ROCK SPRINGS RUN

Length: 8 miles

Canoeing time: 4 hours

Access: Start: State Road 435, Camp Joy Road

Finish: Wekiva Springs Road, Wekiva Marina Information: King's Landing , Apopka, Florida

Rock Springs Run is a leisurely 8-mile trip through the dense cypress, pine, and hardwood forests of Central Florida . The clear water of the run flows swiftly through some stretches, but slows in others where the stream widens into quiet pools. If you're lucky, you'll spot otters playing in the water. The run can be linked with the adjoining 17- mile Wekiva River trail for a two-day trip. The beginning of the trail at King's Landing is 5 miles north of Apopka. To reach the landing, drive north on State Road 435 and turn right on Kelly Park Road. Go 1\8 mile and turn left just before entering Kelly Park. Go north on Camp Joy Road another 3\4 mile to King's Landing.

The beginning of the trail at King's Landing is 5 miles north of Apopka. To reach the landing, drive north on State Road 435 and turn right on Kelly Park Road. Go 1\8 mile and turn left just before entering Kelly Park. Go north on Camp Joy Road another 3\4 mile to King's Landing.

Put in is on a narrow canal which leads to Rock Springs Run. A few homes line the first half-nile of the run, but this development is soon left behind and the water clears markedly downstream. Dense grass beds cover the bottom, and red maple and moss-draped cypresses line the banks.

There are few places to stop the first 4 or 5 miles, then the banks rise a bit and allow picnicking or permit camping. The run joins the Wekiva River at about 7 miles, when you get there you may turn right and take a side trip to Wekiva Springs, headwaters to the Wekiva River. There is no take-out ,but there is a place to get out and enjoy the aquamarine 72-degree waters of the spring.

To continue your run, paddle down to the Wekiva River less than a mile to the Wekiva Marina or make it a full days run to Katie's Landing 8-miles further down. To reach the marina drive 1 mile east of the Wekiva Springs State Park entrance on Wekiva Springs Road. Turn north on Miami Springs Road about 1\4 mile to the marina.

CRAIG'S NOTE'S: If a quick, no shuttle trip is what you are looking for, one of my favorites is to put in at the Wekiva Marina on the Wekiva River, paddle up river towards the spring (not even a mile), turn right, up Rocksprings Run, paddle as far up as you can, turn around and float back. Early in the morning it's one of the most beautiful places in the world.

KING'S LANDING-1-407-886-0859

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