Running In Lake County
Twenty Years Of Local Route Notes
These recommendations come from an accomplished ultra runner on our side of the counter — a FloDash race director and high school science teacher who has been hitting Central Florida trails for over twenty years. Destination training runs are his thing, and keeping the routes fresh is one of his secrets come race day.
So we asked him to give up the good ones. The result is a mapped guide to the best places to run in Lake County, FL: limestone and clay, oak canopy and open wildflower fields, genuine hills, and lakefront pavement. Every pin includes what makes it worth the drive and the catch you should know about before you go.
Our Favorite Lake County Runs
Tap any pin for the address, what makes that route great, and the challenges to plan around before you lace up.
Pinned on the map: Lake Louisa State Park and the Clermont Clay Trail on Bradshaw Road, the South Lake Trail at Waterfront Park, downtown Clermont, and Lake Hiawatha Park in south Lake. Farther out you will find Green Mountain Overlook on the Lake Apopka Scenic Trail, Kirk Park in Montverde, the hills of Howey-in-the-Hills, Pear Park in Leesburg, and Wooten Park on Lake Dora in Tavares.
"Being part of the running community and downtown Clermont is a top priority for me. I understand the importance of being good neighbors and giving back. Live Actively is our business mantra and what I live by daily."Kimberly Grogan · Owner, Dash Sports
Bring The Right Shoe For The Surface
Those pins cover very different ground. The South Lake Trail and downtown Clermont are pavement, while Lake Louisa, the Clermont Clay Trail, and the Lake Apopka Scenic Trail run on limestone, clay, sand, and grass. A road shoe handles the paved miles well and then feels like the wrong tool on a rain-soaked clay section. Aggressive mountain lugs are overkill for trail running in Central Florida, but a trail shoe here should give you real grip on loose limestone, a little protection underfoot, and an upper that drains and dries after a wet crossing.
Come see us before your first trail day. Our fitting is complimentary, takes about thirty minutes, and covers what you are actually running on — not just your size.
These Miles Go Faster With Friends
A map is a good start, but the fastest way to learn a route is to run it with someone who already knows where the turns are. Our free social runs go Tuesday and Wednesday evenings, and they welcome visitors and every pace.
If you are staying closer to home base, the Clermont routes cover lakefront pavement, the clay loop, and state park trail within fifteen minutes of our downtown door. Stop in either store and we will tell you which of these is running well this week.
Free Socks*
Sign up for Dash Sports emails and get a free pair of socks when you buy your first pair of full-priced, in-stock shoes.
*Valid for new customers only at the time they create a Dash Sports profile. Socks valued at $17.99.
Find Your Perfect Fit — Book a Complimentary Shoe Fitting
Complimentary, unhurried fittings in Clermont and Winter Garden — we measure your feet, watch you walk, and match the right shoes.
Serving Central Florida
Our Locations
Dash Sports fits runners, walkers and workers at two Central Florida stores — downtown Clermont and Winter Garden. Walk in any day for a complimentary fitting.
- Family-owned in Clermont since 2006
- 5.0 stars from 1,100+ Google reviews
- Complimentary 20 minute shoe fittings
- Virtual fittings by Zoom or FaceTime
“Our Orthopedic doctor sent us to Dash sports in Clermont because she fractured her ankle and was hard to find shoes that fit her. We went and glad he sent us.”— S. Parker
Clermont
Flagship741 West Montrose Street
Clermont, FL 34711
| Monday | 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM |
| Tuesday | 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM |
| Wednesday | 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM |
| Thursday | 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM |
| Friday | 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM |
| Saturday | 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM |
| Sunday | 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM |
Winter Garden
Now Open12357 Stoneybrook W Pkwy, Unit 2
Winter Garden, FL 34787
| Monday | 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM |
| Tuesday | 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM |
| Wednesday | 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM |
| Thursday | 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM |
| Friday | 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM |
| Saturday | 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM |
| Sunday | 12:00 PM - 5:00 PM |