Lake Apopka North Shore — Attraction in Mount Dora

There is so much wildlife here! It's incredible. I go here quite often and I love it. The speed limit is 10 mph, and the drive is 1 way. People stop frequently to take photos and to view the wildlife. There are pull off areas here and there, which we like to use to let people behind us go ahead of us as we stop often.

Bathrooms? They've got about 4 portable toilets total, in 3 different locations. Since I visit the drive often I bring my own toilet paper because there has been a few times when there wasn't any. However there's been plenty of times when there was, so to me it isn't that big of a deal.

I've seen loads of gators here. I've seen them eating fish a few times now. If you want to see gators in their home in nature, this is the place to do it! They swim, sunbathe, and we've even seen them cross the road on rare occasions!

I've seen loads of birds here. Purple gallinule, great blue heron, anhinga, osprey, little blue heron, American coot, moor hen (or common gallinule), pied billed grebe, snowy egret, red winged black bird, and among others, these are some of the most common birds you will see here! At certain times of year, you may see baby birds/animals, as well as different birds migrating.

This is a happening place for the wildlife, and I'm so glad they have this area...

Lake Apopka’s Wildlife Drive virtually knocked me off me feet. I’ve lived in North and Central Florida since 1970, but I’ve seen nothing like this two hour drive through another world. I thought I’d seen my Florida. I’d skied it’s lakes, ponds and rivers, swam, dived and marveled at its springs, hiked miles on its many trails, walked on its beautiful beaches and camped in its countless campgrounds, woods and state and national forests, so I wasn’t prepared for this ecological wonderland. As you can see in my pictures, birds of an amazing assortment abound. We saw Gray Heron, White Heron, Osprey, Anhinga, Egret, and bunches of small Gallinule (iridescent black with bright red beaks). Gators were everywhere, gliding through the dark canals like they own they place, and I reckon they do! We saw the constant swirl and splash of life under the surface, food for all 🐟 🐢 🦎. Bugs abound in the tall grasses and and marshes. Trees, mostly the skeletons of dead ones, towered over the water, their reflections long and dark against the fluffy white clouds. Bottom Line: OMGosh, if you enjoy Florida and you’re anywhere near Lake Apopka with 1 1/2 - 2 hours free, you MUST visit the Wildlife Drive Note:...

Lake Apopka is one of the best places in Central Florida for bird watching. There is a great variety and the area is easily accessible from Orlando. The area is undergoing a massive restoration, and the city organizes events on a regular basis where guides take bird lovers to amazing areas of this preserve. The most important event is perhaps the Lake Apopka Wildlife Festival & Birdapalooza in January that I highly recommend. If you are lucky enough, you can also spot otters, alligators, armadillos, and raccoons. Not all areas are accessible by car and some distances are too long for kids. So if you plan to bring the family plan ahead, bring good food and all you may need during your stay. This is a fantastic place to admire nature and capture great images of unique...