 Hiking and biking is what we do! | After days of gloom and rain, crisp cold temperatures rolled in and blue skies compelled us to get outdoors. It was a Sunday, and Groundhog Day at that. We ditched our original plan to bike somewhere an hour south of home and headed an hour west instead. The idea was to bike the Lake Apopka Loop Trail. We knew very little about it except where to find the trailheads. Arriving at Magnolia Park to start the ride, we hit a speed bump. There was no way to get the bikes off the rack because we'd left the key in the other car. The one we usually keep the bike rack on. |  Driving the Lake Levee at Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive | Enter Plan B, starting with Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive. It surprised and delighted us. It also kicked off a day-long loop around the lake. We stopped at every trailhead and every park, taking short hikes at most of them. Sunset faded fast as we arrived in downtown Winter Garden. Popping into a sports bar for dinner, we realized it was also Super Bowl Sunday. We couldn't have picked a better time to drive home through downtown Orlando. | We learned a lot that day. The key takeaway? Lake Apopka is healthier now than it has ever been in our lifetimes. We're digging into the "why" for a future article. Meanwhile, enjoy the recreational opportunities we collected on this trip. They're all now on our website. Happy Hiking,
Sandra & John PS. Catch up with us the evening of March 4 at Travel Country Outdoors during their annual Trail Life Pint Night.. We'll have our newest books on hand and will be hanging out to talk trail. It's an annual fundraiser that benefits the Florida Trail Association and the Appalachian Trail Conservancy. | With dozens of access points circling it in two counties, Florida's fourth largest lake provides a surprising spectrum of outdoor recreation to enjoy. | Green Mountain Scenic Overlook
The highest elevations in Central Florida provide a sweeping panorama of Lake Apopka and Florida’s longest set of trail switchbacks. | 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. | McDonald Canal
Providing paddlers and boaters access to the Apopka-Beauclair Canal, the McDonald Canal Boat Ramp is a quiet spot for a picnic lunch and birding stop | Oakland Nature Preserve
A delightful destination for families to introduce kids to the outdoors, this private preserve offers a nature center, miles of gentle trails, and a boardwalk to Lake Apopka. | Florida Trail Hikes You won't find another book like this, from us or anyone else: 376 pages of the best scenic hikes that the Florida Trail has to offer. A full-color guidebook with detailed maps, recommendations for alternate routes, and suggested multi-day trips, it's one you'll refer to over and over again while planning day hikes and overnighters around Florida. We think you'll find it a great resource. Learn all about it and place an order here. |  Dropping Flattop and Steps off along the Florida Trail after their zero day. | This time of year, we usually stick close to home. Since our last newsletter, we've looped Lake Apopka and revisited two Seminole County natural lands, Lake Harney Wilderness and Econ River Wilderness. Sandra joined our friend Vera for a day of birding at Canaveral National Seashore and Orlando Wetlands Park, and we took in a handful of thru-hikers off the Florida Trail. A classic car show at McKee Botanical Gardens drew us to Vero Beach, where we did a little exploring on Jungle Trail and hiked Captain Forster Hammock Preserve. Our most recent videos of new and revisited trail destinations are on our YouTube channel. |  Yes, you read that right. A developer wants your public land. | Expand Econ River Wilderness A proposal has been made public of a land swap offer between a developer and Seminole County for possession of Econ River Wilderness Area. We think that the existing preserve should be expanded, instead. Here’s how. |  Lake Apopka's North Shore. Literally. | 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 There are dozens of ways to enjoy this massive swath of public land between Apopka and Ferndale. Here’s how. |  Lesson One: wading is a part of hiking in Florida. | Hiking in Florida New to Florida? Florida is different. If you don’t know much about our outdoors, start here to learn what’s unique about hiking, backpacking, and camping in Florida. We've rewritten this long-time feature to organize it better and include more tips. Start Reading. | These are a selection of trails and parks we added to the website this month as well as some we've updated significantly. See all recent updates and new destinations here.
. | Clay Island Trail
Expect plenty of birds in the marshes where farms are being restored to wetlands along a segment of the Lake Apopka Loop Trail with its own series of cross trails. | Econ River Wilderness
Protecting a narrow band of green space in the urbanizing suburbs of the Orlando metro, the Econ River Wilderness surprises with its botanical beauty and wildlife. | Ferndale Preserve
Nearly a decade after restoration, you'd never imagine this hilltop was covered in orange groves. Savor sweeping views of Lake Apopka and surprising elevation changes while looping the rolling hills of this county preserve. | Jones Avenue Stormwater Park
With both wetlands and open water that attract birds, Jones Avenue Stormwater Park filters runoff from the neighboring community while providing wildlife habitat. | Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive
It's for the birds - and the people who watch them. Plan a weekend drive through this expansive wetland area where you can park your car and count the alligators. | 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. | North Shore Trailhead
The northernmost access point to the Lake Apopka Loop Trail, the North Shore Trailhead sits between uplands and wetlands divided by the McDonald Canal. | West Orange Trail
Spanning from Apopka to Oakland, the 20.8-mile West Orange Trail connects communities along Lake Apopka. A portion of it is also part of the statewide Coast to Coast Trail. | Outdoor Events Feb 28-29: Highline Movie Premiere with Zpacks, Melbourne & Winter Park
Mar 4: Travel Country Trail Life Pint Night, Altamonte Springs 5:30 PM
Mar 6-7: I-Did-A-Hike, Withlacoochee State Forest, Inverness
Mar 18-21: Titusville Trail Trifecta, Titusville
Mar 20-29: Panhandle Trace Hike, Pensacola
Mar 27-29: Alabama Hiking Trail Society Annual Conference, Rockford AL
Mar 28: 3rd Annual Micco Bluff Hike, Basinger
Jun 6: National Trails Day, Nationwide
Dec 11-13: FTA South Regional Conference, Camp Owaissa Bauer, Homestead Are we missing any major events? Let us know and we'll add them to the next newsletter. | |
