Resources
Resources for exploring the area
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Exploring Apopka
Apopka has its roots in vast farms along the northern shoreline of Lake Apopka, one of Florida’s largest lakes.
While many of the farms have been converted to conservation land or housing developments, Apopka is still strongly involved in growing ferns and landscaping plants.
Many nurseries are located northwest of town. The massive lake and the Wekiva River basin define the boundaries of Apopka.
Springs are the big thing here. While there are many smaller springs around the Orlando metro area, Apopka is where you can swim, paddle, tube, and camp along spring basins.
Both Kelly Park and Wekiwa Springs State Park are packed with swimmers during the summer months and close their gates once at capacity.
One ribbon of public lands protects the spring-fed Wekiva River; another, a portion of Lake Apopka’s shoreline.
Cyclists will appreciate Apopka’s connectivity to other communities via paved biking trails.
The West Orange Trail begins near Kelly Park in Apopka and continues south to Winter Garden. The statewide Florida Coast to Coast Trail joins it on its journey west.
Trails and Parks around Apopka
Charles Lee Sabal Point Sanctuary Threading through a wilderness floodplain where the Little Wekiva and Wekiva Rivers meet, this 3.4 mile round-trip hike hidden in a subdivision offers excellent birding near Orlando.
Jones Avenue Stormwater Park With both wetlands and open water that attract birds, Jones Avenue Stormwater Park filters runoff from the neighboring community while providing wildlife habitat.
Kelly Park Tubing Rock Springs Run is why most folks visit Kelly Park, but the Kelly Loop Trail provides unique perspectives on many more natural features within the park.
Kelly Park Western Addition Trails Along the Oakhill and Prairie Lake Trails at Kelly Park, explore the Western Addition to walk around anomalous habitats persisting where a spring-fed lake flourished long ago.
Lake Apopka Loop Trail Discover the wild heart of Central Florida on a ride along the Lake Apopka Loop Trail, an arc spanning two counties along the lake's north shore.
Lake Apopka North Shore Across two counties and along the entire north rim of Florida's fourth-largest lake, this 20,000 acre conservation area is a sweep of wildlife-rich marshes. 
Lake Lotus Park At Lake Lotus Park in Altamonte Springs, the 1.7-mile trail system along Lake Lotus and the Little Wekiva River floodplain provides a great respite from surrounding suburbia.
Lake Lucie Conservation Area A shaded loop trail winding through mesic hammocks borders a marsh that was once known as Lake Lucie. 
Magnolia Park On forested bluffs above Lake Apopka, Magnolia Park anchors the eastern terminus of the Lake Apopka Loop Trail near a campground under ancient live oaks.
Rock Springs Run Hiking Trail With more than 12 miles of hiking through the heart of Florida black bear territory, the loops at Rock Springs Run Reserve State Park get you into the wild outside Orlando.
Trimble Park A 1.3-mile nature trail at Trimble Park near Mount Dora offers a family-friendly outdoor adventure beneath ancient oaks and cypresses along the shorelines of two lakes.
Wekiva River Paddling Trail A leisurely float downriver from Wekiwa Springs provides paddlers an immersion in the beauty of a Wild and Scenic River teeming with wildlife. 
Wekiwa Springs Hiking Trail A 10.2-mile loop through landscapes both vast and intimate, the Wekiwa Springs Hiking Trail shows off the best of nature at Wekiwa Springs State Park. 
Wekiwa Springs State Park A massive wilderness area on the edge of the Orlando metro, Wekiwa Springs State Park is centered on a first-magnitude spring that pours forth a river lined with jungle-like vegetation.
Wekiwa Springs Wet to Dry Trail Starting at the outflow of Wekiwa Springs, the Wet to Dry Trail at Wekiwa Springs State Park offers an easy walk showcasing habitat changes by the waterway.
West Orange Trail Spanning 20.8 miles from Oakland to Apopka, the West Orange Trail connects communities along Lake Apopka with a dedicated paved bike path.Related Articles
Hiking at Kelly Park (10/6/2011) For families in the know, Kelly Park is a favorite destination for tubing, the southernmost tubing run in Florida. But it also has some great hiking trails where you will probably see wildlife.
Just Bearly (7/21/2011) As I discovered later, bear sightings are common at Kelly Park. But this bear certainly surprised me at the end of my research hike for Five Star Trails Orlando.NEARBY: Altamonte Springs, Orlando, Maitland, Mount Dora, Sanford, Winter Garden, Winter Park | PART OF: Central Florida