Moss Park is the jewel of Orange County's park system with 1551 acres of enjoyment. It’s located at 12901 Moss Park Road, just 4 miles Southeast of Narcoosee Road. It boasts two huge lakes that define its East and West borders; Lake Mary Jane on the east, and Lake Hart on the west. The park’s normal hours are Monday – Sunday between 8am and 6pm in the winter, and 8am to 8pm in the summer. Overnight camping is permitted in the camp ground areas. The fee for entering the park is $1 per adult visitor (6 years old & up), but is well worth the benefits it offers.
It has huge unimproved trailer parking area capable of handling up to 30 vehicles and trailers. Plus, there are plenty of normal parking spaces for your friends and family that don't bring boats. The boat ramp to the east is a double-wide concrete ramp with piers for tie-ups on both sides. The east boat ramp is on a canal connecting both lakes; head west to go under the bridge to Lake Hart, head east to enter Lake Mary Jane. The bridge is low, so those with tall towers that are destined for Lake Hart would probably want to put in on the west boat ramp.
Accommodations include a public bathroom and outdoor showers. Pavilions are also available for rental and include electrical outlets and potable water if needed. Volleyball courts, horseshoe pits, and large charcoal grills located around the picnic area. The beach has a large swimming area with plenty of room next to it to beach your boats or watercraft when taking in the land activities. Two playgrounds are also on the site for the little ones in your group. It also hosts a posted lifeguard station during the summer. Pier and bank fishing is permitted.
The park is a wildlife refuge and bird sanctuary, and hosts a large island on Lake Mary Jane that is extremely active with nesting birds. Sand Hill Cranes, Wood Stork, Heron, Hawks, and many more species can be found all around the park.
The area just off of the beach is a favorite of personal watercraft (SeaDoo, JetSki, etc). On any one day, it’s not uncommon to see 20-30 PWC on the lake in that area. For those with boats looking for some calmer waters, just head east away from the beach.
Lake Mary Jane is my favorite of all the lakes that I’ve been to for wake boarding and skiing. You can find my family and our friends out on the water practically every weekend in the summer. The lake is huge, covering over 1158 acres. Lakes that are this big allow those seeking calm glassy waters for wake boarding or slaloming to find refuge in its many alcoves and corners. The lake’s deepest section is between 12 and 23 feet deep, but normally is around 8 feet deep. There is even a fairly large section in the middle of the lake that is shallow for dropping anchor and wading around waist deep. We’ve taken a break from wake boarding and popped over the side on several occasions to escape the heat of a summer day. The kids just love it. The west and south ends of the lake are completely undeveloped. I would highly recommend this lake.
Directions:
From the north, take the Greenway (TR 417) south to Narcoosee Road (CR 15). Turn right and go 2.4 miles to Moss Park Road. Turn right onto Moss Park Road and follow east then south to park entrance.
