The Emerald Cut is the crystal-clear, spring-fed stretch of Rock Springs Run you can only reach by boat, and it is the start of our favorite paddle near Orlando. This guide covers the full trip from King’s Landing up the Emerald Cut and 8.5 miles down to Wekiva Island, plus how every confusing Wekiva name fits together.

Quick Facts

Location: King’s Landing, 5722 Baptist Camp Rd, Apopka, FL 32712 (north of Orlando)

Route: Kings Landing -> Emerald Cut (upstream) -> Wild Upper Wekiva River -> Wekiva Island

Distance: About 10.5 miles: roughly 2 miles round trip on the Emerald Cut plus the 8.5-mile Shuttle Run

Time Required: 6 hours, 4.5 hours for just the 8.5-mile downstream run

Paid Shuttle: Daily at 3:30 p.m. from Wekiva Island back to Kings Landing

Hours: King’s Landing is open 8 a.m.–5 p.m., 7 days a week

Reservations: Online only; walk-ins must launch before 3 p.m. and are turned away at capacity

Activities: Kayaking, paddleboarding, canoeing, swimming, snorkeling, wildlife viewing

Wildlife: Alligators, birds, turtles, fish, otters, sometimes bears

Best For: Paddling a Wild & Scenic River, taking a swim in clear water

Overview

Emerald Cut is widely regarded as one of the best kayak trips in Florida, and it takes you through two diverse environments.

Starting at King’s Landing, you will paddle south against the current on the Emerald Cut, through fresh, crystal-clear spring water. The famed Emerald Cut has multiple areas to swim and take in Florida at its best.

Let the current push you back north past King’s Landing another 8.5 miles on the Wekiva River to Wekiva Island, where a shuttle will take you back to the starting point of your expedition. This Wild & Scenic River will darken with tannins, revealing a neat progression in habitat as you accumulate miles on your journey.

Emerald Cut, Rock Springs Run, and the Wekiva River: What’s the Difference?

Planning a trip to the Wekiva River and Emerald Cut can be confusing. There are multiple parks, launch points, and names, and two spellings: the spring and state park are Wekiwa, while the river is the Wekiva. Here are the different areas and my favorite way to enjoy each of them:

Name	What it is	How you get there	My favorite use
Rock Springs	The spring inside Kelly Park (Orange County) that feeds Rock Springs Run	Drive to Kelly Park; $5 per vehicle, tickets sold online only	Tubing
Emerald Cut	The clearest, most famous section of Rock Springs Run, just upstream of King’s Landing	Boat only, from King’s Landing; it ends at a cable below Kelly Park	Paddling and swimming
Rock Springs Run	The spring run from Rock Springs to the Wekiva River, about 8 miles long, with tight turns, wildlife, and obstacles	King’s Landing, or by canoe from Wekiwa Springs	Kayaking
Rock Springs Run State Reserve	A separate state park along the run with trails and horse camping, not river access	Drive to Sorrento; $3 per vehicle	Hiking
Wekiwa Springs State Park	A large swimming spring with trails, camping, and a kayak launch onto the Wekiva River	Drive in with a day-use reservation	Swimming
Wekiva River	The main river, formed where Wekiwa Springs and Rock Springs Run meet, flowing to the St. Johns River	Wekiwa Springs, Wekiva Island, or Katie’s Landing	Kayaking
Wekiva Island	A private riverside spot with a bar, café, cabanas, and rentals; the Shuttle Run take-out	Drive to Longwood; $25 self-shuttle parking	Partying
Katie’s Landing	A quieter, more natural launch farther down the Wekiva River	Drive to Sanford; for longer paddles	Kayaking in solitude

Wekiva River Access Points and Mileage

Mileage from King’s Landing, per the state’s Wekiva River paddling guide. King’s Landing lists its Shuttle Run to Wekiva Island as 8.5 miles; the state guide puts Wekiva Island at mile 8.

