Open daily. Hours are posted and do vary but run roughly dawn to dusk. Leashed dogs permitted. Pole fishing allowed. However, boaters who head out into Lake Apopka for fishing are cautioned not to take any fish home to eat because of the accumulated toxins in this area. A launch point for paddlers and boaters, the McDonald Canal Boat Ramp is the centerpiece of a small county recreation area along McDonald Canal. It’s within sight of the North Shore Trailhead for the Lake Apopka Loop Trail, and offers amenities that the trailhead does not. A large grassy area adjoins the canal, with picnic tables in both sunshine and the shade of a pavilion. A potable water fountain adjoins the vault toilets.