Biking​

Orlando has a bike trail for everyone, Orlando boasts hundreds of miles of paved bike paths to explore and enjoy!

 

Orlando is home to some 30 trails covering 250 plus miles, the paths ranging from short urban trails of a mile or three to the 28-mile Cross Seminole Trail that goes through Oviedo, Winter Springs and various suburbs. You can enjoy biking through a wide variety of terrain, from the hills of southern Lake County to the flat, bucolic stretches of the East Central Regional Rail Trail that links DeBary with Titusville. There’s a path for about every level of rider, from the high speed racers to parents puttering along with their youngsters on training wheels. 

 

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The Best Bike Trails In Central Florida

 

Seminole Wekiva Trail (14 miles)

The San Sebastian Trailhead near the southernmost point of the Seminole Wekiva Trail greets cyclists with a view of the Little Wekiva River from a picturesque bridge. Heading north, the trail is well shaded and quiet but traffic increases near the 40-acre Sanlando Park, known for hosting large tennis tournaments on its six courts. It also has volleyball, racquetball and a nature trail. Next door is the Seminole County Softball Complex. There’s also some foot traffic in this area from a business complex where employees escape their office for some fresh air on the trail.

 

For entertainment beyond nature, riders on the Paint the Trail portion of the Seminole Wekiva will see the likes of Audrey Hepburn, Cheech and Chong, The Beatles, James Bond, Kermit the Frog, Muhammad Ali and the shark from Jaws, all in a few pedals of a bicycle. With more than 1,000 vibrant paintings and counting, local artist Jeff Sonksen has transformed wooden privacy fencing along the center of Seminole Wekiva into an art exhibit packed with iconic, inspirational and political images. The white angel wings sculpture and the wooden monarch butterfly wings, planted in front of a series of dramatically painted endangered species image, are hotspots for selfies. The paintings are between E.E. Williamson Road and the Jones Trailhead off Markham Woods Road in Longwood.

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The Seminole Wekiva has two underpasses, one under State Road 434 and another under Lake Mary Boulevard. These tiny tunnels are fun to go through since, as Floridians, we rarely get to do anything underground. Both areas have some shopping and restaurant options. The northern point of the trail provides access to the Cross Seminole Trail (just north of County Road 46) and the Lower Wekiva River State Park. Megan Stokes

 

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Orlando Urban Trail (4 miles)

This trail is broken into several sections, going from city to serene in four miles and serving as a connector to restaurants, shopping and culture. Heading north from Magnolia Avenue, the surroundings are very urban. This section isn’t the most scenic, it parallels railroad tracks on one side and Lake Highland Drive on the other and is dotted with ballfields and fenced industrial buildings. But it conveniently hugs the backside of Ivanhoe Village, which is packed with cool places to eat, drink and shop. A quick jaunt off the trail can lead to The Backhaus, a German deli and bakery; The Hammered Lamb, known for its mean Bloody Mary bar; and a cute stationery store called Paper Goat Post. Cyclists can also connect to Lake Ivanhoe Trail here for a waterfront ride.

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Farther along, just before Virginia Drive, is a quirky mural featuring black cats and a little path leading to Quantum Leap Wine Company. There’s a flashing pedestrian crossing sign at Virginia, where bicyclists can go off the trail for lunch and libations at Grape & the Grain, Santiago’s Bodega or Ten10 Brewing Company. Back on the trail, there are several more restaurants and bars, including First Watch, Firebird’s Wood Fired Grill and The Brass Tap.

 

The trail’s mood soon changes from buzzing to calm as it ambles around a total of four lakes and four parks. Stop on the bridge over Lake Formosa for beautiful sunset views and then ride through the Mennello Museum of American Art’s sculpture garden. Although the next bit of trail runs along busy Mills Avenue, views of Lake Rowena and Lake Estelle make it pleasant. The trail then goes through the Orwin Manor neighborhood along Dorchester Street to Lake Shore Drive with great views of Lake Sue before ending at the beautiful Mead Botanical Garden

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The southern part of the Urban Trail begins on Church Street with what’s known as Gertrude’s Walk, featuring two murals. It ends a few blocks north at Jefferson Street, then picks up again at Livingston Street, continuing to the Colonial Drive overpass and ending at Orange Avenue. The gap between there and the beginning of the northern leg at Magnolia Avenue is in the design stage and will include signalized crossings.

