Apopka: Life in the 'Fertile Crescent' : Opportunities for Outdoor Recreation

Outdoor Recreation

I know that Apopka is known as the "Outdoor Foliage Capital of the World", but perhaps it should be called "The Outdoor Recreation Capital of the World". Positioned right at the only entrance (Besides going North from Clermont) to Lake Counties 1000 lakes via 441, it offers two Springs, a State Forest, and 3 wildlife preserves within a short drive.

As you go north into Lake County and beyond there are so many places to engage in thrilling outdoor recreation that it is impossible to mention them all. I began with those closest to Apopka and therefore convenient to get to.

Be sure and stop at Mosquito Creek Outdoor shop on your way out of town. It's always nice to know what kind of gear is available if you decide to make it a hobby. Plus, they can answer questions like, "How dangerous is it to paddle board through the Alligator infested Dora Canal?"

And just like with bowling or any sport really, having your own equipment means you get more comfortable with using it and you will do better at it. So, price out those kyaks, paddle boards, canoes, tents, etc. and look at some car racks to hold them as well. You never know, you might get hooked on a new whole new hobby.

Rock Springs and Kelly Park

Rock Springs and Kelly Park are the most convenient place to get a taste of what the Springs are all about. Just go North on Park Avenue from 441 and turn right when it dead ends. From there follow the signs.

Rock Springs is part of the Wekiva Springs area, but is conveniently located on the North side of Apopka. With a canoe, paddle board, or kyak you can actually go from Rock Springs to Wekiva Springs.

Kelly Park is not to be confused with Rock Springs Run State Reserve, which is off limits to swimmers.

This 248-acre Orange County park is built around one of the Apopka area's crystal clear springs. As its name suggests, Rock Springs bubbles up from a cleft in a rock outcropping and, instead of spreading out into a pool, becomes a swiftly running stream that quickly slows to a meander. The activity of choice here, and the major reason for the park's obvious popularity, is riding down the stream in an inner tube or on a float.

Make sure and stop at the store on that corner to get your inner tubes. Otherwise, if your like me on my first time, you will have to come back out for them.

Horseman's Park (What the Locals call it)

One place really close by that is often overlooked (I lived here for 8 years and didn't know it was here), for a little outdoor fun is the Clarcona Horseman Park. It's just off of Clarcona Apopka road in South Apopka. And the camping is on pine needles under a canopy of trees just like I like it, and frankly I would camp there any time just to wake up and see horses.

Points of Interest:
An outstanding public equestrian park offering show rings with bleacher seating, judging towers and horse stalls. Offering dressage show rings. Links to 22-mile West Orange Trail with equestrian path. RV camping is available at this park.

Clarcona Horse Park (Actual Name)
Acreage: 40
Location: From County Hwy. 435 West on McCormick Rd. then North on Damon Rd.
Hours of Operation:
Summer: 8 a.m.- 8 p.m.; Winter: 8 a.m.- 6 p.m.; Monday - Sunday3535 Damon RD
Apopka, FL 32703
(407) 886-6255

CONTACT
Orange County Parks and Recreation
4801 West Colonial Drive
Orlando, FL 32808
Email: parks@ocfl.net
Phone: (407) 836-6200
Event info line: (407) 836-628

West Orange Trail

The West Orange Trail is a 22-mile (35 km) long multi-use rail trail owned by Orange County Parks and Recreation in Orange County, Florida, in the United States. The paved trail passes through downtown Oakland, Winter Garden, and Apopka with most of its length built on old railroad alignments. To the west of the West Orange Trail is the South Lake-Lake Minneola Scenic Trail in Lake County which was connected to the trail in 2007.

Stations

There are four main stations on the West Orange Trail, each providing parking, restroom facilities, bike racks and drinking fountains: Killarney Station, Winter Garden Station, Chapin Station, and Apopka Station.

All have picnic tables and playground and some, with concession stands. Bike and skates rental are available at the Killarney Station. The Chapin Station has a basketball court and tennis courts. Parking possibilities are also provided at seven outposts located in between the stations, some with drinking fountain and portable toilet.

The Route

From the Killarney Station at the county line, the westbound 5-mile (8.0 km) trail is part of the South Lake-Lake Minneola Scenic Trail in Lake County which was connected to the West Orange Trail in 2007.

Heading east, all distances on the trail are measured from the Killarney Station which is the Mile zero marker.

There is a mile marker every 1⁄10 mile (0.16 km) to mark your location at the trail, useful during emergencies. The trail runs east towards downtown Oakland over the former Orange Belt Railway where it crosses the Florida Turnpike on a converted railroad bridge.

The path passes through the Oakland Nature Preserve on the way through downtown Oakland (Mile 2) where there is an outpost. From Oakland to Winter Garden, the Orange Belt Railway and the Tavares, Orlando and Atlantic Railroad ran right next to each other; the trail uses both rights-of-way.

The trail runs through downtown Winter Garden in the median of Plant Street where the railroad used to run, passing through the Winter Garden Station (Mile 5). The trail leaves downtown on the north side of Plant Street (there SR 438).

The Apopka-Vineland Outpost is located before the trail joins the Apopka-Vineland Road heading north, where it stays along its west side for about 550 feet (170 m) and then makes a sudden right, crossing the road to connect to a different railroad grade, the old Florida Midland Railroad, which then heads northward.

A spur to Clarcona Horseman's Park Outpost on Damon Rd. continues along the west side of Apopka-Vineland Road.

Major sections of the trail are right next to main roads as sidepaths, since the roads were built next to the railroads.

The trail continues along the old Florida Midland into Apopka, where the Florida Midland ended after around 1900.

This bridge was built by Orange County, FL and the City of Apopka, FL over State Road 441 connecting two sections of the Rails to Trails system forming the Orange County Bike Trail.