Access point or landmark	Miles from King’s Landing	What’s there
King’s Landing	0	Rentals, launch, Shuttle Run start
Big Buck (campsite)	4.5	Paddle-in primitive camping on Rock Springs Run
Indian Mound (campsite)	5	Paddle-in primitive camping
Otter Camp (campsite)	5.3	Paddle-in primitive camping
Wekiwa Springs State Park	7.5	Rock Springs Run meets the Wekiwa spring run and becomes the Wekiva River
Wekiva Island	8 (8.5 per King’s Landing)	Shuttle Run take-out, rentals, café, and bar
Wilson’s Landing	17.5	Launch
Katie’s Landing	19	Quieter launch for the lower river
High Banks Landing	27	End of the paddling trail, near the St. Johns River

Know Before You Go

• You can only reach the Emerald Cut by boat. There is no road, trail, or swimming beach; you swim from your kayak, and there are no lifeguards.
• The shuttle has hard cutoffs. Check in after 10:30 a.m. and you can’t launch the Shuttle Run. To paddle the Emerald Cut first, leave the launch by 9:30 a.m. Be at the Wekiva Island dock by 3:30 p.m.; late boats pay $100 per vessel per hour (as of October 2026).
• Reservations are online only. Walk-ins must launch before 3 p.m. and are turned away at capacity, and King’s Landing doesn’t take walk-ins on Friday–Sunday during the summer season.
• You can’t paddle up to Rock Springs. The Emerald Cut ends at a cable and buoy; Rock Springs is only reachable through Kelly Park, which sells its own tickets.
• Leave the alcohol, glass, Styrofoam, and speakers at home. King’s Landing checks coolers before launch, and Wekiva Island doesn’t allow coolers on the island (a small one can stay in your boat).
• No pets at King’s Landing or Wekiva Island; service animals only at King’s Landing.
• Boat rules: one life jacket per person is required; no tubes, rafts, or inflatable kayaks (inflatable paddleboards are fine); vessels must be under 42 inches wide and 16 feet long.
• Age rules: you must be 18 to book, and children under 2 aren’t allowed.

King’s Landing to Wekiva Island: Distance, Time and Shuttle

The full trip is about 10.5 miles: roughly 2 miles up and back on the Emerald Cut, then 8.5 miles downstream to Wekiva Island. We launched at 8:30 a.m. and reached Wekiva Island at about 3:15 p.m., with plenty of swim and photo stops.

Leg	Direction	Distance	Our time	What to expect
King’s Landing → end of the Emerald Cut (cable)	Upstream	About 1 mile	8:30–10:00 a.m. round trip, with swimming	The clearest water and the most people
End of the Emerald Cut → King’s Landing	Downstream	About 1 mile	(included above)	About 3 times faster than going up
King’s Landing → Big Buck campsite	Downstream	4.5 miles	10:00 a.m.–3:15 p.m. for the full 8.5 miles	The Wild section: more gators and turtles than people
Big Buck → Wekiwa Springs State Park	Downstream	3 miles (mile 7.5)	(included above)	Water turns tea-colored; campsites along the bank
Wekiwa Springs State Park → Wekiva Island	Downstream	0.5–1 mile (mile 8–8.5)	(included above)	Swimmers and boat traffic pick up

How the shuttle works: King’s Landing runs one shuttle a day from the Wekiva Island dock back to the launch, and it is included in your Shuttle Run reservation. King’s Landing says the 8.5 miles takes 4.5 hours on average (its booking page lists 4–6 hours) and recommends it for experienced paddlers. If you start at Wekiva Island instead, self-shuttle parking there is $25.

Missing the shuttle is expensive: $100 per vessel per hour late, and a $100 per person rescue fee if staff have to come get you (as of October 2026).

Who Should Paddle the Emerald Cut?

Paddlers who are comfortable spending 5–6 hours in a kayak will love the full trip to Wekiva Island; that’s where the wildlife is. Swimmers and newer paddlers who just want the clear water can do the Emerald Cut alone as a Day Paddle and float back to King’s Landing.

Who Should Skip It?

Skip the Shuttle Run if you have never kayaked before, if you can’t launch by 9:30 a.m., or if you aren’t comfortable around large alligators. Skip the whole trip if you want to bring a dog or a cooler of beer, or if you want to tube (go to Rock Springs at Kelly Park instead).

Things to Do

Kayaking and Paddling on the Emerald Cut to Wekiva Island

The run from Emerald Cut to Wekiva Island is great for kayaking, canoeing, paddleboarding, swimming, and wildlife viewing/photography.

The paddle requires effort against the current during the ascent on Emerald Cut, but it is smooth sailing down river afterwards. While the paddle trip is partially shaded, bring long pants or wear a lot of sunscreen to not get sunburnt in the sunny exposed sections.

