HomeFloridaMt Dora › Lake Apopka North Shore

Lake Apopka North Shore

4.7 ★★★★★ 1,038 Google reviews · Running trail in Mt Dora, Florida · Open 24 hours

Runner's snapshot

Surface
Not reported
Distance
11 mi
Shape
Not reported
Shade
Not reported
Access
Open 24 hours

Confirmed from Lake Apopka North Shore's own listing, the park or land manager's website, and runner reviews. Blank cells mean we could not verify that fact — we would rather say "not reported" than invent one. There is no Easy / Moderate / Hard rating on this page on purpose: a one-word difficulty score tells you nothing about whether a trail suits your run. Surface, distance, shade and hours do.

11 miOpen 24hScenic

Sprawling nature preserve along Lake Apopka featuring hiking, biking & horseback riding trails.

What runners say about Lake Apopka North Shore

Pulled from public reviews of this trail (1,038 of them) — the things people bring up again and again, in their own words. Nothing here is written by us.

🏞️ beautiful scenery 4 mentions

“You see plenty of beautiful birds and lots of alligators.”

I can't believe that in a 10 minute drive from town you experience this amazing wilderness. Its like nothing I ever been too. If you never seen an alligator in the wild, you will here, for sure.

★★★★★ — Lisa , Dec 2018

Absolutely love Lake Apopka miles of roads to hike or bike. Viewing stands that provide some shade are located throughout. So much wildlife to see. Birds , bobcats , bears and possibly an alligator or two 😁 or three or four.

★★★★★ — Micheal , Oct 2023

It should be called Armadilloville because we saw 8 of them while hiking the Red Blaze Trail. It’s very quiet and other than the armadillos, we didn’t see much. I’m not saying that there’s nothing else there, I’m saying that we didn’t see anything else. Very wide trail and clearly marked. We would hike this again.

★★★★☆ — Michael , Feb 2026

Such a beautiful place. The drive down the 11 mile road took around 2 hours. It was worth it!. We saw so many birds, gators, turtles and more...

★★★★★ — Carla , Feb 2026

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 1,038 reviews →

Trail conditions & character

What this trail is actually like underfoot and overhead, taken from its own listing and from reviews. Each one links to every other trail with the same character. Busy or quiet is reported as a plain fact, not a plus or a minus — a runner heading out alone at dawn often wants company on the path, and someone running intervals wants an empty one.

🏞️ Scenic views 5 mentions

“There are a few spots to pull over and get a better view or pictures.”

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🏃 Long-run distance (5mi+) 3 mentions

“I think it was about a 13 mile stretch of wilderness and at 10 miles per hour, it takes all afternoon to drive through but the whole family will be entertained.”

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Plan your run at Lake Apopka North Shore

The practical stuff

  • AccessOpen 24 hours — no gate to beat, so a 5am or a 10pm run both work
  • Distance11 mi as reported — check whether that is one way or a round trip before you commit. Long enough for a real long run.
  • ShadeNot reported. Assume some of it is exposed and carry water in summer.
  • Websitesjrwmd.com
  • Phone(386) 329-4404

Hours

Monday Open 24 hours
Tuesday Open 24 hours
Wednesday Open 24 hours
Thursday Open 24 hours
Friday Open 24 hours
Saturday Open 24 hours
Sunday Open 24 hours

Posted hours for the park or trailhead. Gates and parking lots often close earlier than the trail itself, and seasonal hours change — worth a check before a pre-dawn or after-dark run.

Where to find Lake Apopka North Shore

24600 County Rd 448A, Mt Dora, FL 32757

Get directions

Running trails near Mt Dora

Other trails within easy driving distance — useful when this one is flooded, gated, or just not the run you had in mind today.

Lake Jem Park

4.6 ★★★★★ 97 reviews

Mt Dora, FL

Shaded

Shaded park featuring play equipment, a basketball court and a boat ramp.

3.4 miles away

Clay Island Trailhead

4.6 ★★★★★ 74 reviews

Astatula, FL

ShadedScenic

Wildlife-rich nature reserve featuring trails for hiking, biking and walking.

3.5 miles away

Trimble Park

4.7 ★★★★★ 968 reviews

Mt Dora, FL

ShadedScenicDog-friendly

Lakeside park with picnic & camping areas, plus a playground, trails & docks in scenic surrounds.

4.3 miles away

Green Mountain Scenic Overlook & Trailhead

4.7 ★★★★★ 772 reviews

Minneola, FL

PavedShadedScenic

Hilly park featuring trails for hiking, biking and dog-walking. Picnic tables, restroom, birdwatching.

4.9 miles away

Ferndale Preserve

4.5 ★★★★★ 213 reviews

Clermont, FL

LoopScenicDog-friendly

Nature preserve featuring a network of trails through varied terrain, plus a playground.

5.9 miles away

Palm Island Park

4.8 ★★★★★ 476 reviews

Mt Dora, FL

BoardwalkScenicDog-friendly

Dog-friendly 8-acre nature preserve with picnic shelters & trails, plus a boardwalk & fishing pier.

6.1 miles away

All running trails in Mt Dora, FL →

Nearby towns

Listing verified July 2026 from public records, the trail's own website and runner reviews. Trail conditions change — paths flood, gates close at dusk, and shaded woods stay muddy for days after rain. Something out of date? Report a correction. Manage this trail? Send us the details — it is free.