The section through downtown Apopka, including a bridge over US 441, opened in June 2007.

A recent extension takes it north along a new alignment, and then along the east side of Rock Springs Road, to end at the intersection with Welch Road.

A future extension is planned east along Welch Road to

Wekiwa Springs State Park.

Lake Apopka Restoration Area

The Lake Apopka Restoration area opened for traffic on roads and trails in spring of 2015. When I went with my wife, I met a guy from the Apopka Audubon Society. He told me that there was a plan in the works to connect the Clarcona Horseman Park to the trail around the North side of Lake Apopka to the lookout by Ferndale.

He also said that there was another plan in the works to connect the lookout area to the trail that cuts from the Atlantic Ocean to the Gulf of Mexico. So, feasibly you could ride your horse from Clarcona Horseman Park to Tampa for instance.

Wekiva Springs State Park

Wekiwa Springs State Park is a 7,000-acre (28 km2)Florida State Park in Apopka, Florida. It is located 20 minutes north of Orlando, off Interstate 4 at exit 94, near Altamonte Springs and Longwood. The park also contains the head water of the Wekiva River. It also serves as the headquarters of one of the state's five AmeriCorps Florida State Parks chapters.

The park has a nature center, and access to Wekiwa Springs, Wekiwa Springs Run, Rock Springs Run and the Wekiva River. Picnic pavilions equipped with charcoal grills exist in the picnic area.

Wekiva Springs

The main attraction at Wekiwa Springs Park is the spring, providing approximately 42 million gallons of water to the Wekiva River each day. The swimming area varies in depth from under a foot to five feet, and a small 15–20-foot-deep (4.6–6.1 m) cavern at the source of the spring. The cavern extends deeper into a cave, which has been explored in great detail. SCUBA and cave diving is strictly prohibited.

(Click to View Florida State Parks page)

Canoes can be rented at the nature center. There are four campsites in Wekiwa Springs State Park that can only be accessed by canoe or kayak.

Although the springs are spelled Wekiwa Springs, the river and most subdivisions and streets in Seminole County use the Wekiva spelling. Wekiwa is the creek word for a spring, but contrary to popular belief that Wekiva means "flowing water",it was actually an alternate spelling used by developers.

Hiking in Wekiva Springs
There is a network of trails in the park, allowing for bicycling, hiking, and horseback riding. The main hiking trail is 13.5 miles (21.7 km) long, and the 5.3-mile (8.5 km) Volksmarch trail is marked with orange diamonds.

Camping at Wekiva Springs
Spread out across the 7,000 acres (28 km2) is located a fairly substantial camping area. Infrastructure exists to support all forms and types of camping from tents to recreational vehicles. Family, primitive and cabin youth camping areas are available. Camp Cozy is located 3.5 miles (5.6 km) from the main spring and offers primitive camping. Pets are allowed, but must be leashed at all times. Intoxicants and firearms are prohibited.

Wildlife in Wekiva Springs State ParkThe area around the spring is largely undeveloped and has acres of untouched Florida Ecology. Among the wildlife of the park are coyote, rabbit, deer, gray fox, bobcat, raccoon, opossum, and black bear.

Fishing is permitted, as well as canoeing and snorkeling. However, SCUBA and specifically cave diving are not. The cave has been explored in the past to a distance of about 50 meters.

Seminole State Forest

Seminole State Forest is one of many public properties in the scenic Wekiva River Basin. Location

The first entrance is located off of State Road 46, approximately 14 miles west of the town of Sanford. Parking areas, entrance gates and trailheads are located at the second entrance, which is located west of the Wekiva River on State Road 44 in Cassia, approximately 12 miles east of the town of Eustis.

A series of spur trails provide connections to trailheads and parking areas and the adjacent trails on the Lower Wekiva River State Preserve. Four overnight primitive campsites along the trails are for hiking trail users only. Hiking is also permitted on all open roads, unless otherwise posted.

Off-road bicycles are permitted on over 25 miles of designated open roads (named roads) and bike trails. The open roads system contains areas of packed and sandy roads. This woods road system provides a 7-mile connection between the two parking areas and a series of loop and spur roads. Access is also provided to the adjacent trails on the Lower Wekiva River State Preserve.

Three primitive campsites with fire rings and picnic tables are available by reservation only. Use of these sites requires a user fee and a State Forest Use Authorization. Moccasin Springs Camp will accommodate five people and is located on the bank of Blackwater Creek. Oaks Camp and Jumper Camp are adjacent to open fields and will accommodate up to 20 people.

Recreation

Seminole State Forest offers many recreational opportunities for both the outdoor enthusiast and casual visitor. Parking is available off of State Road 44 and State Road 46; however, a State Forest Use Permit is required for drive-in access.

Single and multiple-use trails provide vast areas for exploration of the varied natural communities and provide connections to approximately 20 miles of multiple-use trails located on the adjacent Lower Wekiva River State Preserve.

Seminole State Forest contains two hiking trails (Lower Wekiva and Sulphur Island) that are included in the Florida Forest Service's Trailwalker Hiking Program.

Twenty-three miles of horse trails are available for day use. Spur trails provide connections between parking areas, three loop trails and the adjacent trails on the Lower Wekiva River State Preserve. Loop trails include the 6.9-mile River Creek Loop, the 7.4-mile Sulphur Island Loop, and the 4.5-mile Paola Loop.

Canoeing on Blackwater Creek provides a glimpse of an undisturbed blackwater stream. Hand-launched watercraft are permitted to access Blackwater Creek, north of the concrete bridge on Sand Road. Petroleum fuel motors are prohibited. A picnic table is provided for day use at the canoe launch.