Quick Facts

Location: Wekiva River just north of Orlando

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

Distance: 10.5 miles of paddling

Time Required: 6 hours

Transportation: Paid shuttle available from Wekiva Island back to Kings Landing

Hours: 8:30am-3:30pm (Latest shuttle from Wekiva Island)

Activities: Kayaking, Paddleboarding, Canoeing, Swimming, Snorkeling

Wildlife: Alligators, Birds, Turtles, Fish

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.

Terminology: Understanding Wekiva, Rock Springs, and Emerald Cut

Planning a trip to the Wekiva River and Emerald Cut can be confusing. There are multiple parks, launch points, and names. Here are the different areas and my favorite way to enjoy each of them:

• Wekiwa Springs: swimming. Accessible via the main state park, this area features a large spring for swimming as well as hiking trails, camping, and a kayak launch onto the Wekiva River. This is the most family-friendly access point.
• Rock Springs: tubing. Accessible via Kelly Park, this is a popular tubing spring with crystal-clear water. Tubes are available to float downstream, but kayaking is limited. This is one of the busiest parks, especially in the summer.
• Rock Springs Run: kayaking. This is a spring-fed paddling trail with clear water and strong current. This is a more adventurous paddle with tight turns, wildlife, and obstacles.
• Emerald Cut: paddling and swimming. Accessible via Kings Landing, this is the most famous section of the Wekiva system. This short stretch features clear, green-blue water surrounded by dense vegetation. It is excellent for both paddling and swimming.
• Wekiva River: kayaking. The main river connecting these areas. It is crystal-clear in the Emerald Cut section, progressing to darker, tannin-stained water as you gain distance from the springs.
• Wekiva Island: partying. A party area with riverside lounging, bars, cabanas, and food trucks. This is a take-out for the river with kayak rentals available. While a great place to relax and end your paddle, it can get busy on the weekends.
• Katie’s Landing: kayaking in solitude. This is a quieter, more natural launch site on the Wekiva River. Katie’s Landing is further down the river and is suitable for a longer paddle.

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.

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.

Entrance Fees, Hours, and Reservations

King’s Landing has several options for this paddle trip:

• BYOK (Bring Your Own Kayak): $30/person: Launch at King’s Landing and paddle to Wekiva Island, where a shuttle will pick you and your kayak up and take you back to King’s Landing:
• Rent a Kayak: $59 for a single kayak: Rent one of their kayaks, paddle down the river, where a shuttle will pick you and your rental up and bring you back to King’s Landing. Double kayaks are also available to rent for the day for $79.

If you bring your own vessel and forget your life jacket/whistle, they have 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.

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.

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

As you get close, you may see a line of cars blocking the road. These are people waiting to get into Kelly Park. Drive safely past this line to get to King’s Landing, which will not normally have a line.

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)

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 father into the off-season you go.

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 Wekiva River and at Wekiwa Springs State Park.

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 visiting:

• Wekiwa Springs State Park: swimming paradise and additional paddling opportunities
• Kelly Park: visit Rock Springs and go 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
• New Smyrna Beach

Springs Near Emerald Cut and Wekiva River

Wekiwa Springs State Park and Rock Springs (via Kelly Park) are in the immediate vicinity and feed into the Wekiva River.

Blue Spring State Park is around 45 minutes away and features tubing and a powerful first magnitude spring.

Silver Glen Springs, a favorite for boating and snorkeling, is located under an hour away in the Ocala National Forest.

De Leon Springs State Park is under an hour from Emerald Cut. It features the Old Sugar Mill Pancake House, a memorable way to dine with the family before jumping in.

Silver Spring State Park is around 1.5 hours away and also offers 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.

Restaurants Near the Wekiva River

If you can get into Wekiva Island, eat there at the food trucks, and then jump in the water and take another swim in the Wekiva River.

There are plenty of other restaurants near the Wekiva River, and many kayakers enjoy the Without a Paddle Café in Longwood. Just up the road in Apopka is the Rock Springs Bar & Grill.

For a splurge, I recommend driving 20 minutes 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

Frequently Asked Questions

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.