Trail: 22 paved miles
Our Trip: 44 miles - We ride the entire trail from Killarney Station in the south to a rather unceremonious end around mile 22 in Apopka and then return to Killarney Station.
Difficulty: Easy - Moderate The trail itself is easy to ride, while riding 44 miles in one day requires a moderate level of fitness.
Resources:
Bike Shop(s):
Rentals are available at Killarney Station Phone: (407) 877-0600
Abbotts Bike Shop - Winter Garden Phone: (407) 654-0115
Outdoor Travels Rating: 3.5 bikes out of 5
Thumbs Up:
- This has to be the best developed and supported rail trail anywhere
- 4 "Stations" and one park along the trail provide playgrounds, water, soda machines, and a lot more
- 5 "Outposts" provide parking, and some picnic areas and water at select sites
- Bike rentals available at the beginning of the trail
- Winter Garden, an exceptionally clean and quaint little town offers several quality places to eat, drink and be merry!
- Scenery is diverse - From urban to rural, there is a little bit of everything
- Many attractions along the way. You'll want to stop at the Oakland Nature Preserve, Xeriscape Butterfly Garden in Tildenville, Heritage Museum in Winter Garden as well as virtually every Station along the way.
- Cold water coolers are placed along the trail at several points in the northern half
Thumbs Down:
- Many restaurants and shops were closed on Sunday
- Because there are plans to extend the trail, it ends unceremoniously in front of a McDonalds.
- A few sections just south of Apopka run through impoverished areas that consist mostly of boarded up inhabitable homes
- The same areas had a lot of trash piled along the trail and adjacent street.
Lessons Learned:
- Saturday is the best weekend day to go. Many shops and restaurants were closed on Sunday.
- For a shorter ride start at Killarney Station (mile 0). The best sections of trail are found from there to about mile 14.
- An ideal 10 mile ride would be from Killarney Station to Winter Garden and back
- Anthony's Pizza near the current trail end in Apopka has good pizza and cheap pitchers of Budweiser!
- Winter Garden has a great place for authentic Mexican and cold beer - La Mexicana
- A section of Forest Road in Apopka serves as the trail for about two blocks
Biking Log
06/01/03 - "The Upscale Rail Trail"
Unlike most Outdoor Travels adventures, this particular adventure may sound mundane. We didn't get lost; we didn't need to fight off bears or rabid animals or anything very exciting like that. What we did experience though, was nothing short of enjoyable, if doing some safe and scenic road biking appeals to you.
Kelli, my wife, and I had little information or expectations when we arrived at the "official" starting point of the West Orange Trail at Killarney Station. We read that it was 19 miles long and had planned an out and back ride. Later, we would discover that our source of information was a little out of date and that the trail was actually a little longer (more on that later). I've ridden several rail trails previously and I have to say that I've never seen a starting point so incredibly elaborate as Killarney Station. Usually the beginning of a rail trail is marked with a sign, if that. Killarney Station is a large structure resembling a railroad station that houses a bike and in-line skate rental shop and also sports a small playground. Being this close to Disney, I guess I shouldn't have been so surprised at its extravagance!
We stopped in the bike shop for a free map (available in the links above) and a Clif Bar. Fueled and ready, we were off. I really didn't know what to expect. The trail in this area is new blacktop and is in very good condition. There was a mix of rural forest and a few little houses along the first mile or so. Soon we came upon a restored railroad bridge that conveniently spans the Florida Turnpike around mile 1. A short distance later we came upon a nicely constructed shelter that housed the trail head for the Oakland Nature Preserve. We stopped for a few minutes to marvel at the construction and decided to explore the preserve on our return leg.
The West Orange Trail has several "Stations" and "Outposts". As we were soon to discover, Stations are full service elaborate constructions that often have water, air, playgrounds and soda machines. Outposts tend to be a parking lot with access to the trail. Some Outposts have picnic shelters and water; one even has a wonderful butterfly garden (more on that in a minute). I must have mentioned at least a dozen times that this trail had to be some congressman's pet project. It seriously, is THE most elaborate, well-organized and marked rail trail I've ever ridden.
Back to the ride. From the Oakland Outpost at mile 2 we continued on. At mile 4 or so, we came upon the Tildenville Outpost. I was thinking this was probably just another trail access point. Of course I was wrong. This area of the West Orange Trail is so elaborate and so nice that I should have known better.
In addition to trail access, Tildenville Outpost also has a beautiful Xeriscape (native plants that require little care), garden. It is often referred to as a butterfly garden. So it was no surprise to see several butterflies flying around. After a few photos, we were off again. Our next stop (unknowingly) was Winter Garden at mile 5. I could write a whole book on Winter Garden and it's relationship with the West Orange Trail. It's seriously a very cool little town that time has seemingly forgot. We marveled at the meticulous care given to the trail as it meandered down the center of town and into an incredibly overdone, but beautiful central fountain complex complete with shaded seating and brick arches. If riding by gorgeous fountains through a little town that looks like Mayberry and feeling like royalty on two wheels isn't enough, the trail also takes you by a restored train depot that is now a Heritage Museum complete with a restored caboose, old fire truck and more!
