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Killarney Station

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

Oakland Winter Garden Apopka      ( 28.547542, -81.656726 )      20.8 miles

Following a route where railroads once carried citrus to market, the West Orange Trail now winds through communities built around and atop those former orange groves.

Between the 1920s and 1960s, Winter Garden was a bustling citrus shipping community, at one time the largest in North America.

Orange County gets its name from the industry that made its mark here. Along the West Orange Trail, you’ll encounter historic markets and exhibits that recollect the past.

Winter Garden fountain Citrus label mosaic in Winter Garden


Resources

5 Star Trails Orlando Central Florida Orlando Explorers Guide book cover

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


Overview

Location: Oakland to Apopka
Length: 20.8 miles
Land manager: Orange County Parks
Address: 501 Crown Point Cross Rd, Winter Garden
Phone: 407-654-1108

Open sunrise to sunset. Surface is asphalt. Leashed dogs permitted. This is an urban day use trail.

A portion of the trail north and south of Clarcona is adjoined by a treadway for equestrians, as indicated on the map.

The Clarcona Horse Park is the only equestrian trailhead.

West Orange Trail

RV and tent sites are available at the Clarcona Horse Park for equestrian use. No other campgrounds are along the trail.

Clarcona horse track Trailside equestrian facility in Clarcona


Details

Now Orange County sprouts more new houses than orange trees. Since the trail’s western terminus was dedicated in 1994, its surroundings have changed.

West Orange Trail Oakland
A shelter and trailhead along the West Orange Trail at Oakland Nature Preserve

Grand old oaks still define much of Oakland, and downtown Winter Garden is a joy to bike through.

It’s here that the trail is at its showiest in an urban space, as it was incorporated into a park right through the middle of downtown.

Winter Garden West Orange Trail Downtown Winter Garden


It passes the Tavares & Gulf Railroad depot, built in 1913, which houses the Central Florida Railroad Museum.

Once you get beyond Winter Garden, the trail is largely shielded from its changing surroundings by a long-standing tunnel of trees.

West Orange Trail Riding a recumbent north of Ocoee


That changes north of where toll road SR 429 passes overhead. Here, groves and forests have been bulldozed for densely packed subdivisions.

Apopka bike path Riding through residential Apopka


While there is still a greenway feel to the trail as it heads north from Clarcona, you ride through residential areas before topping the bridge over US 441 in Apopka.

West Orange Trail Apopka Bridge Bridge over US 441 in downtown Apopka


Although the ride mileage includes the trail’s extension up to Welch Rd in Apopka, there is no trailhead at that end of the path.

Stop at Apopka Station for an 18.2 mile linear ride (36.4 mile round-trip).

Apopka Station Trailhead facilities at Apopka Station


Or add on another 5.2 miles (round-trip) by exploring the rest of Apopka along the trail north of Apopka Station.

Numerous trailheads along the route let you lengthen or shorten the overall trip to your own abilities.

bike trail boardwalk Wooden bridge along the West Orange Trail


If you run into an emergency on the trail, call 911 with a rough idea of the mile marker and location number you are near.

Emergency Number marker These markers are embedded into the asphalt along the length of the trail.


Bike Rentals

Bike rentals are currently available at two locations at the southwest end of the trail: the Killarney Station terminus and Winter Garden Station.

At Winter Garden Station, Wheelworks (407-877-7433) offers rentals and has bike gear for sale. In downtown Winter Garden, you’ll ride right past their store.

row of bikes Bikes for sale outside Wheelworks in Winter Garden


At Killarney Station, West Orange Bikes and Blades (407-877-0600) had a rental fleet sitting outside when we visited. The owner offered us a trail map when we walked by.

bike shop interior Gear and goodies inside Bikes and Blades


They also sell bikes, stock tires, and carry a supply of gear for emergency repairs. An air pump is available. And yes, there is ice cream.

