Lake Apopka Loop Trail Reviews

We started outing hiking the trail for several miles from Magnolia Park. Saw lots of birds, but probably better for biking. Not sure what we would have done had an alligator decided to take up residence on the path! However, taking a car along the trail (only available Fri, Sat, Sun), is spectacular. Huge variety of birds, great photo opportunities because all of the birds are so close. Dozens of alligators - glad we were in the car. It took us 2 hours to go the length, stopping, looking, taking pictures, and just enjoying the scenery. A very unique place.

The drive around the Lake Apopka Loop Trail is seeing Florida in its natural state. We love to take out of town visitors there to see the gators, birds and various plants. It is always different and you feel like you have left civilization behind. It is a slow leisurely drive that lowers the blood pressure and is so relaxing. Allow at least an hour to do this.

We didn't realize this trail was so close to our house. This was the first time we biked this trail. We really enjoyed seeing the wildlife--gators, herons, egrets and all sorts of other birds. The only restrooms are at the pump house and they are port-a-potties. There is no shade on this trail, so bring plenty of fluids. I wish they had maps along the way. We really didn't know where we were going or how far we had gone. We did not go to the end because we were afraid we didn't have enough water. There is 1.25 miles of trail that you have to share with cars, but they are very aware of the bikers. We saw other people walking and fishing. It's very peaceful and beautiful.

The loop trail is easy hiking (flat/level, like all of Florida) on a bed of limestone. There are many ponds, lakes, and marshes which are home to lots and lots of birds and gators. We saw Anhinga, Cormorant, Moorhen, Phobe, Osprey, Blue Heron and Green Heron. And Alligator. Good luck finding shade anywhere, so bring plenty of water and consider a hat and sunscreen. It is free, and open year-round, unlike the very limited access to the area by motorcar, which was available only Thursday through Sunday when we were there (March 2009.) There is a grass field for parking, no buildings, no information center, just a very short walk (2-300 feet) to the loop trail from which you can go left or right to enjoy hiking through nature. The loop is nearly 15 miles but of course you can turn around whenever you feel "half-done."

Always have an awesome day seeing God’s creation. Never miss seeing a Gator. You will always find one. ❤️❤️❤️

Make sure you plan to spend the entire day as lots to see and a long drive on the lake, but well worth it. Lots of Florida birds and gators to see. Make sure you have a camera!

A multi-use trail along the shore of Lake Apopka, Lake Apopka Loop Trail extends for 14.6 miles from Magnolia Park to Clay Island Trailhead. There are no water stations so hikers and cyclists must carry an ample supply for this hot, remote trail. Bathroom facilities are hard to come by so be prepared. Wildlife viewing is great. On a recent hike we encountered all types of birds from the common egret and great blue heron to a magnificent bald eagle. Gators abound in the lake itself and the many canals located along the shore.

Awesome bike ride for those who don't need paved trails. There is nature galore with many species of birds and alligators everywhere. If you go down all the various paths you can easily exceed 30 miles of riding. The paths are from decently smooth to very rough. Recommended that you have a bike with suspension for your own comfort. A regular bike could make it of course but many areas with a very rough ride. There is a bathroom and water fountain at the trailhead but only porta potties in a couple of other places. Cars are followed in certain parts from Friday to Sunday but shouldn't be a real issue for bikers.

The trail is open week ends, you can hike the 10 miles; better bet ride a bike. The trail is well maintained, if you are a birder you will love the trip. Lots of wildlife: Squirrels, snakes, alligators, one biker told me he saw a bobcat. I saw 2 bald eagles.

Took a hike with the wife this morning starting at the new trailhead. Lake County has done an amazing job with this facility. Ample parking, restrooms with a drinking fountain, covered picnic area, and a spectacular scenic overlook. All very impressive. The trail is crushed limestone and packed tight. Easy to hike or bike. 18 miles to Magnolia Park if you're up for the challenge. There's a large map at the kiosk with paper maps available. Tons of wildlife in this area. I've seen deer, bobcat, otter, fox, coyote, armadillo, and HUGE gators! There is only 1 restroom between trailheads and that's at the historic pump house. Bring water, insect repellent, sun protection, and your camera. If you are interested in seeing the REAL Florida this is it. (Disney folks need not apply)
Highly recommended!

Terry, the park ranger at Green Mountain, is doing a great job of maintaining the trailhead. Beautifully landscaped and very clean. She's also very personable and knows a lot about the area. Kudos Terry!

