Wekiwa Springs State Park - Apopka, Florida

Christa S.

I was here for a private event at the youth camp, so can't speak to the springs themselves or the overall park amenities much, but I can speak to the overall things I've experienced.

The check in process for a Tuesday afternoon in March was awesome, with no lines. Attending the private event at the Youth Camp does not require day pass reservations, so getting in was easy and didn't require as much planning as it would have to visit for the day.

The park attendant at the gate was friendly, knowledgeable, and helpful, and gave adequate directions to get me to where I needed to go.

The park itself is well maintained and very beautiful, with a wide variety of wildlife. While here, I have seen sandhill cranes, Sherman's fox squirrels, gopher tortoise, woodpeckers, turkeys, hawks, and others, and the ant situation was surprisingly good for a youth camp, with no fire ants and only scattered mounds of sugar ants near the fire circles.

There is a bear proof dumpster on site, and one member of the group attending brought an unsecured cooler and quickly regretted the decision, as a medium sized black bear raided it the first night. It wasn't dangerous, and it ran away as soon as people came out and "looked big," but if you're afraid of bears, I'd suggest staying in a cabin or RV at night instead of a tent, and definitely use adequate measures to secure your food and animals.

The cabins in the youth camp vary, from bunkhouses sleeping 10 without heat or A/C to the "Main Office" building that looks pretty much like a regular house inside. There are also small 2-bedroom cabins that sleep up to 6 that share a bathroom and have mini-split heat pumps, and one cabin that is stucco construction with 4 bedrooms (8 beds), 2 bathrooms, and a small kitchenette with a potable water sink, and a fridge, microwave, and coffee maker.

There is also a dining hall on site with a serve safe kitchen, but our group didn't have anyone certified to use it, so we had to make do without it.

All the buildings were clean and well maintained, and worked as advertised, but the hot water wasn't turned on everywhere at first and we had to get some of the heaters turned on, but staff was really responsive in helping us get that sorted out, and I'm not sure if that was the park's fault or the event organizers', but it was handled quickly and then the bathhouses all had nice hot showers.

There are other amenities in the youth camp, but this has gotten too long already. Overall, our group had a great time here, and found all the youth camp facilities to be a great value for the money.

Tatsiana N.

Starting March 12, 2025, make sure to book your entry online in advance ($6)— even if you’re just coming for a hike or to visit the springs. We did a 6-mile hike and then enjoyed a refreshing swim in the lake. Great experience

Mufasa K.

Wekiwa Springs State Park is an absolute gem! The crystal-clear springs are perfect for swimming, kayaking, or just relaxing by the water. The natural beauty is breathtaking, with lush greenery and well-maintained trails that offer a peaceful escape into nature. Wildlife enthusiasts will love the chance to spot birds, deer, and other animals in their natural habitat. The park is clean, family-friendly, and has great picnic areas. Whether you're looking for an adventure or a quiet day surrounded by nature, this park is a must-visit. Highly recommend!

Matt H.

This was a beautiful natural spring. It is very well maintained and crystal clear. There is a shallow zone that is roped off for small children. The park staff are knowledgeable and friendly. You can rent kayaks and other water equipment for pretty reasonable prices. One of the volunteers even gave an impromptu reptile lesson for my son's when we found them warming some snake exhibits. Overall this is a great place to bring a family and small children!

devi S.

Beautiful park, the washrooms were clean. Love that they serve food. Had we known, we would have tried it. But we got lunch before going. It's very easy to book a spot. The water is cold at 1st, but once you're in, you acclimate pretty fast. It's definitely a nice spot to visit.

Nancy P.

February 2025: Wekiwa Springs State Park offers a great experience of swimming in a natural spring. The crystal clear water temperature initially feels shockingly cool, but quickly becomes refreshing.

The depth of the swimming area varies. Unless you are a fit swimmer, some sort of floatation device could be quite useful.

The area surrounding the swimming area is very worn from heavy use. The ramp, sidewalks, and steps made access easier. The sidewalk around the swimming deck had a lot of soil and sand on it. Nature is nice, but in general, it just looked neglected.

The hiking trails were closed for maintenance.

Becky L.

Really cool place. Springs are COLD, so go on a really hot day! You'll want goggles and maybe a snorkel. It does not have any type of play structure which I'd love to see for the littles who won't get in that cold of water. Absolutely beautiful though! Be advised, as of March 13, 2025 you need to make a reservation because space is limited.

Elise L.

The best park I've been to. The views are so beautiful and there is plenty to do there. Canoeing, swimming, hiking longer trails, etc etc. And their rangers are so friendly. One of them explained all the wildlife sightings he's seen and some interesting things that have happened in the park before. The water was sooo clear too, you could see fish