Kayaking Rock Springs Run
On a recent trip to Florida my girlfriend and I found ourselves with some extra time. While being at the beach in sleepy Ormond was relaxing we were also craving a different type of nature and a bit of movement.
We looked for some natural springs to explore. Our first choice Blue Springs was closed for manatees, as was another spot I had been to on a previous trip. It seems that there are sporadic closures in the winter to protect manatees in many of these spots. So we came across Rock Springs Run.
Rock Springs Run is conveniently located about an hour from Ormond and Daytona Beach and probably a bit closer to Orlando. This is not a manatee spot, but it is definitely not lacking in the wildlife department.
The source of the spring is in Kelly Park and can only be accessed from there. We did not go in to the park but were told it is worth popping in. We elected to go to Kings Landing. They are an outfitter renting a whole variety of water gear.
What we really wanted to do was to do the full (one way) run to Wekiwa Island. It is a 8.5 mile paddle and sounded pretty fun. However they only offer one return shuttle per day and there is a launch cut off as well as a capacity cut off. Our lack of planning meant we couldn’t do it. So we settled for the Emerald Cut kayaking.
Our trip
We got to the office at our designated time, signed in, and were given our kayaks. The whole process was pretty straight forward. The staff was helpful but services are limited. If you need a dry bag or food be sure to bring your own.
The kayaks were pretty basic plastic molded sit-on-top style kayaks. They were perfect for the terrain. They were comfy enough but there wasn’t a whole lot of “storage”. We managed for the short trip, the shuttle run might have been different. The put in spot is their own private canal that after a very short paddle leads into Rock Springs Run.
We decided to try and do both the “left” and “right” paths. To start coming out of the canal from the launch spot we turned right. This pointed us up stream. We were paddling against the current. Most of the time it wasn’t too noticeable.
Going right leads to the mouth of the spring. For most, the highlight is the “Emerald Cut”. The Emerald Cut took only about twenty minutes to get to. It is a gorgeous section of the river with - you guessed it - emerald green waters. What is really fun is the shallow waters go around the trees and create fun little islands. Many people stopped here not just to take photos but to swim and picnic also. It was stunningly beautiful and the water was unbelievably refreshing.
Emerald Cut - A gorgeous spot to hang out
More of the magical Rock Springs Run
Continuing on from the Emerald Cut the river quietly weaves its way through beautiful landscapes, under trees with dangling bits billowing in the wind, and past rustic cabins. It is a very peaceful paddle and despite being upstream never felt too strenuous. Eventually you end up at at a rope just shy of the mouth of the spring. Probably the biggest bummer is not being able to go the full way.
After a little rest we started the float down stream eventually getting back to the launch canal and bringing us to the “left” side. The difference was noticeable almost immediately. The water turns from crystal clear emerald green to brackish and with more vegetation.
This part of the river itself was less pretty, but the wildlife really came to life. Birds, turtles, otters, and of course alligators! Everywhere you looked there was life all around. It was amazing and slightly terrifying.
Gators and turtles coexisting
As our time was slowly coming to and end we made our way back to the launch point. We pulled in and the staff grabbed the kayaks. We grabbed our ID that was on hold and were on our way. An afternoon well spent.
Some details
The Emerald Cut paddle is for a four hour rental. There are a variety of kayak types available but capacity is limited so definitely book ahead to be sure to get the time slot that fits your schedule. I would love to do the shuttle trip at some point but frankly the scenery in emerald cut was pretty epic so I’m not mad.
Kings Landing
5722 Baptist Camp Rd, Apopka, FL 32712 * https://kingslandingfl.com/ * +1-407-886-0859
Side note
There isn’t a whole lot around the area as it is pretty rural. There is some generic pub food nearby by but where we went was a real winner:
Doesn’t look like much but the food was delicious
Antojitos La Mexicana
This whole in the wall spot was legit. Delicious food, friendly staff. Homemade chicharrones for sale in zip lock bags (that’s when I knew they weren’t messing around). This spot was definitely worth a stop and really hit the spot after an afternoon of paddling.
4550 Rock Springs Rd, Apopka, FL 32712 * http://www.facebook.com/pages/Antojitos/1724347501152156 * +1-407-703-7394
What are your favorite fresh water springs to visit in Florida?? Comment below.
Some more photos….
Clear waters and beautiful birds
All wildlife… Birds, gators, turtles
Having fun in the Florida sun