Apopka has come a long way. Great place to see Floridas wildlife
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Teresa Rouse
Cant count how many times Ive done the Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive! Always see something new!
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UCF mum
Bike trail is beautiful but unfinished, lumpy, bumpy with potholes. Not enough rest stops.
JI
Jimmy Johnson
Good place to fish, have a picknic, hike, bike trail. Grill, rest room and water fountains
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Leslie R. Ramey
If the idiots wld slow down u can c much more w/life go early and have a good time
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Chris Serwe
Beautiful place to see wildlife. Alligators and birds are everywhere, and its free!
TH
The Wandering Techie
This place is great to go for an afternoon, picnic, tons of picture opportunities!
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Lisa Miller
This is a 10 mile ride that is just perfect for nature lovers and bird watchers.
MI
Miguel Ferrer
Great place to visit and learn about Lake Apopka Wildlife Treasures!!!!
TO
Todd B
Great nature drive in our backyard...Plenty of gators, birds wildlife
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Alexa
Great area to just get away and take some nature shots in Central FL.
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Mike Stacks
Best time to go is earlier in the day . You will see ton of gators
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Kevin Williams
Its a great place to see wildlife and gators. Nice bike trail.
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Mike Keating
Good wildlife drive, go early takes time to do, allow 1-2 hr
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Pam Argue
Great location for picture taking and enjoying nature.
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Bird of Prey
Always one of the best wildlife parks in Florida
LI
Lidyed Gonzalez
This is a beautiful drive. Lots of wild life
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Denise Greene
Great place to see Florida gators, and birds
J.
J. Jones
Awesome wildlife trail with plenty to see!
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Erica Sutula
Very open trail, best for cool weather.
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Joe Jones
Great bird watching trail to drive on.
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Brian DeFoe
Lots of gators and wildlife to see
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David Durre
Trails, docks nature... Great area
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Steve Smith
No cost, drive through gator land.
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norman chapman
LOTS OF NATURE, ROUGH BIKE RIDE
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JESSY NARINE
Great time for family bonding
SC
Scott Werner
Great place to see wildlife!
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Ryan Thomas
Amazing views of wildlife
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Nancy Cannon
Birds and gators galor!
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Vic Roddy
Excellent nature trail
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Stacie Griffin
Great animal wildlife
JA
James Harris
Great place to stay
PE
Penny Richardson
Wonderful views!
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Luther Pollok
Lots of wildlife
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Wesley Carter
Great birding
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Charmane Adams
its beautiful!
EI
eirick luraas
Great Drive!
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Kenne Sparks
Great park.
MA
Mathieu Moseley
Great place
HE
Heath Patterson
Very nice.
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Christopher Johnson
Beautiful
JO
Jon Madrigal
Amazing
DE
Debby Cappabianco
Quite
SI
Silvia Ruiz
TO
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