Located in Apopka, Florida, only half an hour from Orlando, Lake Apopka North Shore is a restoration area and nature preserve that is perfect for a multitude of recreational activities such as hiking, horseback riding, and bicycling. This area is also known for an eleven-mile wildlife drive through the wetlands where you can see a variety of native animals. We had a chance to enjoy the wildlife drive recently and felt like we were on a Florida safari–we saw dozens of different bird species, as well as alligators and beautiful indigenous flowers and other flora. Read on to discover why Lake Apopka North Shore is one of Central Florida’s hidden gems!
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HISTORY OF LAKE APOPKA NORTH SHORE
Lake Apopka is the fourth-largest lake in Florida and the origin of the Harris Chain of Lakes, a series of interconnected lakes in Lake County. In the early 1900’s, 20,000 acres of the lake went from a thriving wetland habitat to dry, barren land as farmers drained the area for agricultural use. They built levees to protect their properties from flooding but still siphoned water from the lake to irrigate their crops. They then pumped the wastewater back into the lake, which led to Lake Apopka becoming polluted with pesticides and high levels of phosphorus. Algae blooms spread over the surface of the lake, which depleted the water of oxygen and killed the aquatic life.
In 1998, the state of Florida purchased all the farmland in order to begin a complex restoration process to recover the wetland ecosystem. The St. John’s River Water Management District removed invasive plants and brought in native plants and also created flow-ways in the levees to allow water to flood the swampy areas surrounding the lake. The native plants in these channels now act as a natural filtration system, removing pollutants from the water and allowing clean water to be pumped back into the lake. Progress is ongoing, but today the water quality, vegetation, and overall health of the lake has greatly improved, and the lake provides a critical habitat for numerous species such as bald eagles, herons, and osprey, as well as alligators, bobcats, and otters.
RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES AT LAKE APOPKA NORTH SHORE
Open daily from sunrise to sunset, the Lake Apopka Loop Trail follows the northern edge of the lake and spans more than twenty miles over two counties. This loop is ideal for hiking, biking, and wildlife viewing.
Lake Apopka North Shore also provides two marked trails. The white trail is a 6-mile loop that is excellent for hiking, biking, and horseback riding. This trail also includes four observation towers. The red trail is 2.6 miles. If you are interested in bringing your horse to Lake Apopka North Shore, please note that horses are only allowed access at the North Shore and Clay Island trailheads. Please also note that portable restrooms are only available at the Green Mountain, North Shore/McDonald Canal boat ramp and Magnolia Park trailheads as well as the historic pump house. There are no places to obtain drinking water along any of the trails, so please be sure to bring your own.
Other recreational activities available include boating, kayaking, canoeing, and fishing. You can launch a boat, canoe, or kayak from the McDonald Canal Boat Ramp. You must have a freshwater fishing license to fish and it is catch-and-release only.
LAKE APOPKA WILDLIFE DRIVE
Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive is a free, eleven-mile drive along a gravel road on the eastern portion of Lake Apopka North Shore. The drive is one way, with an entrance at Lust Road and the exit on Jones Avenue. We did this wildlife drive recently and really enjoyed how much wildlife we were able to see from the safety and comfort of the car–it was like going on safari through the Florida wetlands!
Unlike the trails, which are open daily, the Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive is only open on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays, and federal holidays from 7am to 3pm. All vehicles must be off the drive by 5pm. Lake Apopka North Shore is one of the top birding locations for all of Florida with over 150 different species documented, and we were not disappointed when we went. We saw Anhingas, Blue Herons, Common Gallinules, American Coots, and Ospreys. We also saw an Eastern Ratsnake, turtles, and 48 alligators! Other animals in the area that you may spot include bobcats, otters, armadillos, and coyotes.
We highly recommend this wildlife drive, but there are a few important things to note. Because the drive is one-way, there is nowhere to get off or turn around, so once you begin, you are committed to the entire eleven miles. There are a few stops with porta-potties if you need to use the restroom, but there is nowhere to purchase food or water, so make sure to bring snacks with you and use the bathroom before you begin the drive.
The speed limit for the drive is ten miles per hour, which sounds really slow, but we found that most of the drive we actually went closer to five miles per hour due both to trying to spot wildlife and because the cars in front of us were going slow. There are multiple pull-outs along the road where you can pull over to take pictures, but occasionally cars would stop in the middle of the road. St. Johns River Water Management District recommends allowing 1-3 hours to complete the drive, and we would personally recommend preparing for the longer end of that span. The drive took us 2.5 hours to complete and it wasn’t a particularly crowded day. We went on a Friday morning and while there were plenty of cars on the drive, we didn’t feel like that added to the time it took to complete. However, on a weekend or holiday, the drive may be even more crowded and would probably take closer to three hours.
TIPS FOR A GREAT VISIT
If you are planning on visiting Lake Apopka North Shore, check the weather ahead of time. Rainy weather will hinder your ability to see wildlife on the drive, and roads may close after a heavy rain. You can always check the official website or the Facebook page for updates on current conditions.
Whether you are doing the Wildlife Drive or hiking or biking the trails, make sure to bring water and snacks. We also recommend a camera and binoculars to help you see wildlife at a distance. If you are hiking or biking the trails, we also strongly recommend bringing sunscreen and bug spray.
Whether you are enjoying the trails or the wildlife drive, make sure to always respect the wildlife. Always drive slowly to keep the area safe for the animals, and never approach or feed any of the wildlife. Feeding the wildlife changes their behavior and can be harmful for their health and also cause them to become aggressive toward humans. It is especially important to keep your distance from large predators such as alligators. Although they may appear docile, alligators can move very quickly, even on land. Do not venture off the trails and, if you get out of the car during the drive to take pictures, watch your step carefully and do not get too close to the water’s edge. Multiple times along the drive we spotted large alligators on the bank right by the road. Dogs are allowed on the wildlife drive, but they must stay in the car. Dogs and other pets are seen as prey by alligators so please keep them inside the vehicle during the drive.
Don’t forget to visit the website before your visit to download birding and butterfly checklists as well as a map and trail guide. This information is also available in a brochure that can be found at a kiosk at the entrance to the wildlife drive on Lust Road. You can also access a free audio tour from the website or a QR code on the brochure that provides information about the lake, the restoration project, and the wildlife at designated spots along the drive.
Lake Apopka North Shore is an encouraging success story about recovering Florida’s wetlands and the perfect place to experience the real Florida. Its location also makes it a perfect day trip from Orlando and the theme parks. We encourage you to add it to your Florida travel bucket list!
Looking for other things to do around Apopka? Check out our Central Florida page here!
Sarah
I am the main writer and website designer for Florida Unveiled. I love the parts of Florida visitors don’t often see: the tea-colored water that flows in cypress-laden rivers; the chorus of frogs after a hard rain; the rustle of palmetto as an unseen creature scampers by. Some of my favorite places in Florida are the Everglades, the Keys, Smyrna Dunes Park, Bok Tower Gardens, Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park, and St. Augustine’s Historic District.
