Lakes

Lake County lives up to its name with over 1400* lakes, creating a unique lifestyle, and a never ending source of beauty and tranquility. 

The Harris Chain of Lakes is a waterway system that leads north to the Atlantic Ocean, via the Ocklawaha River and the St. John's River.  It's made up of Lake Harris, Little Lake Harris, Lake Dora, Lake Eustis, Lake Griffin and Lake Beauclair, and includes links by the Dora Canal, the Dead River and Haines Creek.

The Lake County Water Authority was created in 1953 to protect and manage Lake County's lakes and wetlands. Since its creation, it has been instrumental in the conservation of freshwater resources throughout the county. This effort includes an active conservation lands preservation and management program, which protects environmentally sensitive lakeshores, marshes and swamps.

Lake Harris is the largest of the Harris Chain of Lakes and is well known as a fisherman's haven. There are several boat ramps in the Leesburg area, plus camps and ramps at the southeast end of the lake and a ramp at Hickory Point Recreational Facility.  It is bounded on the south by Tavares and on the north by Leesburg. Little Lake Harris at the southeastern tip, provides water access to Howey-in-the-Hills, Astatula, Yalaha and parts of Tavares.  Lake Harris and Little Lake Harris total approximately 17,000 acres.

Lake Eustis covers nearly 7,800 acres. The Dead River and the famous Dora Canal flow into the southern end, and Haines Creek lies to the west.  Haines Creek flows northwest from the west side of Lake Eustis to the east side of Lake Griffin (9,100 acres), a distance of about four miles.  Haines Creek, once crooked, now a channel, has a lock and spillways at Lisbon on County Road 44. Bass, specks, panfish, Nile perch, and catfish all attract fishermen throughout the year.

Lake Dora, about 4,475 acres, is accessible from Mount Dora or Tavares, with ramps and fishing camps in both areas.  Gilbert Park at the east end in Mount Dora, has a ramp, picnic facilities and a fishing/wildlife viewing walkway.

Dora Canal is a mile-long connection between Lakes Dora and Eustis at the Tavares city limits.
Famous for its scenic beauty, its decades old, moss-draped cypress trees are home to a large and active rookery.  Great blue herons, osprey, egrets, anhingas, cormorants and wood ducks nest there from early fall through late spring and provide hours of entertainment for the casual or serious bird watcher.

The Dead River, like the Dora Canal, is busy with hungry, feathered residents including the great blue heron, osprey, little green heron, snowy egret, common and purple gallinule, Louisiana heron, little blue heron, black-crowned night heron, white ibis, limpkin, kingfisher and various owls and hawks. Private boats and tour boats provide access for residents and visitors alike to this delightful, unique waterway that connects Lakes Harris & Eustis.

With over 1400 lakes, you can imagine there are many, many opportunities for recreation and waterfront living.  Lake Yale (a 4,000-acre lake just north of Lake Eustis) and the Clermont Chain of Lakes in south Lake County, and hundreds of delightful, smaller lakes are located throughout the county.

Visit the "Recreation" page for much more to see & do in Lake County.

*Source: Lake County Water Authority. The 1990 count showed 1,735 bodies of water 1/4 acre or larger.