Wekiwa River State Park

Wednesday March 13, 2013
Site 20, Blue Spring State Park
Orange City, Florida
High 73 Lo 46

 

 

Our weather continues warming up and our days here are getting fewer so we decide to go see some of the other springs in the area.  Today our trip is about 25 miles  south to Wekiwa River state Park.

Wekiwa’s name comes from a Creek word meaning ‘spring of water’.  Wekiwa Spring and nearby Rock Spring are the principal headwaters for the Wekiwa River in the St. Johns River Basin.

The springs are no longer in their natural surroundings and looked to me more  like an upscale swimming pool.  I’ve found this is quite common in Florida State Parks especially ones which were formerly private tourist attractions before being acquired by the park system.
They are very nice but I don’t like them as well as the naturalness of Blue Spring.

 

 

 

There are several artists painting the beautiful landscape.  I think they are part of Florida State Park’s Artist in the Parks program. 
A bridge goes across the top of the spring run.  There is no swimming beyond the bridge.

 

 

 

 

The boat dock is very large and the park rents dozens of canoes, kayaks and pontoons.  If all these boats or even half of them were in the spring run it would be like an LA Freeway.

 

 

 

 

The spring run is beautiful

 

 

We get launched at the boat dock and choose to paddle up the rock spring run saving a paddle on the Wekiwa River for ‘next time’.

The wildlife is abundant and the traffic sparse.

 

 

 

 

Young alligators share a log with a turtle..not sure what kind of turtle.

 

 

    

 

great egret

great blue heron

 

 

 

Sections of the Rock Spring run are covered in grasses that look like a manatee’s dream.   I try lots of ways to get a picture of how really lush they looked.   This is the best I can do.

 

 

 

 

The water is very shallow in some spots.  I am amazed we never get grounded.  We see some canoes that do however.  Not much of a problem to get out and push in 6” of water.

Limpkin

Little blue heron

 

We paddle upstream for a couple of hours and since it is 8 miles up to the Rock Springs  we know we won’t get there.  We turn around and it is a wonderful free and easy float back down.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Florida spring runs are really wonderful kayaking spots.  Too soon we reach the Wekiwa River and are back at the spring’s bridge. 

 

Great White Egret

 

       

 

After getting the kayaks back out and on the car I check out the spring. We take a hike on the short trail near the springs while I contemplate whether to take a dip.  Some may remember my saying last winter that I’d really like to swim in every one of Florida’s springs.  Problem is, I didn’t bring my bathing suit.

 

 

When we return, the sun is going down pretty rapidly now as I check out the water.  I zip off the bottom of my kayaking pants and into the spring I go in t-shirt and shorts.   I do always keep beach chairs and beach towels in the car and from now on that will include a bathing suit.  So at least I’ve got a towel to dry off with when I get out.  AND I won’t have to put these clothes in the laundry!

The water is wonderful.  It really is a great way to finish off a day of kayaking.

 

 

 

 

Time to head for home and dinner. 
There is at least one other Spring in the area I hope we can get to before we leave. 
I sure do love Florida’s springs!!