Levee improvement project at Lake Apopka North Shore begins March 4, 2019. Portions of recreational trails at the St. Johns River Water Management District’s Lake Apopka North Shore will close as work to reconstruct about 4.4 miles of levee begins March 4. This levee not only serves as a separator between Lake Apopka and the North Shore but is also part of the district’s recreational Lake Apopka Loop Trail.

This was one of the most amazing wildlife drives/tours I've ever been on. I took my elderly sister and brother to the Lake Apopka Wildlife Loop drive 2 weeks ago. Although the reviews I read said this was about a 2-3 hour trip, it took us slightly over 4 hours! Mainly because I like to stop as much as possible when we spot interesting animals, flowers and scenery.

Of course, alligators were spotted in abundance --- our final count was 39! All but about 4 were HUGE. We also saw many birds, including egrets, ospreys (2 eating fish on poles), ducks, herons, a swamphen, anhingas, and many others that I don't know the names of! We also saw 3 Florida softshell turtles; one was digging a nest by the road. There were a few wildflowers blooming also. Oh, we also saw something I'd never seen before --- an anhinga on its nest, and a nest with a huge heron on it!

One clarification from other reviews which said there was one porta-potty stop at the old pump house: there were actually 3 different sets of porta-potties scattered along the route. This was a good thing, and they were clean. In fact, the pump/cleaning truck came around while we were driving the loop.

I'm glad we did take a small cooler with bottled water and some snacks.
I would do this drive again, and again, so many animal and bird sightings. To top it off, it is FREE! It's only open Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, but add it to your itinerary, you won't regret it!

Never have I ever seen so many gators in my life. This is a great trail that offers you the chance to drive it entirely or take a moment and get out and walk and see the sites up close. Pack snacks and there are port a potties along the route. We really enjoyed seeing so many animals and native birds. You can also listen to historical information on the trail as you go along.

We travelled the 11 mile drive on an overcast December day with the hope of spotting a few alligators and a variety of birds. There were 9 of us in a minibus and started seeing gators and great wildlife within minutes of starting the trip. Saw 56 gators of different sizes, a couple within 6 foot. The drive takes patience and it was unfortunate that we had at least one vehicle sounding it's horn and woman passenger gesticulating rudely but that one idiot couldn't put a damper on the day. I found the free drive far better than Universal and spent circ 3 hours thoroughly enjoying myself with my family ranging 18-56.

My mum was fed up with the noise and rush of the theme parks. We decided to have a break. We found the trail and followed it. Over the 2 hour drive we spotted over 30 Alligators. We saw Eagles Glide over us. Great to see all of the Alligators in their natural habitats. Their are toilets about 10 minutes into the drive.

nice slow drive down a dirt road watching birds and gators, otters and turtles. get the kids out there to get them out the house,

We live in Apopka. We go at least once a month. It is always peaceful and we see something new every time. There is no turn-around. It is a one way loop. Allow at least 1.5 - 2 hours minimum to visit. There is a restroom stop about half way through. I do not reccomend getting out of your car. You will always see gators. Photo opportunities at every turn.

We took this pleasant drive with friends. We saw more gators than we've ever seen before (including babies!). Lots of birds. Looks like a nice bike trail for part of the trail; we hope to return with bicycles soon. More interpretive signs would be nice. The lake views are beautiful.

A beautiful 11-12 mile drive (@ 10mph) around Lake Apopka. Only open on weekends. Lots of Birds, gators and other wildlife. Three very cool observation towers on the western loop hiking trail (no cars). Bring water and mosquito repellent for the hiking trail. Great way to see the "Real Florida" and its FREE

This was found purely by accident we passed the signs daily and after a google search we decided to go and visit and we was glad we did
You need a car to get there and need to ensure you take drinks and sun cream but once there natures on your doorstep we saw animals that we would never of seen normally unless you went to a zoo or a sanctuary
We spent half a day here it’s really quiet you can get out of your vehicle to take photos occasionally another car would pass or stop near you and then you just continue on your way the roads one way only and you can’t get lost
This is for everyone but you do need to ensure you don’t have any problems walking it’s a dirt track with loose chipping and would be a great place to take children of any age and is a good thing to do if you have the time and don't want to shop or go to a park and there isn’t a gift shop at the end lol

I was just a bit disappointed but still a nice trail to hike and relax. Well maintained. Clean restrooms available and public access to fishing.

It was fun to drive through miles of marshland and visit the old pump house with 5 old diesel engines inside, apparently not used anymore.
We drove slowly and stopped often to listen and view at close range many species of birds. It seemed they were used to vehicles and didn't mind us at all.
We saw many alligators. One was very big, we judged to have been over seven feet long.
This is a wonderful place to enjoy nature.

