Wekiva River and Rock Springs Run
If you are in the Orlando area and Disney World is not your cup
of tea, try spending an hour or so on Rock Springs Run. Just outside
of Longwood, which is northeast of Orlando on I-4, ask around
for Kelly Park, which is where the run starts. A neat, clean picnic
area overlooks the main spring and swimming area. There is camping
available amongst the pine trees and just up the road you can
launch your canoe into crystal clear spring water and leave development
behind. At times jungley and narrow, threading its way through
a swampy woods, then running wide and shallow thru tall reeds,
in twisting channels, you won't be bored!
There
is one area where the deer come out in the river to feed off the
water plants and I have always seen deer at that same spot year
after year, and once surprised a doe with her fawn. You can call
it quits at any place along the run and paddle back upstream to
your car, or continue past the Marina at the junction with the
Wekiva for another 8 or 9 miles to Katie's Landing, if you have
arranged for return transportation. The Wekiva is nice, but not
as nice or as interesting as the run.
|
