Lake Lotus Park is a wonderful park located close to the border of Orange and Seminole County. While a few of the Boardwalk walking paths were temporarily closed, I still enjoyed my walk along their walking path amongst the trees. There was a decent amount of parking and there was a sign for overflow parking. They have several signs warning of black bears and giving instructions on what to do if you encounter a black bear. All in all, this was a wonderful park to come and visit and I would definitely recommend that you come check this wonderful park out. Overall, I am going to give Lake Lotus Park five stars. The Orlando area has some great parks and Lake Lotus Park is definitely just another great reason to live in this area. Again, Lake Lotus Park has my recommendation and I give it an overall score of five stars. Go see Lake Lotus Park for yourself. read more

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Pets aren't allowed in a park that says pets allowed. Went on a rainy day and the worker said only service animals, google says pets allowed read more

Was drawn to this park for all the boardwalk trails, but upon arrival we saw that the boardwalk was closed and has been for some time. There were two different playground areas (one for younger children and one for older children). There were a a couple of micro trails that you could walk and plenty of parking. That was about it. There is a lot of potential here and I would love to come back one day when the boardwalk has been repaired and reopened. read more

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Great nature trails without it being in someone's backyard or with a sidewalk. Some were closed when I went but I can't wait to go back when they're open and explore highly recommended read more

This park is a hidden gem. Right in middle of Altamonte/Maitland/Orlando area. I have been here multiple times before and during covid times. There is barely anyone during weekdays (thurs & fri). On weekends if you go early there is less crowd. After 9.30 - 10am you will see more people. The play area is a decent size. Restrooms are by the play area. They have picnic pavilions that you can book for events. The boardwalk takes you from between the lush trees. Its about a mile long. Most of it is shaded. It opens up by the lake area where I have seen people fishing. Also saw a small gator in the lake once. You will see birds and butterflies too. If you want to go when its less people around...go on Thursday or go early morning. read more

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One of those places I've driven by a bunch of times and never paid attention until we started looking for more outdoor destinations during these pandemic days. Really easy walk through lots of shaded areas on mainly boardwalk paths. With all of the different offshoots, you can choose your own adventure. We were lucky to stumble upon an owl on our trip, so we of course devoted 10 minutes to just watching it sit there. If you're looking for a place to enjoy the outdoors near the Altamonte/Maitland area, this is a good option. It wasn't too busy on Sunday around 9:30am when we arrived, but there were a lot more people when we left around 11am. read more

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This is a pretty park, but most of the trails are currently closed, so that's worth noting. I'll come back and edit the review once the trails reopen and boardwalk gets fixed. read more

Amazing peaceful urban oasis with plenty of benches to sit back and relax; long boardwalk trails; clean restroom and pavilions. Restrooms have flushable toilets, toilet tissue, and faucets with soap and hand dryer. Perfect park for anyone who wants a nearby getaway from the city or suburban life. Also great educational plaques on the nature life and watershed in Lake Lotus. Please note below the photos and address differences for parking. Only open Thursday through Sunday. Off-Site PARKING and TRAM pick-up: Set GPS to: 8903 Magnolia Homes Rd Orlando, FL 32810 WEEKENDS: Do NOT set GPS to the actual park address, 1153 Lake Lotus Park Road, Altamonte Springs, FL 32714. Lake Lotus Park from off-site parking is walking distance, if you do not want to wait for the tram, which arrives every 45 minutes. For the 2 times I have visited, Lake Lotus Park is so serene and has long stretches of boardwalk for the trail. Thankful for the trail maintenance team who built and maintains this so that the public can enjoy this wonderful park. read more

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This is a really fun spot to see turtles and ducks!! The lake is full of them. Like so many turtles I was amazing. It's a really good place for a walk after eating at one of the nearby restaurants. I recommend Teak. We have more than once taken family here and they all enjoy the stroll around the lake, and there is a decent playground for kids. read more

Great spot to get outside, even if just for a little walk. This is mostly a boardwalk trail with a view of the lake. There are opportunities to spot various wildlife such as raccoons, turtles, squirrels, gators, fish, butterflies, and birds. There's even a playground for the little ones and spots where you can grill. There are few Pavilions which you can rent as well. read more

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The photos do not do this place justice! Go and check this park out in person you won't be disappointed! read more

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What's the point in going to this park if all the boardwalks and most of the trails are closed indefinitely? I'd give it two stars if there were any easily accessible updates on closures that have gone on way longer than normal for the state of Florida. I'd give it four stars if it were up and running. That last star? They're only open four days a week. Don't bother. read more

