Within one hour of Orlando and US 192 is an original and all natural lazy river. Typhoon lagoon has always been our favourite water park with its laid back, relaxed atmosphere, mass of trees and plenty of space. But nothing that Disney can do can hold a light to the natural spring at Rock Springs. Rising up from the Florida Aquifer inside caves within the park, the water heads off at a smart pace down a half mile length of maintained waterway that can be swum, walked, or more invitingly ‘tubed’!
We headed up the new beltway, 429 to Apopka and turned right at the top towards Apopka on US 441. Just as we reached the busier part of town we took a left onto SR 435/Park Avenue. About five and a half miles later the road bends right, and on the left is the “World Famous” Rock Springs Bar and Grill. Here you can hire large tyre inner tubes for around $5 per day. We negotiated them down to $3 per tube. There is a place a little back that advertises tubes at $1 but it doesn’t open early in the mornings, and the early morning is the best time of day at this state park. So, tubes collected we headed into park.
There is a large car park amongst the trees, and we spotted large wild turkeys and plenty of squirrels as we walked down to the main pavilion where the concession stand and restrooms are located. We then headed down to the springs. As you approach down the board walk you arrive at the main swimming lagoon which is large, reasonably shallow and filled with fish. There is plenty of seating, or you can claim an area of grass either in or out of the shade.
The head of the springs is accessed by returning halfway to the main pavilion and then heading off to the left (or on your right if you are facing the water). Follow the boardwalk all the way to the end as the springs wind around to your left. At the top there are a couple of access points, right up by the caves there is a large flat rock and you can climb aboard your tube amongst the deep rocks here where the flow is fastest, or just slightly back, there is another access point which may be a little easier, particularly if you are not tubing. Then the water just propels you along while you enjoy an unrivalled view of the surrounding natural flora and fauna. Fish are your constant companions in the water, we also saw turtles, although this was much further down, and three deer browsing for leaves alongside the river. They were not at all fazed by the passing ooh’s and aah’s but had made themselves scarce by the late morning when the spring breakers arrived! Because we were there by 9.30 on a Monday morning, there seemed to be only about eight other people in the park and it was just perfect.
The river is full of water hyacinths and water lilies, along with the occasional rock to remind you to keep your posterior up in the tubes! The trip down the very lazy river takes about half an hour and along the way you pass through the main swimming lagoon before heading out again to the final bridge beyond which swimming is not permitted. The bottom of the river is sand or fine gravel and many people just swim or walk the river in perfect comfort, but a tube is really the most relaxing way to enjoy this trip. Trees drip with the evocative Spanish moss, palm trees reach for the sky, and shrubs light up the way with their joyful flowers.
At the end of this beautiful journey there is a sandy pool filled with many small freshwater shells and masses of tiny gold fish. A quick detour onto the bridge shows how the river looks where it is not maintained for the public – still picturesque, but the many logs lying in the water give a clue as to its potential.
A short walk along the boardwalk brings you back to the main swimming lagoon, picnic benches, bbq’s and even a play park for younger children. Our two mini adventurers spent a happy hour chasing fish without even once so much as touching one whilst we picked a good observation spot to recline in our tubes. If you do have folding chairs then they would be worth putting in the car for this one. There are ramps for disabled access to the level ground, plenty of toilets and covered picnicking areas.