wekiwa springs state park

We stay in Cocoa Beach much of the winter and had a family snorkeling trip to the Keys planned. Our kids had never really snorkeled before so we were looking for a good place for them to practice and ran across Wekiwa Springs State Park. The nice, wide-open crystal clear water was a perfect place to them to learn and was also a great place to just swim and relax. We also took advantage of some of the great hiking trails. Wekiwa Park is a great place to relax and spend some down time.

My husband and I rode our bicycles throughout the park, had a picnic lunch, and then cooled off in the 72 degrees springs. It was very refreshing! The swimming area is huge! There is a restroom, changing area, general store, and much more. I can't wait to return!

This has been designated one of America's wild and scenic rivers, flowing through an immaculate wild environment way from the noise of the theme parks. $6 entry for a car with up to 4 people. Opportunity to swim, picnic, relax, bike, boating, hike or horse riding. Very peaceful.

we took a long walk geocaching on the nature trail off route 46. Nice and dry (unusual for FL, we've found) so you can take a walk in regular sneakers and not worry about ruining them. Space for 6 or so cars in the pull off, and another dozen or so next to the road. No water or potty so come prepared if it's a hot day.

We stayed at the campground here in our motor home. The sites were spacious, shady and very clean. It was cold for February in the 60's yet people were swimming in the 72 degree clear spring water. It's a beautiful park and the swimming area is outstanding. Lots of land to hike, bike and explore.

This is a good campground close to all the towns north of Orlando. Sites are full hook-up, are private and level with bathroom showers nearby. Grocery is 2-miles away. No laundry here, so must go 4-miles to Apopka to wash clothes. The area has lots of walks and trails and the swimming in the springs is year-round at 70-degree water.

Overall it is a decent place to spend an afternoon. Sometimes the spring can smell like eggs but I hear it's normal.

This park really embodies all that is natural beautiful about the state of Florida, from crystal clear, spring fed waters, lush plants, abundant animal life, this place has it all. Hiking, swimming, canoeing, and bird watching are just some of things to do at this natural marvel.

Been here plenty of times for years while in FLA. The springs are nice and park was good for the family to enjoy. Get a tube and follow the water trail or BBQ.

If you make it to the Orlando area, you have got to spend at least a half day at Wekiwa Springs State Park! It has a natural spring swimming pool that looks like it came from garden of Eden. It has trails for hiking and/or biking, ample picnic space, and refreshments.Further, it's employees like Thom O that really make this park a pleasure to enjoy. Even though this park is fully accessible to wheelchair bound patrons, Thom couldn't bear to watch me push the long, ADA designed ramp from the pool to the parking lot. When we reached the top, he loaded my wife in his cart to help us retrieve our car.Don't miss Orlando's theme parks, but add Wekiwa Springs to one of the best attractions.

This is one of the parks that involve this spring, others would be wekiva, rock springs. This is a beautiful place. I would not recommend this place until you become familiar with first aid of the local Florida wildlife. Typically 8 out of 10 times I always run into something that needs immediate reaction, snakes, alligators, ticks, spiders, racoons, etc. Most of these are while on land walking around the camp trails. Most common encounter is snake and racoon. While in the water, snakes hiding along the edges are common. I've run into 2 water moccasins while swimming and 1 coral snake. You Typically only run into these real early or real late in the day. But 1 is very aggressive and dangerous (water moccasins), 1 is deadly (coral snake). Use common sense when running into wildlife, take into consideration, are they injured, territorial, is it mating season, do they look rabid? Just because it's true they are more afraid of you then you of them doesn't mean you don't taste like chicken. Because you do taste like chicken. The state rangers are very good on tracking and removing alligators and other deadly species, but encounters are NOT rare, keep in mind they smell the food from all the people cooking. So sometimes they sneak in during the night. Basic common sense like cleaning canned food containers so they don't smell, sealing/cleaning hot dog packages that are open, don't dump left over food near your campsite like rib bones, chicken bones, sauces, etc. Keeping a clean campsite will most likely have you not waking up to local wildlife, especially if you have to get up like 3am to urinate outside and you end up crapping yourself cause there is an alligator eating your old chicken bones 10 feet away. Their website should have basic survival awareness info. Great place to relax and swim.

We go here often as a family and theres something for everyone. If you love the outdoors...this is the park for you! We have gone on hikes, had picnics, went swimming/snorkeling and went canoeing. The do charge a fee per car to enter.

We visited here last year. We rented canoes and spent a lot of time on the water. We saw a lot of wildlife including alligators and turtles. It was very neat. At one point, an alligator was swimming alongside our canoe. It was an experience I'll never forget. I recommend to any other nature lovers out there.

Wekiwa Springs State Park is a gem close to central Orlando well known to the locals but not so much to visitors. The springs are remarkable--bring your swim suits! The hiking trails are peaceful and relaxing. However, the trails are poorly marked. Also it would have been nice to have identifiers next to some of the unique trees and plants. Not much to see if you are a bird-watcher. I saw one hawk and a turkey vulture during two hours of hiking. For the $6 entry fee this is truly a gem only 15-20 minutes away from central Orlando.

In the 90's I visited this park many times, camping on motorcycle trips. It is a real little gem, peaceful, relaxing, quiet, but much to see and do in the park and in the area. Orlando and Disney have had a lot to do with area growth, obviously. Hiking trails, kayaking and canoe trips in the river and swimming and snorkeling in the "pool". Four and 1/2 million gallons of water "spring" from the underground aquifers daily, and run into the Wekiva river.Ample space for longer rigs. My rig is 30 feet, but I was towing a 14 foot trailer. I think all spaces are back in, but ample width to maneuver.The park is clean, hook ups are easy and bath houses are well spaced and always clean.I look forward to the next time I am in the Orlando area.Love this park.