Enjoy all the wildlife that Lake Apopka has to off to photograph as you drive through this beauty of nature in Central Florida

a little history

Located on the north shore of Lake Apopka about 15 miles northwest of Orlando, the wildlife trail drive lets you see a large variety of birds and wildlife right from the comfort of your automobile. It’s about a 2-hour drive, depending on how often you stop.

What I love most about the Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive is that those who cannot get out or have trouble walking will love just enjoying this beautiful scenic drive.  

In 1942, the wetlands were separated from the lake by a large levee. Lake Apopka, which was once more than 50,000 acres, became just over 30,000 acres. The 20,000 acres of mucky wetland were restored to become what we now know as Lake Apopka North Shore and Wildlife Drive. 

If you love to enjoy wildlife, marsh, and swamp, you will certainly love this trip. Don’t forget your camera! Be sure to follow the rules of the area for your protection. You can get out of your car and walk but beware that wildlife is around you. That included gators and snakes.

TIP: Wildlife changes with the seasons and summertime isn’t the best time to drive the trail. The bugs and mosquitoes are horrific and you can’t enjoy being out of your car or bike riding.

I’m going to let the pictures tell the story of this beautiful area, so be prepared for a photo-filled post.

I was so excited to get this picture above of a Little Green Heron. They tend to hide most of the time, so you don’t see them often. He’s a cutie!

And let’s not forget the gators. We…saw…a…lot of them! On one trail we were on, this little guy was maybe about 2 feet from the side of the road. Didn’t have to zoom in on this baby!

Gators love to just be lazy and sun most of the day and this one was no exception. Right behind those tall bushes was a farmer on his tractor. Floridians coexist well with wildlife here.

located

2803 Lust Road, Apopka, FL 32703

The drive is open Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays, and federal holidays. The entrance gate opens at 7 a.m. and closes at 3 p.m. Vehicles must exit the drive by 5 p.m. The drive is closed on other days due to ongoing restoration work. The entrance gate is open during daylight hours and closes approximately one hour prior to sunset to allow visitors to complete the drive and exit the property prior to sunset.

The Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive is a one-way 11-mile drive that begins at Lust Road and ends on Jones Road in Orange County, Fla. There is a ten-mile-per-hour speed limit, so allow approximately two hours for the drive depending on stops along the way. Vehicles pulling trailers are not allowed. Port-a-lets are provided at multiple locations. No drinking water is provided. Dogs are allowed but must be leashed at all times

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