North Shore Trailhead

Located within sight of the McDonald Canal, the North Shore Trailhead is a launch point for adventures along the Lake Apopka North Shore.

While there are no facilities here, at nearby McDonald Canal Boat Ramp – which you can see from this parking area – you’ll find a shaded picnic pavilion, water fountain, and vault toilets.

Resources

Central Florida Orlando Explorers Guide book cover

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Overview

Location: Mount Dora
Length: 4.6 miles in two trails
Address: 24600 CR 448-A, Mount Dora
Trailhead: 28.704570, -81.672831
Fees: None
Restrooms: Vault toilet at nearby McDonald Canal Boat Ramp
Land manager: St. Johns River Water Management District
Phone: 386-329-4404

Sunrise to sunset daily. Leashed dogs allowed. Trails open to hikers, cyclists, and equestrians.

While the Lake Apopka Loop Trail is on a crushed limestone road, cyclists should plan for off-road conditions including loose gravel and puddles.

Cyclists interested in tackling the Uplands Loop at this trailhead will prefer an off-road bike for the grassy and leaf-strewn trails.

Directions

From Apopka, follow US 441 north to Zellwood. Turn west on Jones Avenue. Pass the exit gate for Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive at Jones Avenue STA and continue 2.6 miles to the T intersection with CR 48.

Turn left, following CR 48. Where CR 48 makes a hard right, continue straight ahead on CR 448-A and follow it until it ends just past a one-lane bridge. The North Shore Trailhead is straight ahead.

Trail Details

This unpaved parking area at the end of CR 448-A provides a gateway to two different trail experiences near the headwaters of the Harris Chain of Lakes.

The primary one is to provide access to the Lake Apopka Loop Trail through the former fields of Duda Farms, now a wetlands restoration area on the Lake Apopka North Shore.

Kiosk at the North Shore Trailhead

Lake Apopka Loop Trail

The main purpose of this trailhead is to get you on the Lake Apopka Loop Trail. A prominent sign greets you at the gap in the fence leading in that direction.

This mile-long connector trail leads to the Duda Kiosk. As with all other pieces of the Lake Apopka Loop Trail, it’s a limerock road out in the open.

Along the first third of the connector, it heads east along the McDonald Canal. Expect to see wading birds and alligators along the canal.

After the trail turns south, it leads through the wetlands restoration area. It’s a 2-mile round-trip out to the Duda Kiosk.

For a longer walk or ride, It’s a 5.6-mile round-trip out to the County Line Shelter along the lake. Cyclists and equestrians may also want to use this access point to connect to the loops at Clay Island.

Lake Apopka North Shore trailhead — Entrance to the Duda Connector at the North Shore trailhead

Uplands Loop

On the drive in, you might have noticed the diamond-shaped markers and former trailhead on the right just before the bridge over McDonald Canal.

To get to the Uplands Loop, walk back out along CR 448-A across the bridge. Turn left and enter the grassy area where the old trailhead used to be.

Yellow diamonds with a red arrow marker lead to the Uplands Loop. The trail makes a 2.6-mile loop through oak hammocks and wetland areas adjoining the Apopka-Beauclair Canal.

Red Loop near North Shore trailhead

Trail Map

Lake Apopka North Shore Trail Map (SJRWMD). North Shore Trailhead is upper left.

Explore More!

Lake Apopka North Shore

Learn more about this vast restoration area along the north shore of Lake Apopka of which this trailhead and trails are a part.

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