Unique park hidden away on the edge of Orange and Seminole County! This could be loads of fun for a family or even a day date. The adventure begins when you enter the parking lot. You have two options: either walk (it's probably a good 10-15 minute walk) or take the tram. If you've never been, take the tram for fun! Kids (and adults who are kids at heart) LOVE IT. It's a little bumpy at certain parts and your head will feel like it's going to fall off, but it's like a theme park ride with no admission. The next part of the adventure is making your way over to the big sign to see all the people and companies that helped build the place. Sort of shouts "evidence of our greatness here!" but I'm so glad that there are people who care about things like funding, planning, and building parks in our world. There's also a nice pavilion, playground, and even a butterfly garden at the front of the park where the tram drops you off. Not many butterflies there when we went, but maybe it depends on the season and upkeep of it. My favorite part is all of the trails. Most of it is a boardwalk through the woods/swamp areas, but you can find potions that go through dirt to make you feel for a moment like you're a real outdoorsy person. Do some exploring and you will eventually find Lake Lotus, where a lot of people fish or hang out. Loved the little gazebo that's on the water. It's a nice spot for relaxing in the shade and watching the wildlife go by. Lots of birds, turtles, or maybe even a gator (no gators on our visit though). What a great way to spend an afternoon! read more

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Lake Lotus Park is a nature preserve in Altamonte Springs. It has a mile long boardwalk, pavilion, playground, restrooms, fishing pier and much more. No dogs are allowed in the park. You also can not swim , hunt or camp on the property. There is no boat, canoe or kayak access. You can use charcoal grills in the picnic areas. They provide ranger guided tours with reservations only. A special Earth Day celebration takes place every year in April. Lotus Park is where we go to unwind. It's a peaceful place to spend a few hours. The nature walk is beautiful and the lake is calming. My grandson loves the playground. Park rangers always seem to be present during my visits. They are friendly and approachable. read more

This is a nice park. There's a lake with large tilapia and gar. Some gstors (we saw one's tail). A nice butterfly garden with beautiful flowering plants (grow some at home!!!) and butterflies. A playground with some good climbing elements. A creek. Fishing. Boarwalk paths. Some signage of natural features including poison ivy. Invasives are a bit of a problem and the parking on the other side of the road is a lil weird. But it's a fun green and blue stretch in the burbs. Friendly rangers. Google maps takes you to the wrong place.. We were there on a Sunday and a shuttle was running to and from the parking lot or it's a reasonable walk under an overpass by a creek.. read more

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This is a great spot for a walk - alone or with fam! The boardwalks are extremely well maintained. Spots for fishing, nature watching, and more. Also a great playground area with frequent community events. If you go, keep in mind they are only open Thurs-Sun! read more

Beautiful hidden Gem in Altamonte. This park provided ample biodiversity to explore on my Saturday afternoon. You park across the street and can walk to the park through a path that goes under the street. Alternatively, they have a shuttle that runs every 45mins and will take you from the parking lot to the heart of the park. It is only about a 12 minute walk, so either option is good. Inside the park there are extensive wooden walkways weaving through large trees, swamp marshes, and leading to the Lotus Lake. During my walk in the woods I saw several types of caterpillars and butterflies. When I reached the the lake I saw several different types of birds, numerous small, large, and huge fish, and turtles. I even witnessed one bird hunting mussels to feed to her babbies. There was a beautiful closed in observation room with high ceilings, glass windows, and labeled images of wildlife to assist in viewing. Thoroughly enjoyed my time at this park and it was definitely not crowded. Really recommend it if you are in the area. read more

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I'll be frank with you, I come here to look for the alligators, the water, the turtles, the anhingas, and, um...the water. I visited the park multiple times in 2013 throughout the year. It's neat looking for differences as the seasons change. The first change I look for is in the water level. This varies greatly through the year, depending on how much rain has fallen. Secondly, I look for the change in the number of alligators present. Even though I have seen a bajillion alligators in my life, I still keep looking for them. As mating season is from late April through May, their visible numbers fluctuate. I like going to this park by myself. There is plenty of boardwalk trail to get lost in your thoughts. The enclosed pavilion on the lake is by far my favorite spot in the whole park. There is plenty of seating, plenty of windows, plenty air circulation, and a door and screens to keep all the bugs out. Sometimes I like bringing a lunch to the park so that I can eat in solitude - sometimes I eat on the boardwalk and sometimes I eat on the picnic tables in the main area. I look forward to running in to the park rangers. Okay, not literally but still. If you show genuine interest, they will tell you everything about anything. They told me where to keep an eye out for gators, which happens to be at the foot of the Little Wekiva River where it feeds into Lake Lotus. I grew up in this area and didn't visit the park a single time until last year. My brother used to go fishing up at Lake Lotus before it ever became a park. That was in the early-90s. I think the park opened in 1995 (if Google is telling the truth). He'd ride up on his bike with his fishing pole in hand. I'm a little jealous he never brought me with him. It's not by any means a big attraction, but if you are looking for a clean and interesting local park to hang out at or bring your kids to play, come here. In the main area there are picnic tables and open covered pavilions for eating. There is a playground here too. The bathrooms are clean. The boardwalk is well maintained. Fishing is permitted in one single area on the boardwalk - signs clearly tell you where. Although, this area is completely open and not covered. At least there are benches you can sit on, so leave those folding chairs at home! Keep in mind this park is only open Thursday through Sunday. You may park inside of the park Thursday and Friday. On Saturday and Sunday, you must park offsite and either take the tram over or walk over. Lake Lotus's website does not have the current visiting hours. I want to say the closing hour changes a bit throughout the year but I'm not sure. Call to confirm visiting hours. ---------- followmea.tumblr.com read more

