Experiences & Amenities

Bicyclists of all levels can find a challenging and enjoyable ride in the park. The off-road bicycle trail is approximately 9 miles long, but bicycles are also permitted on the 8 miles of horse trails. Because these are multi-use trails, be prepared to meet the occasional hiker, horseback rider or park vehicle.

• Please stay on designated trails, ride responsibly, and respect the park and wildlife.
• The park closes at sundown and you must exit the park at that time, so please plan your ride accordingly.
• Helmets are highly recommended for all cyclists and Florida law requires helmets for cyclists age 16 and under.
• The trails are located in a wilderness area.

A large number of birds inhabit the sandhills, scrub, hardwood hammocks, and waterways of Wekiwa Springs State Park, which is part of the Great Florida Birding & Wildlife Trail.

Slopes of gently rolling hills supporting longleaf pine among other specialty plants is the sandhill habitat where the 60 spacious campsites are located. Each wooded site has water and electrical hook-up, a fire ring with grill, and a picnic table. Some sites also have sewer hook-ups, and a dump station is located at the campground. 

Accessible campsites can be requested at the time of reservation. Two accessible restrooms with showers are located in the camping area.

Firewood is available at the ranger station. Well-behaved pets are allowed in the campground in accordance with our Pet Policy.

• The Florida black bear is a native of Wekiwa Springs State Park that you may encounter during your stay with us. For your enjoyment of the park and safety, please review our Bear Awareness or ask a ranger for information.
• Recreational vehicles up to 50 feet can be accommodated. 
• For reservations, visit the Florida State Parks reservations website or call 800-326-3521 or TDD 888-433-0287.

Camp with your horses at Big Fork, a spacious site with easy access conveniently located off the horse trail. The site will accommodate up to 10 people. The trails to these sites are located in a wilderness area.

• Please bring water, a compass and a map.
• Campers are required to be at the primitive campsite at least two hours before park closing to be permitted to camp.
• Campers have no vehicle access to these sites.
• Pets are permitted in accordance with our Pet Policy.
• Reservations are required and can be made no more than 60 days in advance. Reservations and information can be obtained by calling the park at 407-553-4383.

Hike out to Camp Cozy (approximately 3 miles) or Big Fork (approximately 1 mile) located just off the main hiking trail and enjoy the wilderness of Wekiwa in peaceful seclusion. 

Each site accommodates up to 10 people. Each site has a fire pit with a grill, benches and a picnic table. Pets are permitted in accordance with our Pet Policy (horses are permitted at Big Fork).

• Canoe/kayak to one of two primitive campsites in Wekiwa Springs State Park that can be accessed only by water. Otter Camp and Big Buck Camp are located on beautiful Rock Springs Run. Travel to either site can begin from any livery along the Wekiva River or inside Wekiwa Springs State Park. Both sites have fire rings and can accommodate up to 10 people each.
• Campers have no vehicle access to these sites. Reservations are required and can be made no more than 60 days in advance. For information and reservations, contact the park at 407-553-4383. Rates are $5 per person per night, plus tax. For your safety, campers are required to be at the primitive campsite at least two hours before park closing to be permitted to camp.
• Canoes and kayaks can be rented inside Wekiwa Springs State Park or at other liveries along Rock Springs Run and the Wekiva River. Further information on overnight canoe or kayak rentals can be obtained by calling our canoe rental stand at 407-884-4311 or by visiting Nature Adventures.

The youth group cabin area is used for environmental education, and groups reserving the area must meet eligibility requirements. The camp accommodates up to 160 people. Thirteen youth cabins with bunk beds each accommodate 10 people. Six leader cabins accommodate up to 30 people. The camp includes a pavilion, recreation hall, kitchen and dining hall. The youth camp is accessible.

• Make your reservations early. Cabins are booked months in advance. There is a minimum nightly charge that includes the first 60 people, with an additional charge for each additional person. A deposit is required for all reservations and will be applied to the final balance. For more information and reservations, call the park at 407-553-4383.
• The youth camp is not available during June and July. The Florida Federation of Garden Clubs (FFGC) has a summer camp program during this time. Additional information about the FFGC program can be found on the Wekiwa Youth Camp website.

