Water Sports in Walt Disney World Orlando

Orlando Area

Water Sports

Wekiwa River,a great waterway for nature lovers, runs through 6,397-acre Wekiwa Springs State Park (1800 Wekiva Circle, I-4 Exit 94, Apopka, 32712. 407/884-4311; 407/884-2009 for camp site bookings. www.dep.state.fl.us/parks) into the St. Johns River. Bordered by cypress marshlands, its clear, spring-fed waters showcase Florida wildlife, including otters, raccoons, alligators, bobcats, deer, turtles, and numerous birds. Canoes and campsites can be rented near the southern entrance of the park in Apopka. Canoes are available for $16 for two hours and $3.20 per hour after that. The park has 60 campsites, some of which are "canoe sites," in that they can only be reached via the river itself, while others are "trail sites," meaning you must hike a good bit of the park's 13.5-mi hiking trail to reach them. Most sites, however, are for the less hardy among us—you can drive right up to them. Sites go for $20 a night with electric hookups. Tents are available for $4 per night, and it costs $5 per vehicle to enter the park.