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Cross Seminole Trail (28 miles)

The Cross Seminole Trail is a tour through Central Florida suburbs, shaded paths and parks, with much of it running on reclaimed railroad and power line easements connecting Goldenrod, Oviedo, Winter Springs and Lake Mary. The path links to Winter Park’s Cady Way Trail to the south and eventually leads to Lake Monroe in Sanford.

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The Cross Seminole Trail begins near the busy intersection of Aloma Avenue (State Road 426) and Howell Branch Road east of  Winter Park. It winds northeast to downtown Oviedo, then juts northwest through downtown Winter Springs and a series of parks: Central Winds, Soldiers Creek, Big Tree and Greenwood Lakes parks, and ends at Lake Monroe Wayside Park, west of the Central Florida Zoo in Sanford. In between, you will be witness to Orlando’s modern sprawl peppered with stretches of Florida wilderness. Some tree-lined sections are like riding through a heavily canopied forest. Portions are designated as a Florida National Scenic Trail.

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A fun 14-mile-round-trip ride starts near downtown Oviedo at the intersection of State Roads 426 and 434, near the trail’s 7-mile marker, and ends at Layer Elementary School, the trail’s 14-mile point on SR 419 in Winter Springs. 

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For the suggested 14-mile Oviedo-Winter Springs ride, park in the vacant, far corner of the Oviedo Shopping Center (115 Geneva Drive) housing the Oviedo Post Office, an antique mall and an Ace Hardware store, and you can jump on the trail behind the huge CrossLife Church. Nearby Santorini Restaurant and Mad Hatter’s Pizza are convenient places to eat, along with the iconic Townhouse Restaurant across the street. Another place to park and access the bike path is two miles west at the Black Hammock Trailhead, tucked along S.R. 434 between The Watermark assisted living facility and S.R. 417, complete with bathrooms, a playground and a bicycle repair station.

 

The ride west goes through Oviedo and the Tuscawilla development. A lush tree canopy and wildlife including tortoises, squirrels, birds, rabbits, horses and an occasional snake make it easy to forget that you are riding through housing developments. The Howell Creek Trestle, a small roofed resting area, overlooks a tranquil stream amid oaks and palms. On hot days, some riders climb down to the creek below and cool their feet.

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About 1.1 miles further west, there is a bicycle/pedestrian bridge over S.R. 434. The trail meanders behind Winter Springs Town Center, its restaurants (Starbucks, McDonald’s, Big City Pizza, Subway, Tijuana Flats and others) and apartments. It continues past Winter Springs High School, Central Winds Park and dead ends at Layer Elementary School, the beginning of the unpaved missing trail link. 

 

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Lake Baldwin Trail (2.5 miles)

The loop around Baldwin Park’s namesake scenic lake is a safe, popular trail perfect for any level of rider wanting to rack up some easy miles. It circles environmentally protected conservation areas, passing the Village Center, Veterans Administration Clinic and Lake Baldwin Dog Park (watch out for kids and canines). Much of the trail is unshaded, so on a hot summer day it’s best to ride in the morning or evening.

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The dog park, on the trail’s northwest corner, provides a thick oak canopy to cool riders. There are restrooms, a water fountain and a fenced playground here, and it’s a fun place to watch dogs play or to observe sail boaters and kayakers launching from a boat ramp.

 

Also on the route is the 4-acre Orlando Veterans’ Memorial Park, with numerous monuments dedicated to members of America’s military. Stop and learn about the history of the Vietnam War etched in black marble, or see tributes to World War II, Korean War and Pearl Harbor veterans and various military branches. (Baldwin Park is the former site of the Orlando Naval Training Center, which trained 650,000 recruits before closing in the mid-1990s.) 

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There are plenty of restaurants nearby, including Five Guys, Gator’s Dockside and Colibri Mexican Cuisine.

 

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Cady Way Trail (7.5 miles)

If you get tired of riding in circles, you can ride to Baldwin Park Street one mile east of the town center heading toward Semoran Boulevard, then jump on the Cady Way Trail. That 7.5-mile path begins at Lake Druid Park west of Orlando Fashion Square and loops around the exterior of the Baldwin Park development. It stretches north to Cady Way Park, through the quaint Winter Park Pines neighborhood and over the Semoran Boulevard bike bridge.