Rentals at Bikes and Blades Rentals at Wheelworks


Trailheads

Trailhead Address City
Killarney Station 17914 SR 438 Oakland
Oakland Nature Preserve 747 Machete Trail Oakland
Oakland Outpost 230 N Tubb St Oakland
Tildenville Outpost 1064 Tildenville School Rd Winter Garden
Winter Garden Station 455 E Plant St Winter Garden
Chapin Station 501 Crown Point Cross Rd Winter Garden
Ingram Outpost 5995 Ingram Rd Orlando
Apopka Vineland Outpost 5794 N Apopka Vineland Rd Orlando
McCormick Outpost 58058 CR 435 Orlando
Clarcona Outpost 3535 Damon Rd Apopka
Apopka Station 111 S Forest Ave Apopka
Killarney Station signThe western terminus of the West Orange Trail, Killarney Station was established in 1994.


Mileage

MileLocation
0.0 Killarney Station
1.4 Oakland Nature Preserve
2.2 Oakland Outpost
3.8 Tildenville Outpost
5.2 Winter Garden Station
7.2 Chapin Station
11.8 Ingram Outpost
13.6 Apopka-Vineland Outpost
13.8 McCormick Outpost (0.2W on side trail)
13.8 Clarcona Outpost (0.9W on side trail)
18.2 Apopka Station
20.8 Welsh Rd

Connections

Coast to Coast

Between Clarcona and Oakland, the 13.6 mile stretch of the West Orange Trail that centers on Winter Garden is also part of the statewide Coast to Coast Trail.

To the west, the West Orange Trail seamlessly becomes the Lake Minneola Scenic Trail which turns into the South Lake Trail, making a beeline across Lake County through Monteverde, Minneola, and Clermont.

Killarney Station Killarney Station, the western terminus, also provides westbound access to the South Lake Trail


To the east, the Coast to Coast connection is the yet-as-unfinished corridor through Clarcona to Pine Hills.


Apopka to Rock Springs

Although it is not shown on the official Orange County map of the trail, the bike path continues north from Welch Rd in Apopka (Publix) parallel to Rock Springs Rd (SR 435).

Right now it makes it another half mile, up to Lester Rd. From there you can follow a sidewalk north another 3 miles to Kelly Park Rd.

Ride 0.6 mile east on Kelly Park Rd, sharing the dead-end, to get to the entrance to Kelly Park.

Kelly Park is a popular Orange County park that is home to beautiful Rock Springs. It offers tent camping, hiking, swimming, and tubing the run.

Kelly Loop Trail at Rock Springs

Kelly Park

Tubing down Rock Springs Run is why most folks show up at Kelly Park, but the Kelly Loop Trail is a nice dry way to see the waterway and wildlife.

Lake Apopka Loop Trail

Long-range plans also incorporate that portion with connectors to Magnolia Park and Green Mountain to create an actual loop for the Lake Apopka Loop Trail.

Signs for the Lake Apopka Loop Trail have been in Oakland for almost a decade. But those connections are tougher to make.

If you’re willing to ride the roads, braving traffic, narrow highways, curves, and hills – especially in Lake County – you can certainly circle the lake during daylight hours.

Cyclists along Lake Apopka Loop Trail levee

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

Trail Map

West Orange Trail Map West Orange Trail Map (Orange County Parks)



Explore More!

Slideshow

See our photos from biking the West Orange Trail


Nearby Adventures

More worth exploring while you’re in this area.

Ferns in a marsh

Oakland Nature Preserve

Protecting more than 128 acres along Lake Apopka, Oakland Nature Preserve offers an accessible boardwalk through marshes to the lake and uplands trails to explore

Lake Apopka at Magnolia Park

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


Trail Guide (PDF) Official Website

Category: Biking, Central Florida, County Parks, Day Hikes, Equestrian, Major Bike Trails, Paved Bike Trails, TrailsTag: Apopka, C2C Segment, Dog-friendly, Family-Friendly, Historic Sites, Lake Apopka, Oakland, Ocoee, Picnic, Playgrounds, Windermere, Winter Garden

Have an update? Contact us.

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