There is minimal technical difficulty, but you will have to pay attention on turns to avoid logs, overhanging trees, and other boats. If you do not pay attention, you may end up falling into the water.

Emerald Cut will be very crowded on weekends with people who are new to kayaking, so pay extra attention to avoid collisions. Once you leave Emerald Cut and proceed downriver, the traffic is drastically lower.

The section of river between the Emerald Cut and Wekiva Island is designated as a Wild and Scenic River, a designation granted to only 0.19% of river miles in the state of Florida. Expect to see many alligators, turtles, and birds. The earlier you get there, the more wildlife you will see.

Swimming at Emerald Cut

Swimming is encouraged at Emerald Cut, in the clear, green-blue water. In the swimming area, the bottom is sandy and the water is clear. Alligators are a minimal risk and will generally clear out when the first people arrive. There are no lifeguards, so swim at your own risk.

This is a great place to cool off mid-paddle. You will need to make sure that you do not block paddle craft, which have the right of way.

Best Time to Visit

For absolute best chance of avoiding crowds and seeing wildlife, make a reservation on a weekday morning for the earliest time available.

Shoulder seasons will be your best bet to balance crowds and warm weather. In the summer, swimming will feel the most refreshing, but this 5-6 hour paddle trip may be uncomfortably hot. I would plan for a March, April, September, or October trip.

Season	What to expect
Spring (March–April)	Our pick: warm days, active wildlife, and fewer crowds than summer
Summer (May–August)	The most refreshing swims, but hot on the sunny stretches; walk-ins not accepted Friday–Sunday
Fall (September–October)	Our other pick: warm water and thinner weekday crowds
Winter (November–February)	The fewest people and the coolest paddling weather; the spring water stays 68–72°F

King’s Landing Entrance Fees, Hours, and Reservations

King’s Landing is open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., 7 days a week, and takes reservations online only (phone 407-886-0859). Prices below are as of October 23, 2026, before tax and booking fees.

Option	What you get	Price
Shuttle Run, single kayak	Kayak, paddle, life jacket, and the shuttle back from Wekiva Island	$64
Shuttle Run, double kayak	Same, for two people	$84
Shuttle Run, bring your own boat	Launch plus the shuttle for you and your boat	$30 adult (13+), $25 child (12 and under)
Day Paddle, single kayak	4-hour rental to paddle the Emerald Cut and back, no shuttle	$54
Day Paddle, double kayak / canoe / paddleboard	4-hour rental, no shuttle	$74 / $64 / $74
Day Paddle, bring your own boat	Launch only	$10 adult, $5 child
Clear Bottom Kayak Tour	2-hour guided tour	$89 per person

If you bring your own vessel and forget your life jacket/whistle, they have had these available to rent for $5.

There are additional options to rent kayaks for just the Emerald Cut, but you are doing yourself a disservice by skipping the beautiful wild section of the Wekiva River.

Reservations are necessary to secure your slot. You may need to create your reservation multiple weeks ahead of time for holidays or busy days. If you wait until the night before, you might miss out. Cancel at least 48 hours ahead for a refund.

8:30 is the best time for a reservation if you plan to paddle both the Emerald Cut and the Upper Wekiva River to Wekiva Island. That leaves an hour of cushion before the 9:30 a.m. Emerald Cut cutoff.

Starting From Wekiva Island Instead

Wekiva Island rents boats first-come, first-served (no reservations), as of October 2026: $47 single kayak, $57 double, $53 canoe or paddleboard before 4 p.m., due back by 6 p.m. Launching your own boat is $10 on weekdays and $20 on weekends. Its rentals are round trips from the island on the Wekiva River, not a shuttle to King’s Landing.

I do not recommend this launch site, as you will have to paddle against the current all the way up the river if you want to go to emerald cut. You can still enjoy the Wekiva River, but don’t plan on going all the way up to Emerald Cut from Wekiva Island unless you are a very strong, experienced paddler.

How to Get There

King’s Landing is located just north of Orlando, around 30–40 minutes away. The street address is: 5722 Baptist Camp Rd, Apopka, FL 32712. Street parking at King’s Landing is free.

King’s Landing will not normally have a line of cars.

Wekiva Island, the take-out, is at 1014 Miami Springs Dr, Longwood, FL 32779. You only need to drive there if you are self-shuttling.