Three primitive youth group camping sites each accommodate up to 20 people. For information and reservations, contact the park at 407-553-4383.

• Amenities include ground grill, picnic tables, a restroom and an open-air shower.
• Each site is limited to five vehicles. 
• Pets are permitted in accordance with our Pet Policy. 

Fishing is available at Sand Lake and on the Wekiva River. All fishing within the park must conform to regulations concerning size, number, method of capture and season. 

• A fishing license may be required. More information is available at the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission website Fishing in Florida.

Geocaching is an outdoor game using hand-held global positioning systems (GPS) devices. It's effectively an inexpensive, interactive, high-tech treasure hunt that's a great way to learn geography. Participants use location coordinates to find caches. Some caches are easy to find; others are more difficult. The biggest reward is the thrill of the search and the discovery of a place where you have never been.

Geocaching should have minimal impact to the environment, and conscientious land-use ethics should be followed.

• Operation Recreation GeoTour 

There are several trails available at Wekiwa Springs State Park, ranging in length from 0.8 to 13.5 miles. The shortest trail has a boardwalk with a view of the beauty of a river hammock. The boardwalk portion of this trail meets ADA standards.

For those feeling more adventurous, our longest trail provides an opportunity to see several plant communities ranging from river swamp to dry sandhill. Some of the animals you may encounter while enjoying the trails include the Florida black bear, white-tailed deer, bobcat, gopher tortoise, and turkeys and many other bird species.

Some of our trails are designated as multi-use, so be prepared to encounter the occasional bicyclist or horseback rider. We recommend that you bring items such as water, snacks, insect repellent, map, compass and cellphone. Please enjoy the nature trails responsibly, and respect park visitors and wildlife. 

• A trail map can be obtained at the ranger station and at the trailheads.

Horseback riders will enjoy the Tram Bed Horse Trail, which is named for its western portion - the bed of an old railroad line. This trail was constructed by hand about 100 years ago for use as a passenger line. Rails were never laid for the passenger line. Instead, the rail bed was used to haul pine logs on a narrow gauge line in the early 1900s.

The trail is approximately 8 miles long and divided into two loops. It is marked with a Green Blaze and/or Horse and Rider Emblems on wooden posts at all crossroads. Because these trails are multi-use, be prepared to meet the occasional hiker, bicyclist or park vehicle. Horses and riders are required to stay on the designated horse trails. A corral is provided at the start of the trail for trailer parking.

• Water for horses is available at only one location, Camp Big Fork.
• Proof of negative Coggins is required.
• Please ride responsibly, and respect park visitors and wildlife.
• The park closes at sundown and you must exit the park at that time, so please plan your ride accordingly.

Bicyclists of all levels can find a challenging and enjoyable ride in the park. The off-road bicycle trail is approximately 9 miles long, but bicycles are also permitted on the 8 miles of horse trails. Because these are multi-use trails, be prepared to meet the occasional hiker, horseback rider or park vehicle.

• Please stay on designated trails, ride responsibly, and respect the park and wildlife.
• The park closes at sundown and you must exit the park at that time, so please plan your ride accordingly.
• Helmets are highly recommended for all cyclists and Florida law requires helmets for cyclists age 16 and under.
• The trails are located in a wilderness area.

Enjoy one of the most beautiful areas of the park by canoe or kayak on the Wekiva River or Rock Springs Run. Begin your trip inside the park or enter the park from any launch site along the Wekiva River or Rock Springs Run. A map of the river and a list of the launch sites is available on the Wekiva Wild & Scenic River website. If entering from outside the park, an entrance fee of $2 per person is required.

• Canoe and kayak rentals are available at our concession, Wekiwa Springs State Park Nature Adventures. For information on rentals and fees, please see Nature Adventures or call 407-884-4311.
• The approximate distances provided here can be used to help plan your trip. For GPS coordinates of the various points, please see the Paddle Wekiva Brochure on the Wekiva Wild & Scenic River System website. To approximate travel time, most canoe forums say a canoe with two people and 25 lbs. of equipment can average 3 mph/4.8 kph on still water. Traveling with the current will be faster than against, and a kayak will be slightly faster as well.