 

This northern stretch through Goldenrod’s industrial district links to the Cross Seminole Trail at Howell Branch Road/Hall Road and Aloma Avenue.

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South Lake Trail (13 miles)

If it’s hills you’re after, the South Lake Trail is where you want to take your bike. Unlike the mostly flat terrain of Metro Orlando, the South Lake Trail, which also goes by the Lake Minneola Scenic Trail, has plenty of elevation changes, or to be more blunt, ups and downs. So tackling this link means shifting your bike’s gears a good bit, although there are some level sections, especially around Lake Minneola, the site of numerous triathlons.

 

If you are feeling adventurous, hop off the trail and ride around the north, west and south sides of Lake Minneola. The road is lightly traveled and most  drivers are used to seeing cyclists and give plenty of room when passing.

 

The Clermont and Minneola sections also offer some nice restaurants for riders, as well as a park with restrooms and a playground along the eastern shore. Eateries with lake views include Lilly’s on the Lake, Tiki Bar Grill, and Cheeser’s Palace Cafe. A mile or two away, along U.S. 27, is a cluster of restaurants, some of the chain variety.

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There are two ways to get to the trail. Park at the Killarney Station, just off State Road 50 east of Clermont. Or ride your bike into Killarney on the West Orange Trail and continue west. Leaving from downtown Winter Garden adds about 5 miles to your trek. 

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The eastern part of the trail runs through what used to be pasture and groves, but now is mostly subdivisions. much of the ride remains pleasantly shaded, which a big deal during our hot, brutal summers. 

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West Orange Trail (22 miles)

With 150,000 monthly users, this is one of the most popular trails in the area, and even the country, according to the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy, which includes West Orange on its “Best Trails in the U.S.” list.

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The western starting point, Killarney Station (where bike rentals are available), is typically buzzing with cyclists and joggers on weekends. After a small hill, the trail’s converted railroad bridge crosses over Florida’s Turnpike, then at 1.4 miles passes the Oakland Nature Preserve, which has a hiking trail that ends at a dock overlooking Lake Apopka. Just after that is Briley Farm, an easy-to-miss gem where riders can sometimes see zebras, ostriches and long-horned Watusi cattle. The beautiful tree canopy that forms here continues all the way to Oakland’s charming downtown (mile marker 2). In this historic town, founded in 1886, you’ll find a Spanish-style Town Hall building, a brick-paved garden with a bicycle-themed steel structure as its centerpiece, “Cloudcycle” by artist James Lashley and the Living Bench, which is a tree stump with intricate carvings, including a realistic-looking alligator.

 

A mile and a half farther is a butterfly garden which offers a peaceful place to stretch your legs, then you’ll pass a small orange grove before arriving in downtown Winter Garden. Don’t pass up the Plant Street Market, which boasts a plethora of restaurants (selling everything from ceviche and smoothies to pizza and gourmet mac and cheese), specialty shops (including a butcher, chocolatier and local honey), and bars of all kinds, oxygen, coffee and beer (Crooked Can Brewing Company is the anchor). 

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The trail then continues down the center of Plant Street, past a mosaic water fountain surrounded by swinging benches and flowers, the city’s iconic clock tower, and a wide selection of restaurants. After lunch, head out on the eastern leg of the trail, highlighted by the Path of Life garden at Chapin Station. Just before this is the Division Street intersection where there’s a decent-sized hill and a split in the trail for views of the expansive Lake Apopka.

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Staying east, you’ll reach the Apopka-Vineland Outpost and then the lovely Chua Bao An Buddhist Temple. The trail splits again at Apopka Vineland Road. Staying straight, you’ll find the nationally renowned Clarcona Horseman’s Park, which hosts monthly horse shows and is a good turnaround point for a hearty 30-mile round trip. If you’re feeling particularly energetic, follow the trail across Apopka Vineland Road and continue through Apopka to the end of the trail, nearly reaching Wekiwa Springs State Park. 

