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South Lake Trail
Latest update: May. 2018
Portions of the 13-mile South Lake Trail, centered near Clermont, FL, are particularly scenic, with views along Lake Minneola and other lakes and sweeping vistas on the sand ridges. The trail connects with the West Orange Trail to create 36 miles of continuous Central Florida biking through Lake and Orange Counties. East of Clermont, the South Lake Trail intersects with the Hancock Trail (open vistas, smooth, and hilly - popular with road bikers). Together, these two trails are now referred to as the "South Lake Trail System." The Trail also serves as a link in the Florida Coast-to-Coast Trail, with plans to extend it west to the Van Fleet Trail. (Detailed map and photos below.)
Location: Lake County (Clermont)
End Points: Groveland (Silver Eagle Rd.) to Clermont Waterfront Park
to Killarney Station (West Orange Trail)
Mileage: 13 miles
Surface: Asphalt, 14'
Trailheads/Parking: Lake Hiawatha Preserve
Trailhead, West Lake Minneola Trailhead, Clermont Waterfront Park, Minneola Park Trailhead,
Killlarney Station (West Orange Trail) (See map)
Nearby Points of Interest: Florida Citrus Tower, Sugarloaf Mountain,
Walt Disney World, Bok Tower Gardens
Bike Shops / Bike Rentals:
Road bikers and triathletes seem to enjoy the hills this trail offers. A nearby on-road trip is to tackle Sugarloaf Mountain, the highest point in Central Florida at 312 feet above sea level (this is a popular motorcycle route, be careful). The Minneola Scenic Trail Section along the waterfront between Clermont and Minneola is particularly enjoyable.
In early 2015 a 3.5 mile trail extension was opened, running between Clermont and Groveland as part of construction closing gaps on the Florida Coast-to-Coast Trail. The extension along CR561 and 565A includes two bridges and the new Lake Hiawatha Preserve Trailhead (parking, restrooms, picnic, pier).
The trail continues to West Lake Minneola Trailhead (parking, restrooms, playground), and into Clermont to Clermont Waterfront Park.
The central portion (called the Minneola Scenic Trail Section) runs through Clermont along Lake Minneola through popular Clermont Waterfront Park (restrooms, picnicking, swimming area, and fishing piers).
A pleasant shaded ride, this is one of the few trails with streetlights. The underpass at US 27 is a positive.
Minneola Trailhead has parking, restrooms, ball fields, basketball court, playing fields, playground, picnic areas, and a dog park.
Here the trail runs along Old Hwy. 50 on the central Florida sand ridge, sporting the highest elevations of any rail-trail in the state. Featuring open vistas and some challenging hills on the sand ridges, this is a popular location for triathletes in training. The trail joins the Hancock Trail (6.5 miles, leading to the National Training Center at South Lake Hospital) briefly before crossing N. Hancock Rd.
The trail flattens out. Paralleling Old Hwy. 50 W, this is a pleasant section of trail.
The 1.5 mile section west of Killarney Station is shaded with some nice hills and turns. Connects to the West Orange Trail.
Also visit us:
Biking on the Hancock Trail
Biking on the West Orange Trail
Lake County - Paved Recreational Trails
Lake County - South Lake Trails System (.pdf)
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