West Orange Trail | |
---|---|
Multi-purpose Trail | |
Length |
West Orange Trail: 22 miles (35 km) Connecting trail: 5 miles (8.0 km) South Lake-Lake Minneola Scenic Trail: 7 miles (11 km) Total length: 34 miles (55 km) |
Location | Orange County in Florida, United States with connection to Lake County trails |
Trailheads |
Killarney, Florida Apopka, Florida |
Use | Cycling, walking, hiking, jogging, skateboarding, inline skating |
Hiking details | |
Trail difficulty | Easy to moderate |
Season | Year round |
Sights | Oakland Nature Preserve; Butterfly Garden at the Tindenville Outpost; Central Florida Railroad Museum in Winter Garden |
Surface | paved |
Right of way | railroad |
Website | Orange County Parks and Recreation – 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.
There are four main stations on the West Orange Trail, each providing parking, restroom facilities, bike racks and drinking fountains. 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.
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).