What to Bring

Packing for a paddle trip can be tough if it is your first time and you do not know what to expect. At a minimum bring:

• Dry bag for keys, wallet, phone, etc.
• Water in reusable bottles
• Snacks
• Sunscreen
• Hat
• Long Sleeves for the long sunny stretches
• Long Pants for the long sunny stretches
• Swimming clothes (just wear these the whole time)
• Phone with waterproof case
• Kayak (or rent it)
• Paddle (or rent it)
• Life jacket/whistle (or rent it)

What not to bring: alcohol, glass, Styrofoam, speakers, tubes or rafts, and pets. Coolers are checked before you launch.

Tips to Avoid Crowds

To avoid crowds and see the most wildlife, show up early. Be one of the first people there for the 8:30 reservation. If you arrive too long after 8:30, you will have to skip Emerald Cut to make it down the river in time for the shuttle.

Go on weekdays for fewer people, but do not expect to have the place to yourself.

The crowds will be smaller the farther into the off-season you go.

Expect a crowd again in the last stretch before Wekiva Island, where many people swim in the channel. Go slow and be careful here.

Where to Stay Nearby

Orlando is very close and has numerous hotels, and there are Airbnbs available in the area.

I would recommend camping, which is available both in campsites along the river and at Wekiwa Springs State Park.

Option	Where	Cost and booking
River campsites (Big Buck, Indian Mound, Otter Camp)	Paddle-in sites on Rock Springs Run, 4.5–5.3 miles below King’s Landing	Reserve through Wekiwa Springs State Park (407-553-4383) before booking your King’s Landing rental
Wekiwa Springs State Park campground	Drive-in sites in the park	$24 per night plus tax and fees (October 2026)

Nearby Things to Do

There are an overwhelming number of ways to explore this area of wild Florida, and it can be challenging to do multiple in a day as they reach capacity and close. If your trip is multiple days and you want to see more of the Wekiva River, consider Wekiwa Springs State Park for swimming and more paddling, and Kelly Park’s Rock Springs for tubing.

There are countless sights worth visiting in and around Orlando. Some highlights are Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive, Gatorland, Leu Gardens, Cocoa Beach, Kennedy Space Center, and New Smyrna Beach.

Springs Near Emerald Cut and Wekiva River

Drive times are from Kelly Park, next door to King’s Landing (Google Maps).

Spring	Drive	Why go
Rock Springs (Kelly Park)	Next door	The best tubing near Orlando, and the source of the Emerald Cut
Wekiwa Springs State Park	25 min	Feeds the Wekiva River; paddling, camping, and swimming
Gemini Springs	36 min	A free county park with a quiet kayak launch into DeBary Bayou
Alexander Springs	47 min	A beginner-friendly swimming spring with a paddle run in the Ocala National Forest
Blue Spring State Park	53 min	Tubing and a powerful first-magnitude spring
Silver Glen Springs	58 min	A favorite for boating and snorkeling in the Ocala National Forest
De Leon Springs State Park	57 min	The Old Sugar Mill Pancake House, a memorable way to dine with the family before jumping in
Silver Springs State Park	1 hr 21 min	Excellent kayaking, and there are even wild monkeys

Hiking Trails Near the Wekiva River

Your best bet for hiking near the Wekiva River is in Wekiwa Springs State Park. For a quick day hike, try the 5.9-mile Volksmarch Trail or the 3.4-mile Mill Creek Loop Trail. For an epic adventure, hike the 12.5-mile Wekiwa Springs White Trail Loop.

If you make it to Kelly Park, try the 1.9-mile Kelly Park Rock Springs Yellow Trail.

Rock Springs Run State Reserve, next door, has its own trail network for $3 per vehicle (open 8 a.m.–6 p.m.), but no swimming or river access. If you make it to Kelly Park, try the 1.9-mile Kelly Park Rock Springs Yellow Trail. 

Restaurants Near the Wekiva River

If you can get into Wekiva Island, eat at the Without A Paddle Café there, grab a drink at The Tooting Otter bar, and then jump in the water and take another swim in the Wekiva River.

Just up the road from King’s Landing in Apopka is the Rock Springs Bar & Grill.

For a splurge, I recommend driving about 23 minutes from Kelly Park to the Goblin Market in Mount Dora. You may need a reservation, but trust me it is worth it.

