Kelly Park / Rock Springs, Apopka, FL
Note: This content was originally updated in 2009, so some details may have changed. I've searched high and low for the original pictures, but could only find the ones below. Please keep in mind, these images are low resolution due to the camera I was using at the time. These are memories and locations that I want to share, and were taken from my old blog to this new one.
Having spent two decades soaking up the sun and making so many memories with all the water activities that Florida has to offer, moving to Colorado has been quite the change. Despite falling in love with the mountains, I often find myself thinking about the adventures that we had while we lived in Florida.
Kelly Park, home to the beautiful Rock Springs in Apopka, Florida, is one of those places that I try to visit whenever I'm in Florida. The park is a true gem with its lush landscapes and crystal-clear waters.
Camping
We'd only camped at Kelly Park once, but I'd like to share our experience. We happened to have family in town for our camping trip and we loved being able to show them this beautiful park!
With over 20 campsites, Kelly Park is on the smaller side, but a great place to visit. The campsites have trees surrounding them for privacy, and have extra large picnic tables that are on a concrete pad. The restrooms are immaculate.
Our site number was 4, and was perfect! We had trees, shade and seclusion. Sites 16 and 19 also caught my eye for future visits.
Wildlife Encounters
We got to take little hikes and saw a lot of wildlife - our family members loved this! During one of our walks, we spotted deer, while others in our group saw wild turkeys and racoons. I was a little jealous about that. I love to see racoon!
Activities
There's everything from hiking trails and playgrounds to volleyball courts and many picnic spots spread throughout the park - there's no shortage of things to do. There's even a special area for the younger kids, ensuring fun for the whole family.
Rock Springs is part of Kelly Park, and the part that you do not want to miss! You can tube, swim, paddle board and kayak there. They've got a nice concession area, and that's where you can rent tubes if you don't have your own.
The water is crystal clear. It's a quick walk from the end to get back to the top of the headwaters. At the top, you'll see a beautiful array of boulders in the water, and a cave looking area. The sides of the river are lined with grasses. I even saw a turtle sunning one time on the side of the shore.
I personally wore my wetsuit. I get a little cold, and if you're not familiar with spring water, they're a constant 72 degrees Fahrenheit year-round.
That's me on the left in my wet suit!
In August 2015, my son, his girlfriend (now wife) and I returned to Florida to visit family. I wanted to share with her the gorgeous Rock Springs, so we planned a tubing trip with everyone. Due to August's heat, the park was crowded. Thankfully we were fortunate to get in. The warm waters were a stark contrast to January's chill, so thankfully I didn't need my wetsuit! Here are some pictures from that trip that will give you a larger picture of the area:
Keep in mind that Rock Springs has a limit to how many visitors they allow in the springs, so arrive early so that you gain entry on the busy days.
Kelly Park and Rock Springs remain some of my favorite spots in Florida. Even though I now call Colorado home, these memories keep me connected to the sunshine state.