This is a wildlife gem! The entrance gate opens electronically @ sunrise and closes one hour before sunset, Friday through Sunday and holidays. Allow a little more than an hour if you just plan to drive it and not stop; but one could easily spend half a day or more there.

I am not a birder, but I've never seen such a variety of birds and so close up - twice there were great blue's on the roadway, with fish in their mouths - all of the birds seemed nonplussed about people and traffic.

I got there about 10 a.m. on a Friday and I probably passed 50 cars that had pulled over with people with binoculars and scopes - appeared to be several groups viewing and many solo birders; mostly from FL, but also other states and Ontario.

Besides all of the birds, I also saw 3 otters - two on the roadway and one across the ditch - I had never seen otters in the wild and they were much larger than I thought they would be.

I've stopped by plenty places in FL that are known as bird sites, but this drive was by far the best I've seen.

Btw, the loop drive is one way and it ends approximately 8 miles from where it begins.

There were some great reviews of the bike trails, so we decided to try it. We parked at the North Shore Trailhead near the boat ramp. We biked for about 4 miles one-way (unpaved trail), and we were not impressed. We saw very few people biking/hiking. The trail was flat but nothing worthwhile to look at but barren land and some water. Since the area is so large, I’m thinking that we were not in an interesting area of the park.

I use the North Apopka loop for bike riding at least once a month. If you would like to see an alligator in its natural surrounds this is the place to go. The lake and canals are
pollute with alligators. There is also a good variety of birds. I have come across bob cats, and a Florida panther. There are several areas to access this park. you can drive on a small area on week ends, you can hike or bike. If biking bring lots of water with you.

This is a great place to take a stroll with your family, dogs, etc... Just make sure to keep small children a good distance from the water as there are alligators pretty much all throughout the lake. Newton park near the bottom of the lake, has a decent playground area and restrooms as well.

Great gravel trails, good for bikes, runners and walkers. We enjoyed our tour of the lake, using the gravel trails. Saw many gators (thankfully on the other side of the canals) and birds.

We also stopped by the overlook, but is a bit far from the lake to really give water views.

The starting points have restrooms and picnic tables, so plan your activity ahead, especially for water supply in warmer months.

Lake Apopka Loop offers hikers an up close and personal view of Florida wildlife. Wear comfortable walking shoes, and bring plenty of water and a camera. The trail is dirt and in some areas there is absolutely NO SHADE. You can hike as long as you like, but remember - if you hike out an hour it will take you another hour to get back, so pace yourself. Some of the trail is bordered by Lake Apopka on one side and backwater on the other, so don't be surprised if you see an alligator heading from one to the other right in front of you. Great birding area too! Be smart and be prepared, always carry a cell phone in case of a medical emergency. This is an amazing hike!

I've ridden my beach cruiser on all segments of this trail now and love it! Today I parked at Historic pump house and rode to Magnolia Park and back. Just 8 casual miles in the rain. The lake is beautiful and the trail is not difficult at all. Crushed limestone and packed tight. Wildlife everywhere! If you want to see gators up close, this is the place. Especially in the waters around the pump house. I counted 30 gators. On the northwest side of the trail I've seen deer, bobcat, fox, otter, raccoon, armadillo, and even a coyote. That's not even counting the swarms of birds all over the north shore. If you are looking for a place to ride or hike away from the city, you found it. Access to the trail is FREE and there are multiple entrance points. Maps are also provided or you can find them online. There are only 3 restrooms. Magnolia Park, Historic pump house, and the new Green Mountain Scenic Overlook. Plan accordingly. I also suggest bringing water and your camera. Highly recommended!

Lovely park with lots of wildlife. The park was clean and well kept. Great for hiking, biking & birding. Bring a packed lunch & make a day of it.

If you are looking for a free Park where you can take some awesome wildlife photos, you at the right place! I myself took photos from 5 alligators todas, some birds and an animal which name in english I forgot, but in portuguese is " tatu bola". If you want the name of this animal in english, please google it! I am drinking a beer now at Crooked Can now, listening some live music, which I recomend, and will be revised by myself later on here on trip advisor. Today I was in a 3 hour walking. Consider riding a bike...

Took some friends out on this trail July 4th and we all had a very interesting experience. Lot's of birds and alligators IN-THE-WILD! Just google "Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive" and go there. You can drive yourself or use your bicycle if you're into that. If you tune to a certain frequency on your radio, they tell you about what's around you in that area. It is a real surprise in a land of super amusement parks.

I rode all the way from Green Mountain Trailhead to the pump house was about 27 miles round trip. Saw a lot of gators and birds. Only drawback no shade. Will do this ride again in the cooler months.

