Ultimate Guide to Kayaking in Rock Springs: Your 2025 Adventure Awaits

This guide to adventuring at Rock Springs in Apopka, Florida – just outside of Orlando – will help you plan for your trip with ease! Local knowledge and information provided in this guide will certainly help save you time and help you create your dream trip!

Intro: Why Kayak at Rock Springs via Kings Landing?

Rock Springs is the real florida. We like to say “Views Not Queues” around here! This adventure is known as one of the best things to do beyond the Theme Parks in Orlando. Kayaking at Rock Springs gives you the opportunity to see wildlife, enjoy untouched nature, strengthen your relationships, and create memories that you will never forget. If you’re looking for an eco-friendly adventure with a side of relaxation – this is for you!

What Makes Rock Springs Special for Kayaking?

THE CLEAR SPRING WATER: This is the closest spring to Orlando and one that is extremely clear! The spring water stays at around 72 degrees year round so in the summer it is nice and refreshing to hop in and during the winter it can often be warmer than the air which creates an awesome steam effect on the water!

Local tip: During the more rainy season (summer months) a portion of the waterway may turn slightly tannic in color but the top of the run is always a bright blue, clear color!

THE PROTECTED LAND: The surrounding lands of Rock Springs Run are privately owned or owned by the State of Florida which helps keep these lands natural. The amount of vegetation and shrubbery along the kayaking route will make you feel as though you are paddling through a jungle – it is truly untouched!

THE WILDLIFE OPPORTUNITIES: There’s some really great wildlife viewing opportunities at Rock Springs. You might catch a glimpse of: turtles, birds, fish, small gators, deer, black bear, and more! Where else in Florida can you see all of that in such a small area?!

THE TOUR GUIDES: Our guides are so crucial in the entire kayaking experience at Rock Springs. The guides are trained on local wildlife, plantlife, and more. They know the common spots to see any of these animals and will also ensure you feel safe and comfortable along the paddle. The tour guides also love to take photos or videos for you so you can have memories forever!

Planning Your Kayak Adventure at Rock Springs:

Whether you are trying to figure out the best time of year, best time of day, or even what to bring with you, the following should assist you in planning your adventure!

Time of year: The good thing is that Rock Springs is beautiful year-round so it really comesdown to preference. The summer time comes with more people on the waterway as this istypically when locals like to come to the springs! It is perfect for refreshing and enjoying time inthe water. The winter time is typically when you will see less people on the water and it may beslightly cooler but we recommend wearing layers so that you can easily get comfortable forwhatever the temperatures may be! The fall and spring seasons are both great transition timeson the water where the temperatures are perfect and there’s not too many people on thewaterway – these are our hidden-gem times!

What to bring: We recommend bringing only what you need. The less gear the better so youcan truly enjoy the clear kayaks and not have to worry about extra distractions. We definitelyrecommend bringing a reusable water bottle so that you can stay hydrated along youradventure. We’d also recommend bringing a phone to capture some candid moments along thejourney. Wear some clothes that can get wet (like a bathing suit) so you can enjoy the springwater. Also, you will likely get a little wet just from paddling so even if you dont plan on gettinginto the water it’s recommended to wear clothing that can get wet. We recommend wearingsandals or water shoes that you can simply just throw in the back of the kayak along youradventure and use as needed.

How to Beat the Lines for Summer Time at Rock Springs:

You may often hear that there can be long lines to get to Rock Springs during the summer months and also Spring Break. This can definitely be true depending on the demand and weather.

Local Tip: If you book a tour with Get Up And Go Kayaking – Rock Springs or our friends at Kings Landing or Florida Paddle Excursions you will be able to skip the line of cars that are trying to get into Kelly Park.

The Difference Between Kelly Park, Camp Joy, Kings Landing, Rock Springs, Emerald Cut, Rock Springs Run, Get Up And Go Kayaking, Florida Paddle Excursions, and Rock Springs State Park:

These names are often all used when referring to the overall “Rock Springs” however it is important to know what these names are and where each might lead you so that you can easily plan for your adventure.

• Kings Landing: This is the privately owned business that you can do many activitiesfrom: self-launch with your own non-motorized vessel, rent a kayak/canoe/SUP, book aguided tour, camping, glamping, shuttle, and more. Many people refer to the waterwayitself as “Kings Landing” as this business has been around for decades and has becomecommonly adopted by locals and beyond! They also have clean facilities such asrestrooms, an indoor check-in office with sundries, an easy launch site, and a car loop todrop off your gear. Their staff is always enthusiastic and willing to help!
• Get Up And Go Kayaking – Rock Springs: This is the clear kayak guided tour company that partners with Kings Landing to launch from their facilities since 2016.
• Florida Paddle Excursions: This is the guided SUP tour company that partners with Kings Landing to launch from their facilities since 2023.
• Rock Springs: This name refers to the spring itself. Sometimes people also call the entire waterway “Rock Springs” or “Rock Springs Run”.
• Kelly Park: This is a county-owned park that is situated at the head spring of RockSprings – essentially, where the spring comes out of the ground. You can tube, picnic,hike, and swim at this park. Kelly Park is known to have a long line of cars waiting to getin early every morning in the summer time so we recommend arriving early if you arelooking to go to Kelly Park. Kelly Park has restrooms, small facilities, and walkwaysalong the top of Rock Springs. This portion of the spring run is only about ⅓ of a mile.You cannot kayak or paddle board at Kelly Park.
• Camp Joy: This is also county-owned and a campground that is associated with Kelly Park. Camping and hiking are often the 2 activities that you can do here.
• Emerald Cut: This name has become more popular recently and refers to a beautiful section of the Rock Springs waterway that is about a 20 minute paddle from Kings Landing’s launch point. Emerald Cut is not accessible via Kelly Park.

If you’re looking for a unique outdoor activity in the Orlando area beyond the theme parks – THIS IS IT! Adventuring through Rock Springs is a bucket list must do and we often have repeat visitors because of how much they love the paddle. Whether you are wanting to bring family, friends, or even a date, this is an awesome experience that you have to try!