On 128 acres of conservation land alongside the shores of Lake Apopka, Oakland Nature Protect is a City of Oakland park with a mission of environmental training.
Restoration of sandhills in what’s now suburbia within the Orlando metro enhances a prolonged boardwalk by means of the lake floodplain to open water and connectivity to the West Orange Path.
Stroll-in entrance off the West Orange PathLake Apopka is Florida’s fourth largest lake and, like Lake Okeechobee, one which has undergone dramatic change attributable to human intervention.
A part of the aim of this protect is to teach guests in regards to the injury carried out to Lake Apopka and the way it’s slowly being corrected. Volunteers assist with this mission.
Artistic option to illustrate the poisoning of Lake ApopkaOur route under pairs two separate hikes: 1.4 miles within the floodplain, 2.1 miles within the uplands. The boardwalk to Lake Apopka is totally accessible.
The uplands route follows the sting of a big community of trails on the hillside above the lake. Select both or deal with each for a 3.5 mile hike at this various city protect.
Begin each hikes on the parking spaceSources
Overview
Location: OaklandLength: 3.5 milesTrailhead: 28.554992, -81.639834Address: 747 Machete Path, OaklandFees: FreeRestroom: On the Environmental Schooling CenterLand supervisor: City of OaklandPhone: 407-905-0054
Open day by day dawn to sundown. No canine or bicycles permitted on trails. Keep on marked trails.
Usually open Mon-Fri 9-4, the Jim Thomas Environmental Schooling Heart is usually busy with faculty teams. Cease in to go to with resident wildlife within the constructing and on the porch.
Instructions
Hike
Floodplain Loop
Slipping downhill from the primary trailhead on the higher finish of the car parking zone, a curving sidewalk switchbacks to the boardwalk entry.
Renamed the Wholesome West Orange Boardwalk Path since its inception, this broad stroll hovers over splashes of wetland alongside the very rim of Lake Apopka’s marshes.
Begin of the boardwalkBay timber intermingle with sweetgum and pink maples alongside a cove dense with ferns. Darkish waters trickle by means of a deeper channel.
A tenth of a mile in, the primary section of boardwalk ends in an oak hammock, the pathway persevering with ahead as a broad sidewalk.
Plan to discover the footpaths into the hammock on the return journey.
Break within the boardwalkWhen the subsequent section of boardwalk begins, it’s a dedication to a round-trip as far out as you need to go, the commentary deck on Lake Apopka a half mile forward the aim.
Hurricanes toppled most of the older, bigger timber on this swamp, their soaked roots no match in opposition to the wind.
The result’s a panorama of loss and renewal, vines swarming throughout tattered timber and fallen trunks.
Boardwalk on a humid dayCross beneath a rain shelter in one other tenth of a mile. Every one has a bench. Elderberry crowds the railing, whereas grapevines cover the shrubs of the herbacious marsh under.
Curving previous a small island topped with pink maples, proceed by a teepee created by vines stretched over a crumpled tree.
Proceed by means of one other rain shelter on a small forested island at 0.4 miles, the place a pair of benches face one another.
Island shelterLeaving this tiny peak of excessive floor, the boardwalk winds gently by means of the floodplain. Primrose willow and lizard tail are among the many extra simply recognized wildflowers under.
One in all many aquatic vegetation named alongside the boardwalk, inexperienced arrow arum grows thickly over darkish waters the place younger pink maples discover footing on hummocks.
Duckweed floats atop inky shallows. A bumpout hosts a pair of dealing with benches.
The marsh underWinding ever nearer to the lake, hover above extra open patches of water, maybe glimpsing gallinules or egrets searching sheltered swimming pools.
A scrim of water under a distant shoreline seems past the mounded vines on the left. After a pointy curve, a cove in Lake Apopka comes into view.
Draperies of Spanish moss dangle from the lakeshore timber. Drawing nearer to the cove, the sounds of birds turn into persistent.
Cove past the marshAt 0.6 mile, the roofed commentary deck on the finish of the boardwalk instructions a view of the cove and a nook of huge Lake Apopka.
A dock extending from it’s used for scheduled ecotours by pontoon boat on the lake.
Lake ApopkaReturning alongside the boardwalk, take the time to learn the useful plant identifications extra carefully.
The place boardwalk yields to sidewalk at 1.1 mile, make a left to enter the oak hammock. The primary left results in a chicken blind on the sting of the marsh.
Begin of the Hammock LoopA footpath marked with green-tipped posts loops by means of the hammock by means of a clearing and previous an out of doors classroom and picnic tables.
Edging a fringe fence briefly, emerge into an out of doors play space best for younger kids, a gazebo overlooking it and Jennifer’s Rainbow Backyard.