Pros and Cons

Pros: The biggest pro of this paddle trip is experiencing the transition between the crystal-clear spring water of Emerald Cut and the tannin-stained Wekiva River. Swimming in the Emerald Cut is an obvious highlight, as are the ever-present wildlife. This is a scenic and relaxing trip.

Cons: This is an intermediate-level paddle trip. You should be ready to spend over 5 hours kayaking. You will see alligators, and some here are massive. Be prepared and do not freak out if you see a 300-lb dinosaur like we did. The sun can beat down, so be prepared with long sleeves and sunscreen.

Sample Itinerary

8:15AM: Arrive at King’s Landing, sign in, drop boats or rent, and park.

8:30AM-10:00AM: Launch and enjoy Emerald Cut. Go swimming in the clear water.

10:00AM-3:15 PM: Paddle downstream to Wekiva Island.

3:15-4:00 PM: Wait for the shuttle, take it back to King’s Landing, pack up and go home.

Our Experience on the Emerald Cut to Wekiva Island Paddle

Our experience on this paddle began on a Friday night, when my wife found a smoking deal on a 4-kayak bundle on Marketplace. We traveled 30 minutes and picked them up, excited at our new find.

When we arrived home, we tried to get a reservation for King’s Landing, but they were booked up for Saturday. Luckily, we were able to get in on Sunday. We left two kayaks loaded in the truck in anticipation.

Emerald Cut

On Sunday morning, we headed out and arrived just in time for King’s Landing. We dropped our kayaks and parked. The workers were nice and helped us rent life jackets for our journey. We launched and worked our way up the river on the emerald cut.

My wife and I were blown away by the clear water, and it got clearer and clearer as we worked our way up the river. There were some people, but we were able to kayak past them with little difficulty.

As we got further upriver, we found the spot you have seen in all the pictures. We repeatedly jumped off the tree into the blue-green water. It was a lot of fun, and the water was majorly refreshing after paddling against the current.

There are a few palm trees bent low over the river that you can climb and jump, just watch out for the kayakers and paddleboarders. As we passed by a few houses along the river, I couldn’t help but feel jealous. It must be amazing to live with this beauty in your backyard.

We reached the end, marked by a cable and buoy blocking the river. You cannot take this stretch all the way up to Rock Springs, it is accessible only via Kelly Park. Again we got out and swam in the cool, clear water.

Traveling downstream, our kayaks were probably 3 times as fast as they were upstream. We passed a lot of people on their first paddle trips, so we had to remain extra careful to avoid collisions.

The Emerald Cut stretch was beautiful, and you really take it in more on the upstream than the downstream. When headed downstream, you have to pay a lot of attention to not run into people as the river gets more crowded.

Upper Wekiva River Paddle

Once you make it past the turn-in for King’s Landing, you enter the Wild and Scenic area of the Wekiva River. This is where the water starts to get dirtier, and you start to see more alligators and turtles than people.

Most people skip this fun, 8.5-mile paddle, but I recommend that you do it. I saw at least 100 boats on the Emerald Cut, and only around 6 downstream on the river.

Early in the morning, we saw a lot of turtle. Every stick, tree, or stump we passed had a turtle on it. Some even had 4 or even 6 turtles on them. If you are a turtle-lover, this kayak trip is for you.

If you take this trip, you will see gators. We started by seeing cute baby alligators, which meant that momma was nearby. I was excited at the first 6-foot alligator we saw, but I was more excited at the first 8-foot.

When we saw our first 8-foot alligator, I was thrilled. When we saw a 10-foot alligator, I realized that our kayaks were only 10 feet long.

We did see an alligator tanning on the bank that was much larger than our kayaks. I would estimate that he weighed 300+ lbs, and I do not think he would have a problem eating either of us.

Alligators are generally thought to not attack people unprovoked, so when you see a big gator just keep moving and do not feed it. When we saw the huge gator, we hauled butt in our little kayaks and did not stick around for a great picture.

The Sinking Kayak

We passed a full campground along the river, and this would be a great place to spend the night. The river went on and on, and we spent hours enjoying the turtles, alligators, birds, and fish in the water.

We arrived at a great swimming spot, with shallow, clear-ish water and a sandy bottom. We could see that there were no gators nearby, so we stopped for a quick minute to stretch our legs.

Towards Wekiva Island, my wife started to drag behind, and I could not figure out why she was going so slow. She was able to speed up, but it was taking a tremendous effort. If I was behind her, the flow of the river would push me into her, even if she was paddling.