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The park trails & boardwalk are closed for 2023 & maybe 2024.... Hurricane destroyed the trails so they have to be rebuilt. In the future it looks like an amazing place to see all kinds of wild life. read more

Lake Lotus Park is a great place to explore natural Florida right in the middle of all the congestion of Maitland Blvd. Once inside the park you feel the stress draining from your body as you breathe in the fresh air. The boardwalk provides a nice way to explore the woods without worrying about encountering wildlife too close. Gators are often seen in the water and they have some of the best bird sightings for local birders. Definitely worth a visit. However, offsite parking required On the weekends. A shuttle drives you under Maitland Blvd. into the park. Lake Lotus is closed Monday-Wednesday. read more

Never would have known this place exists had it not been for me missing an exit. It's a really shady place with a TON of trees and critters. Please make sure to bring a lot of insect repellent. It seems to be a focus on preserving the land as is here. There is an off site parking lot across the street with shuttles to keep the traffic down in the park. In addition, activities like biking, skating and bringing your own pet is forbidden. A lot of education points of interest are placed throughout the park as well. There is a main area with a playground; pavilions, and benches are throughout the trails as well. Alligators live here, so don't bug them. Don't have to tell me twice. The brochure says that the boardwalk is wheelchair friendly, however, you wouldn't find me riding in one here. . .the surfaces are lumpy in a lot of places. The boardwalk leads to a pier where one can watch the lake. I found it quite peaceful here and I'm glad I dropped by. I could hear the creatures scurrying through the trees during the walk, and hear the crickets as well. I could not help but be thankful to live here in FL during this walk. So much turmoil and unrest is happening in the world now--this is one little spot where peace on earth actually exists. read more

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Relaxed, extremely clean and the boardwalk is incredible. There is a fishing pier and "photo hit". Highly recommended. read more

Lake Lotus Park - Fishing Pier - Parks Near Me - Altamonte Springs, Florida

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Great park ~ when it is open ! It is closed so often because of some STEM program for middle-schoolers M-W, but I'm sure they could accomodate visitors and students at the same time or some separate hours. They are very strict - no dogs and they start bugging you to leave like half-hour before park closes - and that is 7:30 pm now at least. Seems everytime I want and can go, it is closed. Love the Boardwalk and Lake ~ Enjoy ! read more

This place is beautiful, and feels welcoming. My kids love the trails. As you walk through you feel like your in a tropical forest. Can't wait to come back to fish. read more

I have driven by this park DOZENS of times and never knew how expansive and beautiful it was! I spent one gorgeous afternoon exploring the trails, paths and playgrounds with my kiddos. There are long boardwalks near and over the water and dirt paths through the woods. I was able to make it through all the paths with my jogging stroller, however, if the ground was wet or if you have a regular stroller you might not be so lucky. We saw lots of wildlife, birds, alligators, etc. It's amazing to be so close to the hustle and bustle of Altamonte and find this little gem. A great place for a picnic (there are picnic tables and pavilions) or a hike. There are two playgrounds and swings. We put down a blanket and ate lunch under the massive oaks. Staff was very friendly as well. read more

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The other review says it all really. Note that they are closed on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. Offsite parking is for Saturday and Sunday. Thursday and I'm pretty sure Friday too, you can just drive on in and park in the shade. There are big covered pavillions and frills for grilling. I imagine you'd need to contact Seminole county parks & recreation if you were having a party here, and in cooler weather that would be a great idea for this place. Almost forgot to mention that there are two nice play areas for kids. Bathroom facilities are always clean, even if not air conditioned. read more

Very nice park with a nice walkway through the woods. It's free to get in. The only down side is it's only open Thursday - Sunday. But it's never crowded and is a great escape in the middle of the a busy area. read more

This is one of my favorite parks. Most of the trails are boardwalk, and there is a portion that is just in the woods. They offer sights of nature in the woods to the lakeside. I have yet to try fishing there, but I hear it is a great fishing hole. I like that there are always park rangers active in the park, it makes it seem safe. They are also very friendly too. The other amenities the park has to offer is a tram service from the second parking lot. It goes under the road. They have very clean bathrooms for a park. For children there are 2 playgrounds, with picnic tables & covered pavilions. It seems like a great place for a party. One of my favorite features are the nature signs describing trees, plants, & animals that may be found in the park. When going to Lake Lotus I always bring my camera & running shoes. read more

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One of my favorite parks to hangout at. My daughters love playing at the playground while I relax and enjoy the atmosphere.

