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Kelly Park swimming area

Apopka

Only 30 minutes from downtown Orlando, Apopka has interesting hikes in public lands along the Wekiva River basin and its tributaries, as well as the chain of lakes connecting to Lake Apopka

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Rock Springs

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, with many nurseries 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 at Kelly Park and Wekiwa Springs State Park. Both parks are very busy with swimmers during the summer months and close their gates once at capacity. A ribbon of public lands protects the spring-fed Wekiva River as well as 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. Along its route, the statewide Florida Coast to Coast Trail joins in on its journey west.

Resources

50 Hikes in Central Florida Central Florida Orlando Explorers Guide book cover 5 Star Trails Orlando Complete Guide to Florida Wildflowers Hikers Guide to the Sunshine State book cover

Disclosure: As authors and affiliates, we receive earnings when you buy these through our links. This helps us continue to provide public information on this website.

Outdoor Destinations

Marshes at Jones Avenue STA Lake Apopka North Shore

Jones Avenue Stormwater Park

Jones Avenue Stormwater Park
Kelly Loop Trail at Rock Springs

Kelly Park

Kelly Park
Cyclists along Lake Apopka Loop Trail levee

Lake Apopka Loop Trail

Lake Apopka Loop Trail
Lake Apopka North Shore

Lake Apopka North Shore

Lake Apopka North Shore
Car with bikes on Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive

Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive

Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive
Lake Lotus Park

Lake Lotus Park

Lake Lotus Park
Grassy road through oak hammock

Lake Lucie Conservation Area

Lake Lucie Conservation Area
Lake Apopka at Magnolia Park

Magnolia Park

Magnolia Park
Prairie Lake

Oakhill and Prairie Lakes Trails

Oakhill and Prairie Lakes Trails
Rock Springs Run State Park

Rock Springs Run Hiking Trail

Rock Springs Run Hiking Trail
Rock Springs Run State Reserve

Rock Springs Run Reserve State Park

Rock Springs Run Reserve State Park
Sabal Point Preserve

Sabal Point Sanctuary

Sabal Point Sanctuary
Shady trail at Trimble Park

Trimble Park

Trimble Park
Lily dotted surface of a Florida river

Wekiva River Paddling Trail

Wekiva River Paddling Trail
Wekiwa Springs Hiking Trail

Wekiwa Springs Hiking Trail

Wekiwa Springs Hiking Trail
Wekiwa Springs State Park

Wekiwa Springs State Park

Wekiwa Springs State Park
Killarney Station

West Orange Trail

West Orange Trail
Wekiwa Wet to Dry Trail

Wet to Dry Trail

Wet to Dry Trail

ALL Destinations

Articles

Kelly Park Loop

Hiking at Kelly Park

October 6, 2011//  by Sandra Friend

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.

Florida black bear at Kelly Park

Just Bearly

July 21, 2011//  by Sandra Friend

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.

Wekiwa Springs State Park

A Walk at Wekiwa

February 17, 2006//  by Sandra Friend

A walk in the park at Wekiwa Springs State Park doesn’t have to be a long one. Here’s a way to sample the park’s highlights and habitats along its trails.

ALL Articles

NEARBY: Altamonte Springs, Orlando, Maitland, Mount Dora, Sanford, Winter Garden, Winter Park | PART OF: Central Florida

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