Orange Lake Overlook Preserve
Accessibility Information
Parking Lot Description
The parking area is a combination of mowed grass and gravel. Trail users pass over mowed grass to get to the information kiosk that has printed maps.
The trailhead also has a trash and recycle container, dog waste bags, and 3 picnic tables, one of which is an accessible table. There are no restroom facilities at this preserve.
Orange Blossom Trail
Trail Length: 1.6 miles
Steepest slope: 11%
Total elevation gain: 111 feet
The Orange Blossom Trail is a loop trail that begins at the picnic area with sweeping views of Orange Lake. Trail users can pick a direction to begin and both directions begin a long descent towards the lake through former orange groves and cow pastures. The trail is mowed grass with no protrusions. The trail is quite sunny, but does weave through shaded tree canopies. The southeastern edge of the trail goes through a shaded hammock for a quarter of a mile and the trail surface transitions to dirt. There is bench in this hammock The trail along the northeastern part of the trail climbs a few feet onto an old abandoned railbed front he historic Florida Southern Railroad. Train users, eventually make the climb back up the hill to the trailhead.
Blackberry Trail
Trail Length: 0.5 miles
Steepest slope: 11%
Total elevation gain: 111 feet
The Blackberry Trail is a turn off of the Orange Blossom Trail. From the top of the hill, this trail descends down towards Orange Lake. The trail is mowed grass with a few dirt patches. About halfway down the hill, there is an option to turn onto the Eagle Crossing Trail (White). The trail enters several tree canopies, one of which has a bench just prior to reaching the Corral Trail turn. Further down the trail is an option to turn onto the Corral Trail (Green) which take users through two old cattle corrals. The trail eventually terminates at the Orange Blossom Trail at the bottom of the hill in a shaded hammock.
Eagle Crossing Trail (White)
Trail Length: 0.4 miles
Steepest slope: 1%
Total elevation gain: 15 feet
The Eagle Crossing Trail runs North-South through the middle of the preserve about halfway down the hill. This trail gives users many route options as it provides turns to every other trail in the preserve. The trail is mowed grass and passes through several shaded tree canopies of Pecan trees, Sugarberry trees, Cabbage Palms, and Live Oaks.
Corral Trail (Green)
Trail Length: 0.3 miles
Steepest slope: 1%
Total elevation gain: 10 feet
The Corral Trail can be accessed from the Blackberry or Eagle Crossing Trails. It passes through two old cattle corrals that are remnants of past cattle operations that took place for nearly five decades prior to preservation. The trail is a mixture of dirt and mowed grass. The most northern corral passes through an old shaded structure that has a bench. Trail users also pass under towers cabbage palms that are well over 100 years old!
Contact ACT for more information or comments about our accessibility of our preserves by calling (352)373-1078 or emailing info@alachuaconservationtrust.org