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Lake Apopka Loop Trail (14.6 miles)

At nearly 15 miles long, the Lake Apopka Loop Trail might well be one of the most remote stretches of “hardpan” road in Central Florida. Running along the eastern shore of Lake Apopka, the trail employs old roads built by farmers who used to grow vegetables in the rich mucklands. Lake Apopka is home to multitudes of alligators and wildlife, all of which are easily within view from the bike trail, which typically sits about five feet above the lake and its surrounding marshes. The loop is popular with bird watchers and cyclists riding hybrid bikes, or ones with wider tires and a frame built to handle the bumpy trail, which has some blacktop but consists mostly of dirt and gravel.

 

Although it is called a loop, the trail really is more of an out-and-back path. The easiest access is at Magnolia Park, 2929 S. Binion Road, Apopka. There are two other trailheads, at North Shore and Clay Island, that offer parking.

Parents thinking of taking their children for a ride should be aware that the loop has only one real restroom along its circuitous paths, a portable bathroom at an old pump house at mile marker 4. Also, there are no water fountains or appreciable shade, making an early-morning or late-evening ride the best options during most of the year.

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Sanford Riverwalk Trail (2 miles)

This is a popular, relatively short path, the Riverwalk runs two picturesque miles along the shore of Lake Monroe.

 

There are plenty of benches to rest your legs and watch people fishing. Just a few blocks east of downtown Sanford, the Riverwalk connects several lakefront parks and is across Seminole Boulevard from Sanford City Hall. There’s plenty of parking by the trail, as well as in nearby lots.

 

The western end of the 15-foot-wide trail is beside Central Florida Regional Hospital. There are loads of restaurants and shops within walking distance of the trail, which typically draws more pedestrians than bikers because of its short length.

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Kid-Friendly Rides

Safety, reasonable length and entertainment are the biggest factors to consider when looking for a trail good for children. These rides hit all three marks. Gotta go have fun with the kids!
 

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Little Econ Greenway 
Rouse Road to North Econlockhatchee Trail overpass (4 miles round trip)

 

This east Orange County trail is a luxuriously wide, paved path that gives kids some wiggle room when they inevitably drift into the other lane. There’s a huge, covered playground at the beginning of this section (across from the Blanchard Park YMCA). A mile west is another, smaller playground, also covered.

 

The trail parallels the Little Econlockhatchee River, which provides gorgeous views for most of the ride and a chance to see wildlife, including herons, ducks, turtles and, on occasion, alligators. Shade is spotty, but there are tons of picnic areas. Before the Econ Trail overpass is a bridge atop a hill that kids love to climb with their bikes, then turn around and speed down, so it’s a natural halfway mark.

 

Arriving back at the starting point, follow the path running behind the YMCA to find a waterfall off the river dam and areas for fishing. Some people bring lettuce to feed the turtles on the riverbank.

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Celebration Trail
(7-mile loop)

This extremely popular path in the Town of Celebration is a mix of bridges, beautiful lakes and ponds, boardwalks cutting through Florida swamp and on-street trail sections that offer a glimpse of this pristine neighborhood bubble. There are informational plaques on the birds commonly found along the trail, great for budding birdwatchers.

 

You can also cut through Celebration Avenue for a trip to Spring Park, a gorgeous locale with a kiddie zip line, tire swing and rope-climbing structure. It also has bathrooms and water fountains, plus there is also a small trail loop behind downtown with another playground and a splash pad.

 

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Cross Seminole Trail
Between Big Tree Park and Soldiers Creek Park (4.4 miles round trip)

 

This slice of the Cross Seminole Trail is a scenic, entertaining ride for youngsters.There are beautiful streams and bridges and a thick forest surrounding this uncongested, serene trail.   

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Big Tree Park is home to a huge playground that incorporates a faux bald cypress tree stump they can scale and climb inside. The park also has picnic areas and a boardwalk trail leading to The Senator as well as its sister tree, Lady Liberty, which is 2,000 years old. Soldiers Creek Park has six ball fields, concessions and a playground.

 

 

Lake Baldwin Trail Loop
(2.5 miles)

Very family friendly with wildlife, playgrounds, a dog park and more. Beginning and finishing near downtown Baldwin Park, this ensures plenty of food options all all the family to enjoy.