DISTANCES BETWEEN POINTS OF INTEREST

• Wekiwa Springs to Wekiva Island (Wekiva River) – 1 mile/1.6 km
• Wekiwa Springs to Otter Camp (Rock Spring Run) – 3 miles/4.8 km
• Wekiwa Springs to Indian Mound (Rock Springs Run) – 3.5 miles/5.6 km
• Wekiwa Springs to Buffalo Tram (Wekiva River) – 3.5 miles/5.6 km
• Wekiwa Springs to Big Buck (Rock Springs Run) – 4 miles/6.4 km
• Wekiwa Springs to Kelly Park (Rock Springs Run) – 9.5 miles/15.3 km
• Wekiwa Springs to Katie’s Landing (Wekiva River) – 10 miles/16.0 km

Due to the nature of the spring, it is necessary to portage your canoe or kayak a significant distance up and down slope on uneven ground. 

A picnic area including picnic tables and grills is located near the spring.

• A playground, volleyball court and horseshoe pit are also located in this area.
• Picnic tables are also provided at Sand Lake. 
• Consumption of alcohol beverages is prohibited.

Snorkel in crystal-clear Wekiwa Springs where the water is a refreshing 72 degrees year-round. Children and non-swimmers should be accompanied by an adult swimmer at all times. The swimming area is open from 8 a.m. until park closing. Diving and jumping are not permitted. Snorkeling is not permitted in Wekiwa Springs Run, Rock Springs Run or the Wekiva River. 

• Due to the shallow nature of the spring, diving and jumping are not permitted.
• Use of scuba and other tank-assisted or tethered hookah breathing systems is not permitted.
• No lifeguards are on duty. Snorkelers and swimmers do so at their own risk.
• Snorkeling is not permitted in Wekiwa Springs Run, Rock Springs Run or the Wekiva River.

Swim in crystal-clear Wekiwa Springs where the water is a refreshing 72 degrees year-round. The spring is located in a natural setting perfect for spreading a blanket and having a picnic. Individual size flotation devices are allowed in the swimming area. Children and non-swimmers should be accompanied by an adult swimmer at all times.

• The swimming area is open from 8 a.m. until park closing.
• Due to the shallow nature of the spring, diving and jumping are not permitted.
• Swimming is not permitted in Wekiwa Springs Run, Rock Springs Run or the Wekiva River. 
• No lifeguards are on duty; snorkelers and swimmers do so at their own risk. 
• Individual size flotation devices are allowed in the swimming area.
• Children and non-swimmers should be accompanied by an adult swimmer at all times.
• Use of scuba and other tank-assisted or tethered hookah breathing systems is not permitted.

There are several trails available at Wekiwa Springs State Park, ranging in length from 0.8 to 13.5 miles. The shortest trail has a boardwalk with a view of the beauty of a river hammock. The boardwalk portion of this trail meets ADA standards.

For those feeling more adventurous, our longest trail provides an opportunity to see several plant communities ranging from river swamp to dry sandhill. Some of the animals you may encounter while enjoying the trails include the Florida black bear, white-tailed deer, bobcat, gopher tortoise, and turkeys and many other bird species.

Some of our trails are designated as multi-use, so be prepared to encounter the occasional bicyclist or horseback rider. We recommend that you bring items such as water, snacks, insect repellent, map, compass and cellphone. Please enjoy the nature trails responsibly, and respect park visitors and wildlife. 

• A trail map can be obtained at the ranger station and at the trailheads.

Visitors may see many types of wildlife throughout the park, and a good place for viewing is right along Main Park Drive. Early morning and right before sunset are typically the best times for viewing white-tailed deer. Wild turkeys can be seen throughout the day in all areas of the park. The best places to see Sherman's fox squirrels are on the trails that go past the youth camp.