I've lived in Altamonte for 15yrs and would pass by this park not knowing how awesome this place is. Today is the second time I've visited this park. Walking through the trail (a mile long), you see a lot of Florida's fauna and flora in a place you would have never thought of. They are apartments nearby and this is their backyard. There is a fishing dock,my favorite part is to sit in the enclosed pavilion where you have a closer encounter with the lake. It's a great place to bring the kids, they have playgrounds, barbecue areas and pavilions you could rent for a party. read more

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A great way to start off your weekend! I joined a friend this morning for a walk around the park and was pleasantly surprised - by so many things. First, the park is just off of 414. Second, there is a shuttle to take you to the park. Granted, it's the world loudest shuttle but it's also a weird and funny way to get to your destination so just go with it. There are boardwalks to enjoy and small trails to explore and picnic pavilions and a fishing pier. Equally humorous are all the signs stating you shouldn't tease or "molest" the animals and that this includes the alligators in the area. These signs are obviously posted for out-of-towners. You can bring in your coolers and picnic baskets but most useful will be a good camera. My friend got some great outdoors shots. We just walked around going "Oh! Look! Turtle! Bird! Butterfly! SQUIRREL!" for 2 hours - it was great! Be grateful for the canopy of trees that will help keep you cool as you walk around and explore this little gem Mother Nature put in our path. read more

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This is such a hidden gem in Altamonte Springs! Great boardwalk, natural Florida and my friend caught a largemouth bass. The kids would love it too! And it is free. read more

I almost left out a star because it is only open 4 days of the week, but it's a great place to view local wild life. And drama! When you have alligators, they feed and there are plenty of opportunities to see that so be careful! You don't want to supplement their diet! Swings and playground stuff for the little ones. It's a great place for a morning run through the trails, but bring a stick to knock down the spiderwebs that were built over night, you might be the first one through if your early. The boardwalk ends and continues on land but it completes the experience of being in the _woods. The butterfly garden should have plenty of caterpillars in the spring and fall. But monarchs lay throughout the summer as long as there is enough foliage left for them to feed. read more

Enjoyed a nice walk on the nature trail with my hubby. Lots of scenic views. I took some great photos. There is a fishing place I would like to utilize the next time I visit. When we went it was Earth Day and they had tents from a few different businesses. I will definitely go back fo rboth the fishing and the views of the great outdoors! read more

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Simply amazing. Very very very relaxing. Beautiful trails covered by tall trees. Bathrooms are always clean and the park rangers are very friendly. read more

This is a lovely park and well worth a visit. You can also rent and reserve a pavilion for a large gathering. The park rangers work with you and are very accommodating. we have had many social gatherings here over the years and have never been disappointed. There is a large board walk around like a Lotis which is well worth taking. It is well-maintained. read more

What a great park. We thoroughly enjoyed walking up and around all the different trails, taking the boardwalk out onto the lake, checking out the baby alligators and watching people fishing. We made a lot of comparisons to 'prehistoric', looking out into the forests and very dry 'wetlands'. We were completely floored by all the beautiful cardinals fluttering around the low canopy when we turned a corner onto a wooden bridge, lots of lovely baby woodpeckers, lizards, butterflies & dragonflies. We heard a peacock out there somewhere too. There are lots of informative placards along the different trails. This park has restrooms, didn't need to use them so I don't know what they're like, lots of covered picnic areas, bbq pits and play areas for kids. Oh and best of all - it was all free. We're gonna go back, we'd like to go when its raining, as the park was extremely dry when we went, so we could see what its like when all the little creeks and rivers were full. read more

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This is a great park. There are beautiful hiking trails as well as a small playground for young kids. The park is usually very quiet. There's also a fishing dock available if you have a permit. This is one of my favorite parks to go to with my kids. read more

Definitely a hidden gem in Altamonte. I came here with a friend and enjoyed a few hours on the trails and in nature. There was lots to see and it was hidden away from the hustle and bustle of the area. The boardwalk twists and turns throughout some cool foliage and water areas, and you can fish off a certain portion of the walk. Lots of wildlife to view and trails to check out, be sure to stop by here. read more

My husband and I walk the boardwalk just about every weekend. It is a beautiful nature walk through Cypress trees and alongside the lake. There is a huge fishing area but you must bring your own shade. A permanent awning type structure would be nice. We are looking forward to the cooler months to utilize the BBQ/picnic area. read more