We started to see a lot of people as we approached Wekiva Island, and we navigated around them. Many were swimming in areas that made it hard to paddle without hitting them, so try to go slow and be careful here.

When we docked at Wekiva Island, I pulled my boat up first, then my wife’s. Or at least I tried to. When I pulled up on the handle, the handle snapped! I had to pull from the bottom of the kayak to get it on to shore, and really put some legs into it. When I finally got it on shore, I flipped it over and water flowed out of the drain-hole, for about 10 minutes.

My wife’s kayak was so slow because it was completely full of water! I found a huge crack in it, likely caused by hitting a submerged stump on brittle, sun-damaged plastic. Luckily, we made it back before she sank.

We rode the shuttle back to King’s Landing and loaded up to go home, sunburnt and grateful that my wife’s kayak did not sink in the middle of the river.

Our next project will be to repair the kayak.

What We Would Do Differently

• Inspect a used kayak before a long run. Flip it over, check the hull for cracks, and pull on the handles in the driveway, not at the take-out. Sun-damaged plastic can crack on the first stump you hit.
• Book further ahead. Saturday was already full when we tried the night before; reserve a weekday 8:30 slot days or weeks out.
• Cover up from the start. We came home sunburnt. Wear long sleeves and pants, even if the morning on the shaded Emerald Cut feels cool.
• Watch the clock on the Emerald Cut. It is tempting to spend all morning swimming, but we needed until about 3:15 p.m. to reach Wekiva Island after heading downstream at 10 a.m., which left little cushion before the 3:30 p.m. shuttle.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is the Emerald Cut in Florida?

On Rock Springs Run in Apopka, just north of Orlando, immediately upstream of King’s Landing (5722 Baptist Camp Rd). You can only reach it by kayak, canoe, or paddleboard.

Is Emerald Cut worth visiting?

Yes, this is one of the clearest and best paddle trips in Florida, if not the country.

Can you swim year-round?

Yes, the water I the swimming areas will be similar year-round.

How long is the paddle from King’s Landing to Wekiva Island?

8.5 miles, which King’s Landing says takes 4.5 hours on average. Add about 2 miles and 1.5 hours if you paddle the Emerald Cut first.

Are there alligators?

Yes, and there are big ones on the Wild and Scenic stretch between Emerald Cut and Wekiva Island.

Do you need reservations?

Yes, you should get a reservation to launch at King’s Landing. They are online only, and walk-ins must launch before 3 p.m.

Can you tube the Emerald Cut?

No. King’s Landing doesn’t allow tubes or rafts. For tubing, go to Rock Springs at Kelly Park.

Can you paddle from the Emerald Cut to Rock Springs?

No. The run is blocked by a cable and buoy at the upstream end, and Rock Springs is only accessible through Kelly Park.

Can you bring alcohol or a cooler?

You can bring a cooler, but staff check it before you launch, and alcohol, glass, and Styrofoam aren’t allowed. Wekiva Island also says alcohol is prohibited on the Wild and Scenic Wekiva River.

Can you bring a dog?

No. Pets aren’t allowed at King’s Landing or Wekiva Island.

Are there bathrooms available?

Yes, at King’s Landing and Wekiva Island. I did not see any on the river.

Can beginners do this paddle?

I would exercise caution as a beginner. The Emerald Cut stretch is fine for beginners, but the remaining 8.5 miles to Wekiva Island may be too much for the uninitiated. There are not a lot of people, and you need to bring your own supplies.

Do you need a shuttle?

Yes, I would use the one at King’s Landing on your reservation.

Is the Wekiva River Wild and Scenic?

Yes. Congress designated the Wekiva River system, including Rock Springs Run, a National Wild and Scenic River on October 13, 2000: 41.6 miles in all, with 31.4 miles classified wild, 2.1 scenic, and 8.1 recreational. It is one of only two Wild and Scenic rivers in Florida, and they cover about one fifth of 1% (0.19%) of the state’s river miles. Expect to see many alligators, turtles, and birds. The earlier you get there, the more wildlife you will see.

Final Thoughts

The Emerald Cut paddle to Wekiva Island is one of the most rewarding adventures you can take in the Orlando area, combining clear water, kayaking, and wild Florida. I would recommend it over Disney any day.

If this trip gets you hooked on springs, my guide to Springsmaxxing covers how to work through Florida’s best springs one month at a time.