Jennifer’s Rainbow BackyardPrevious the gazebo, make a proper at Marker 1 to stroll alongside the opposite aspect of the play space.
The footpath leads below the attractive oak cover previous one other outside studying house, the Prehistoric Path.
Strolling in the direction of the Prehistoric PathEmerge into the clearing the place the boardwalks are and make a left on the close to one.
Exiting the boardwalk, return up the switchback to the trailhead by the car parking zone, finishing this 1.4 mile hike to the lake.
Return to the trailheadUplands Loop
The second loop at Oakland Nature Protect begins with a stroll from the parking space to the Environmental Schooling Heart.
Climb as much as the porch and take a peek inside, visiting their everlasting residents on the porch.
Contained in the Jim Thomas Environmental Schooling HeartDescend the staircase on the far finish of the porch. A picket canoe over a century outdated is on show below a small shelter.
Observe earthen steps downhill to a path junction dealing with upkeep sheds.
Steps to the path underFlip left to stroll alongside the sting of the primary part of sandhill restoration inside the protect.
Sweeping uphill, the grassy slope below the pines is dotted with colourful wildflowers every fall.
Restored sandhillsPast a signposted path junction for a brief loop, comply with a bridge over a reasonably seepage stream basin.
On the subsequent junction, make a proper. Stroll previous a sheltered bench earlier than rising at a fenceline nook with homes on the hillside. Flip proper to comply with the fence.
Seepage stream bridgeIt’s an unpleasant traverse in comparison with the opposite trails within the protect, however a essential connector to a spot of hidden magnificence.
A half mile into the hike, on the subsequent sheltered bench, a loop begins round a extra lately restored sandhill.
Begin of the loopBear left to remain on the higher fringe of the hillside, which sweeps in the direction of the lakefront marshes traversed by the floodplain loop.
Hemmed in by subdivisions in a number of instructions, it’s however an excellent instance of bringing a habitat again to life.
The sandhills sweep in the direction of the marsh underClimbing uphill all the means, flip away from the fence at Marker 25. The mowed path on this prominatory finest showcases the transition of habitats from uplands to marsh basin.
Descending, make a proper at a T, dealing with a subdivision for the rest of the descent till the subsequent proper activate the perimeter path.
Descent to the property boundaryStroll the ecotone between sandhill and marsh to finish the loop, reaching the sheltered bench at 0.9 mile.
Retrace the route alongside the fence to the fence nook with the Sinkhole signal. Bear proper for the quick spur to the overlook of this marshy basin under the subdivision.
SinkholeReturn to the fence nook junction and switch proper, with views into the sinkhole on the precise. A delicate climb results in the junction at Marker 12.
Make a proper, passing a park bench because the path continues to climb uphill within reach of the adjoining neighborhood.
Marker 12 junctionCurve left previous a sprawling reside oak, its spider-leg limbs splayed above a leafy forest ground. Hold climbing.
Reaching the protect fenceline, make a left for a downhill previous a bench right into a leafy glade.
Sprawling reside oakAscend once more to the fence, paralleling it eastbound within reach of cyclists racing by on the West Orange Path on the opposite aspect.
Cross a sandy washout the place floodwaters spilled into the protect from the excessive floor behind the fence. Oaks crowd the path on this relict sandhill.
Fence on the bike pathPast an interpretive signal about gopher tortoises, strategy the again entrance to the Amon Pavilion.
It’s a walk-in trailhead at 1.4 miles the place guests can enter the protect from the West Orange Path or just take a break within the shade and seize a drink of water on the fountain.
Amon Pavilion and West Orange PathOn the alternative aspect of the pavilion is a restoration space with native vegetation and interpretive signage.
Bear proper to stick with the perimeter path, following alongside the fence. Rounding the nook previous Marker 29, word tufts of deer moss rising on the duff below the timber.
The place the path broadens at a junction, flip left to depart the fence behind for a stroll in the direction of the restored sandhills.
Deer moss in leaf litterAt 1.7 miles, make a proper at Marker 3, heading in the direction of the Environmental Schooling Heart.
Passing a big kiosk describing the longleaf pine savanna restoaration, curve by means of the sandhills previous Marker 2 and descend by means of them.
Sandhills kioskFull a loop at a T intersection with the path that led to the seepage stream. Flip proper and proceed uphill to the Environmental Schooling Heart.
Exit by way of the raptor enclosures outdoor to the parking space to finish a 2.1 mile hike.
Effectively above the raptor enclosuresPath Map
Discover Extra!
Video
Climbing Oakland Nature Protect
Slideshow
See our photographs from Oakland Nature Protect
Close by Adventures
Path Map (PDF) Official Web site
Articles collectively researched, written, and photographed by Sandra Buddy & John Keatley, Florida authors and publishers of FloridaHikes.com.
