Following the former Southern Coast Line (SCL) route into urban Orlando, the Cady Way Trail is a utilitarian bike path, mostly in its own greenway.
It connects neighborhoods and parks together in Audubon Park, Baldwin Park, Winter Park, and Goldenrod.
And it connects all of these residents with the Orlando Fashion Square Mall. No need to ride along roads in this busy area.
Much of the route is either behind industrial parks or behind subdivisions in an urban greenway corridor.
It is nicely shaded in the residential areas, and less so in the industrial areas.
Riding through a Winter Park neighborhoodThere are many road crossings, making this more of a transportation corridor and less of a recreation corridor.
For recreation users, the Cady Way Trail opens a portal to a vast amount of mileage on Seminole County’s trails. Follow it east to connect to the Cross Seminole Trail.
Greenway through an industrial parkResources
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Overview
Location: Winter Park and Orlando
Length: 7.5 miles linear
Land manager: Orange County
Address: 821 Herndon Ave, Orlando
Phone: 407-254-9025
Open sunrise to sunset. Leashed dogs welcome. Water fountains and benches are along the trail. Shade is limited in some places.
This is an urban bike path. Be alert to your surroundings for your personal safety. Do not leave your gear unattended or your bike unlocked when out of sight of it.
While portions of the route are in a protected greenway, there are numerous road crossings with heavy traffic. Most, but not all, have traffic lights to assist in crossing.
Trail amenities include benches, water fountains, and trash cansEmergency Response Markers are set in the asphalt every 1/10 mile. Use these to reference your position if you call 911 or law enforcement.
Taking a break on the Semoran Blvd bridgeDetails
We rode the Cady Way Trail after finishing the southern portion of the Cross Seminole Trail, as they connect together seamlessly just west of Hall Rd.
Riding along Aloma BlvdA quarter mile from the eastern terminus of the trail at the county line, Goldenrod Park is the nearest place you can park along the trail.
John consulting the trail map at Goldenrod ParkIt has a kiosk with trail map as well as some benches and restrooms. After the park, there is a road crossing at Goldenrod Rd.
The next stretch up to Palmetto Avenue is edged by retail businesses along Aloma Ave. The green space at Perch Lake makes up for it, with a gazebo for a rest stop.
Perch Lake OverlookPalmetto Ave (SR 551) can be very busy and there is no light for cyclists. Be cautious crossing this four-lane road. There is a median to pause in.
Palmetto Avenue crossingEnter a greenway corridor beyond Palmetto Ave. At first it is shaded and then it is flanked by industrial parks and businesses.
Riding through an industrial parkA bridge crosses a channelized waterway draining from Lake Howell to the Econlockhatchee River.
Flanked by chain link fences, the surroundings are very urban, moreso than any of the other trails we’ve ridden in this region.
Riding through an urban settingForsyth Rd is the next road crossing and it can be even tougher than Palmetto Ave to cross because of all the industrial truck traffic. It also has a bike-width median.
Riding along industrial parks isn’t that exciting. But the scenery changes as you climb up and over SR 436 (Semoran Blvd) on a large bridge into residential Winter Park.
Coming up to the bridge over Semoran BlvdAfter you cross Ranger Rd, the character of the ride changes. An urban forest shades the route.
Starting through Winter ParkMaking a curve south, the the trail heads down a corridor that feels more green. The second trailhead, Cady Way Trail, is soon after the curve.
Shaded corridor with lots of spaceRoad crossings are less frequent and involve neighborhood streets. Adjoining Winter Pines Golf Club for a stretch, the trail comes up to Baldwin Park Street.
Crossing Baldwin Park StreetThere is a side path here leading west after the road crossing. It goes to the Lake Baldwin Trail, where there is a 2.5 mile loop around Lake Baldwin with no road crossings.
The Cady Way Trail continues south, paralleling Truman Rd past Baldwin Park. After several residential road crossings, the trail curves west through a forested area.
Curve through a forestBy 5.8 miles, it meets Lake Baldwin Lane. The north-south side path along this road is also part of the Lake Baldwin Trail, connecting to the lake loop to the north.
Junction with Lake Baldwin Trail/>Turn south (left) and cross Lake Baldwin Lane just before you get to Roush Ave. The Cady Way Trail continues west, paralleling Roush.
The Cady Way Trail crosses Lake Baldwin Lane hereThe trail slips around a pretty view at Lake Gear before reaching Bennett Rd, another busy street to cross.
Slipping between the FedEx warehouse and the big Post Office on Herndon Ave, it makes a sharp turn up along McCullough Ave to reach Maguire Blvd at 6.6 miles.
Here, the trail is a broad side path leading west. Turn left and follow it around Fashion Square Mall.
Cross Maguire at the traffic light at Woodcock Rd. The side path now stays north of Maguire until it turns to parallel Warehouse Rd north.
Turn left for one last road crossing as the trail continues west up a utility easement to reach the entrance to Lake Druid Park. It ends after 7.5 miles.
Riding through residential OrlandoTrailheads
| Trailhead | Address | City |
|---|---|---|
| Goldenrod Park | 4863 N Goldenrod Rd | Winter Park |
| Cady Way Park | 2525 Cady Way | Winter Park |
| Lake Druid Park | 899 Coy Dr | Orlando |
Trailhead at Cady Way ParkMileage
| Mile | Location |
|---|---|
| 0.3 | Goldenrod Park |
| 2.6 | Cady Way Trailhead |
| 4.1 | Baldwin Park Trail Connector |
| 6.4 | Herndon Ave |
| 7.5 | Lake Druid Park |
Connections
Cross Seminole Trail
The eastern terminus of the Cady Way Trail segues right into the Cross Seminole Trail at Hall Rd. Cross Hall and Aloma at the traffic light.
Follow the Cross Seminole Trail bike path east for 6.6 miles to reach Oviedo to connect to the greater network of trails in Seminole County.
Cross Seminole Trail passing under SR 417Lake Baldwin Trail
From the Cady Way Trail, there are two connections to the Lake Baldwin Trail. The first is a side path at Baldwin Park Street. The second is at Lake Baldwin Lane.
The Lake Baldwin Trail includes a 1.7 mile loop around Lake Baldwin and a 0.9-mile linear side path paralleling Baldwin Park Blvd.
Lower loop junction around Lake BaldwinTrail Map
Cady Way Trail in red, Lake Baldwin Trail in blueExplore More!
Video
See our video of biking Oviedo to Orlando via the Cross Seminole Trail, Cady Way, and Lake Baldwin Trail
Nearby Adventures
More worth exploring while you’re in this area.
Mead Garden
A 47-acre urban preserve, Mead Garden is a pleasant place for a forested walk of less than a mile in Winter Park, hosting many special events under its canopy of oaks.
Harry P. Leu Gardens
Fifty acres of lush formal gardens hug the shores of Lake Rowena in this urban display of botanical diversity in Orlando. The center of it all is the Leu House, purchased by Harry and Mary Jane Leu in 1936 – now a house museum – around which they developed their gardens.