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West Orange Trail
Latest update: November 2022
West Orange Trail...
Winter Garden's Renaissance Bike Trail
West Orange Trail is a world-class rail trail through urban and suburban sections of Orange County. Popular for all types of biking, in-line skating, running and walking. "Outposts" and "Stations" along the way provide parking, with "Stations" providing full amenities. The trail runs from the Killarney Station trailhead on SR50 west of Oakland, through Winter Garden and to Apopka, ending at Welch Road. A spur at Killarney Station connects to the South Lake Trail - both trails are part of the Florida Coast-to-Coast Trail. Plans are underway expanding the trail further to the north as well. (Detailed map and photos below.)
Location: Orange County
End Points: Killarney (Old SR 50) to Lester Rd. (Apopka)
Mileage: 22 miles; link to 13-mile South Lake Trail
Surface: Asphalt, 15'
Trailheads/Parking: Killarney Station, Oakland Nature Preserve, Oakland Outpost,
Tildenville Outpost, Winter Garden Station, Chapin Station, Ingram Outpost, Apopka-Vineland
Outpost, McCormick Outpost, Clarcona Horseman's Park, Apopka Station.
Neighborhood Lakes West Trailhead
(See map)
Nearby Points of Interest: Towns of Oakland and Winter
Garden, Oakland Nature Preserve, Winter Garden Historic Museum, Lake Apopka;
Walt Disney World, Universal Studios, SeaWorld
Bike Shops/Rentals:
Bikes and Blades (Killarney Station)
Wheel Works (Winter Garden)
Spin City Cycles (Apopka)
Biking the West Orange Trail... Comments and Photos
One of our favorite sections is the 5 miles east from Killarney Station, through old Oakland, to old downtown Winter Garden. Add another 1.5 miles (one way) by riding west from Killarney Station on the connecting South Lake Trail. This section is nicely shaded, adding some short hills, twists and turns. Due to this trail's popularity, watch for children and crowded conditions.
Killarney Station to Winter Garden Station... 5 miles
Killarney Station to Oakland
Killarney Station has parking, restrooms, water, playground, and a bike shop for rentals, sales, repairs, and refreshments. Link to South Lake Trail. The old railroad bridge* over Florida's Turnpike is a local landmark. Park your bike to stroll the Oakland Nature Preserve (0.6 mile trail and boardwalk leading to a pier on the lake).
* October 2022: The old bridge is gone! It's been demolished and being reconstructed to accommodate widening of the Turnpike. Riders are being temporarily redirected over a new, parallel SR 438 (Oakland Ave.) bridge. Construction is expected to last for a year, reopening in mid- to late-2023.
Oakland
Serene old Oakland is a charming town draped in Spanish moss. Several historic buildings remain. Bike down side streets to view Lake Apopka.
Oakland to Tildenville Outpost
Leaving Oakland, pedal past tall oaks laden with Spanish moss. New development has changed the view through this area - homes built right along the trail. An old "landmark" along this section of the trail is a section of old railroad track.
Tildenville Outpost to Winter Garden
Notable at Tildenville are a butterfly garden, and the old "landmark" barn paying homage to Florida State University and retired football coach Bobby Bowden (the original owner/fan has passed away and the display unfortunately now deteriorating).
Downtown "Old" Winter Garden
Winter Garden is a prime example of how a well-maintained rail-trail can transform an "old Florida" downtown. As the focal point for the renaissance of this old Florida town, the bike trail has completely revitalized downtown Winter Garden, which now features at least two bike shops, several restaurants, and a small but worthwhile history museum. The new Winter Garden City Hall fronts the trail and features a bicycle-art sculpture. Park at Winter Garden Station (bike shop/rentals, restrooms, water, playground). The trail runs past the Clock Tower and Pavilion, central to many community events and activities.
Winter Garden Station to Apopka-Vineland Outpost... 8.5 miles
Winter Garden to Ingram Outpost
Heading out of Winter Garden the trail passes through suburban neighborhoods, tunnels under the highway, and weaves around a golf course. Chapin Station is a great trail and neighborhood asset - main trail offices, parking, restrooms, playground, picnic/pavilions, playing fields, tennis, Path of Life gardens. Ingram Outpost has parking only.
Ingram Outpost to Apopka-Vineland Outpost
From Ingram Outpost, the trail then follows Clarcona-Ocoee Road about 6/10 mile before branching off-road to Apopka-Vineland Outpost (behind the Buddhist Temple) - parking, water, portalet, picnic, playground. At this point, the Florida Coast- to-Coast Trail turns off the West Orange Trail - a spur (about 2/10 mile) leads to Clarcona-Ocoee Road, a future connector to the Seminole-Wekiva Trail.
Ingram Outpost to Apopka-Vineland Outpost
Apopka-Vineland Outpost, to Apopka Station, to Trail's End... 8.6 miles
Apopka-Vineland Outpost to Apopka
From Apopka-Vineland Outpost, continue north along the Apopka-Vineland Road about 1/4 mile to where the trail crosses at the traffic light.
At this point are two options:
Spur to Clarcona Outpost
Option 1: Continue along Apopka-Vineland Road, and ride the spur to Clarcona Outpost / Clarcona Horseman's Park. McCormick Outpost (parking, picnic) is along this spur. Clarcona Outpost has parking, picnic and water, and serves as trailhead for the equestrian trail.
Continue to Apopka
Option 2: At the crosswalk, go across Apopka-Vineland Road and continue toward Apopka (about 4 miles). There's about one mile of relaxing tree canopy before emerging along Clarcona Road.
Trail into Apopka
Continuing along Clarcona Rd. the trail goes under the SR414 toll road, then branches off along Old Apopka Road. From here, it parallels the road but with a wide buffer. At 13th St. it leaves Old Apopka Road and goes through a wooded area before emerging at 8th St. to S. Forest Ave. From here is a more commercial area. Approaching US441, a ramp goes up onto the bridge and crosses the busy road, then down a ramp back onto the trail.
Nearby Eats: Here alongside the trail is the Catfish Place, a local landmark serving southern-style seafood for more than 35 years.
To Apopka from the south
Apopka Station to Temporary Trail End
Apopka Station has parking, restrooms, water, playground and picnic facilities. Past Apopka Station the trail passes parks and playing fields, winds through an alignment, past Apopka Middle School and on a boardwalk before going roadside at N. Park Avenue (which then becomes Rock Springs Rd.), continuing another 2 miles to the current end at Lester Road. From here the next segment to Kelly Park is in planning.
Neighborhood Lakes West Trailhead to Mile Marker 28... 0.5 mile
Neighborhood Lakes West Trailhead to MM 28
This is a disconnected portion of West Orange Trail we stumbled on when biking Lake County's Neighborhood Lakes Scenic Trail. At the Orange/Lake County line, we noted the "WOT-280" mile marker in the pavement. The Neighborhood Lakes West Trailhead (vehicle and equestrian parking) is located off Mt. Plymouth Rd. To the south, this segment eventually will connect to the existing trail in Apopka. To the north it now runs 0.5 mile to the Orange/Lake County Line where it connects to Lake County's trails.
More Information and Resources
More Nearby Biking:
South Lake Trail - connects at Orange/Lake County line
(west)
Neighborhood Lakes Scenic Trail - connects at Orange/Lake County line
(north)
Orange County Trails - see Overview Map for more nearby
Florida Coast-to-Coast Trail
- West Orange Trail is a key segment
Resources:
See all bike trails in Orange County
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