We drove the Apopka Wildlife Trail & it was very interesting. We saw lots of birds & alligators along the 11 mile trail. We took our time & made numerous stops for photo’s. I would recommend it for families & couples looking to get a bit closer to nature.

Our family of four from the uk were desperate to see Gators in a natural environment and escape the cost of 200 dollars for an airboat trip. We drive about an hour from Davenport- we saw loads of Gators and many different bird species. Amazing sights of eagles and osprey- carrying fish. It made my holiday complete even tricky teenagers were impressed.

This trail was such a surprise and so much more than expected!! We parked at Magnolia Park to access the trail, which had plenty of parking and was well marked. They offer trail maps at this location and restrooms. We first started alongside a busy road and I was a bit confused, but then you turn the corner and the trail goes right along the shore line of Lake Apopka. You can't get any closer than this! (I imagine). My husband was so exited when he spotted the first alligator, then my daughter spotted another - which was a momma with newly hatched babies (only about 8 inches long). By the end of the ride, we had seen 20 alligators of all sizes. Some sunbathing only 2 feet from the edge of the trail. My kids loved it (7, 4). There were some places to stop and rest, but we spent most of our time taking pictures. There was a nice breeze coming off the lake, so even though the trail was in full sun, we weren't hot. You may want to bring binoculars to better see the gators and birds further out in the lake. If you're looking to experience a piece of Florida nature, I definitely recommend this place.

Despite other reviews on this and other sites about this trail, we ventured out on our hybrids and rode 30 miles. The trail was in much better condition than we were led to believe by other reviewers. Big you have a hybrid, you are fine on this trail. Gravel in some areas, old worn out concrete in others. Very few potholes. Nothing a hybrid couldn't handle. Didn't see a single gator on the first half, but saw dozens on the way back! Also saw a raccoon, lots of beautiful birds and a peacock at Magnolia Park. The gators are big and plentiful. Our bike noises scared them off the banks and into the water (aside from a huge one basking in a ditch like area not near water). I would be hesitant to walk/hike here due to the number of gators and their taking in the sun inches from the trail. We stopped a few times, once for a picnic lunch at a lovely new looking pavilion, once at the old pump house and once to climb one of the observation towers. We only saw a handful of other bicyclists (mountain and cyclocross) and one hiker in the 3 hours we spent on the trail. Bring lots of water and snacks. It's way out there. Very few restroom opportunities. You really feel like you are in old Florida in its true natural state.

Gravel double track trail thru Apopka Everglades. Full Sun, no shade ever. Rough gravel maintenance road/trail. Plenty of alligators. Little else.
If you go, take spare tires, tubes, water, and sunscreen - maybe spare spokes, even a wheel.
If you have never seen an Alligator, maybe do this ride. I'd recommend Gatorland instead!

I absolutely LOVE this trail! Started out at North Shore Trailhead with my new puppy Buc and hiked to Lake Apopka. So many birds that the sound was deafening. Like NYC traffic only natural. Trail is crushed limestone and easy to hike or bike. Halfway to the lake we ran into a family of otters. They were cracking me up! Wrestling with each other and playing hide-n-seek with me and Buc. Saw a gator in the marsh with amazing views of Sugarloaf Mountain in the background. Also yellow wild flowers blooming everywhere. Beautiful and very picturesque. Bring your camera! Never know what you'll see here.
Highly recommended!

This is definitely a top, top choice if you like a good bike ride with excitement. As we were unloading the bikes a park ranger came by and was pleased to see we weren't going out alone and then made sure we had the headquarter phone number in case we needed assistance. Well it wasn't long before we understood what "assistance" might be required as gators can occasionally be a trail hazard that need a rangers coaxing to move along. Definitely a fun ride on well maintained trails and options for extensive wildlife viewing. A perfect way to spend a few hours. Highly, highly recommended!

Many alligators and birds. Beautiful and free. Saw over 100 alligators. Many were in the road. Beautiful plants. Nice drive. Would highly recommend.

I hit this trail for the first time this AM. The parking is in the Magnolia Park, then a short walk along binion before you hit the actual trail. 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. I saw raccoon, snake, turtle and otter tracks, but did not see the animal. Be sure to dress according to the weather as there are no shelters along the trail. There are RR in the trail head at Magnolia Park, and porto-potties where the trail intersects w/ the Wildlife Drive at the pump house.

Very nice, well maintained trail which was easy to access. We hiked part of the trail but it looks great for
bicyclists too. We saw some interesting plants but not much wildlife. The sign where we entered the trail recommend bringing your own water, bringing a map and talking a buddy on the trail. It also warns against feeding or approaching gators.