We took note of an enticing looking Bar-b-que place and a Mexican restaurant that looked appealing. After all, what is a good adventure without good food and drink? If all the extravagance and charm of Winter Garden wasn't enough, there is actually a Winter Garden Station too, just after the town center. It had a very nice playground, gardens, water, air, restrooms, basketball and tennis courts as well as picnic areas. What else should we expect from the "Upscale Rail Trail" as Kelli and I dubbed it.
Around mile 7 we came upon Chapin Station which sports a park, gardens, basketball courts, picnic areas, and pretty much anything you can imagine. On most rail trails, one facility like this would be amazing. On this trail, it was becoming quite commonplace.
The next few miles are a mix of rural and suburban landscape. Around mile 9 we rode through a golf course that has erected tall fences to apparently keep bikers safe from flying golf balls! Next up, we came upon Ingram Outpost at mile 12 that offers only parking. At mile 14 we came upon the Apopka-Vineland Outpost that offers parking, picnic shelters, water and equestrian access. I found this Outpost really interesting because there is a Korean temple there. Being a Sunday, worshiping was beginning. An angelic voice was singing a religious chant over a loudspeaker. It was really pretty cool.
One of the few confusing parts of the trail came shortly after. At an intersection, we needed to make a choice. Continuing to our left would take us to Clarcona Horseman's Park and crossing the road would allow us to continue on the West Orange Trail. We decided to cross the road. Clarcona is a "spur" if you will, off of the main trail that takes you to a full service park that is popular with equestrians.
As we headed towards Apopka we found the trail to be very scenic, if not suburban. Several areas were heavily wooded with old oak trees arching over the trail in a way that made me think that they were formed from the trains that used to pass through this corridor.
Unfortunately this is also where the trail shows signs of reality. While everything previously had been incredible, the trail just south of Apopka was running through some fairly impoverished areas. Large piles of trash that looked liked they had been there for a while, were piled up along the street. Boarded up houses lined dirty streets. Thankfully this experience didn't last long. As the trail entered Apopka, we were a bit confused as to where the trail went. At Logan Street and Forest Drive, there is no official trail. We checked the map and confirmed that we were going to be riding on Forest Road for a couple of blocks.
The guidebook we read before heading out for our ride stated the length of the trail is 19 miles. Imagine our surprise when we arrived at the Apopka Station at mile 19, and the trail continued. A quick check of the map that we received at the beginning of the ride showed the trail now is 22 miles in length.
As Kelli lost some of her exuberance and speed it was apparent that she had a 19-mile turn around preprogrammed in her brain. As is the case with most of our adventures, Kelli was going to need a snack to continue much further. I myself had visions of beer dancing in my head, but first we had to get across the very busy Main Street (441). Our map indicated the construction of a pedestrian bridge over Main Street is scheduled for construction this year. I didn't see any signs of construction.
After crossing Main, we continued to Welch Road, where we made a right. After a snack stop, we continued to a rather unceremonious end - the apparent Northern Terminus, in front of a McDonald's. The trail is scheduled for further additional mileage, so it should have come as no surprise. Now it was time for lunch and a few cold beers! We found a little pizza place called Anthony's in a plaza near the end. We enjoyed some decent pizza and a nice cold pitcher of suds.
On the ride back, things were pretty much the same as the ride up with two exceptions. First, we stopped in Winter Garden at La Mexicana, for a couple of cold ones from south of the border. Although we didn't eat there, the food looked to be good, and it certainly was authentic. The owners had a "Speaking English" handbook next to the register. The décor was interesting to say the least. I noticed an odd decorating juxtaposition of objects. Perch above a poster of a Patron Saint was a meat grinder! I found it to be very funny in a very odd sort of way.
Our other new stop was at the Oakland Nature Preserve around mile 1. The first time we passed by, we had read that there was a boardwalk that went through the woods and out to Lake Apopka. We were getting a little tired but we decided to stop anyway, Kelli really wanted to see Lake Apopka; I kind of wanted to see the lake too. Initially the trail is not very impressive. It was a sandy little trail with a few native Florida weeds and trees marked with little signs.
The boardwalk was a short distance away. It was a very scenic, if not long walk out to the lake. I was a little tired and walking what seemed like an additional mile wasn't too appealing to me. Although when we arrived at the lake, I was glad I had made the hike. We were treated to a very pretty view of Lake Apopka. Several osprey and were flying overhead as a few wading herons made their way around the shore. After returning to our bikes, we mounted up and completed the last mile of our ride.
If you are into riding rail trails, the West Orange Trail is a "must ride" trail in Florida. It's scenic, well developed and interesting. If you are not up to the 44-mile roundtrip we did here, I would recommend riding the 10-mile roundtrip of Killarney Station at the Southern Terminus to Winter Garden and back.
