Lower Wekiva River State Reserve

About Lower Wekiva River State Reserve

This system of black watercourses and wetlands provides a natural habitat for a variety of birds, reptiles, amphibians, mammals and reptiles. Native Americans have appreciated the abundance of wildlife in the area for thousands of years. Nature in central Florida is found in the Lower Wekiva River State Reserve, a national park in Florida. Visitors can walk the Sand Hill Nature Trail or take a self-guided tour of the State Park's Natural History Museum.

Canoeists can paddle on the Wekiva River in the park, and horse riding students can use a stable and a horse enclosure. Riding tents are available in designated areas and can be reserved in Wekiwa Springs State Park. Horses and riding tents can also be found on the designated river area of the national park.

The opening hours of the park office are Monday to Friday from 9 am to 5 pm and Saturday and Sunday from 9 am to 4 pm. Florida State Parks is open Saturday and Sunday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., except on holidays and special occasions. The Wekiwa Springs State Park office and parking lot are located at the intersection of Wekiva River Road and Lake Okeechobee Parkway.

The locals lived here before the arrival of the Spanish in 1513 and were driven out of their homeland for over 200 years. The Indians appreciated the abundance of wildlife in the area and you can see many bird species, reptiles, amphibians, mammals, birds of prey, fish and reptiles riding and canoeing in the nature reserve.

Florida law prohibits the destruction or removal of artifacts from the area and the hills are protected for future archaeological investigations. Many of the cures for the hill cuisine are known as Wekiva River Rock Springs Run and many of them are located on the mountainside in the park, just a few feet above the river.

Primitive Horse Camp is located on the west side of the park, near the entrance to SR 44. The fees vary depending on the ratio of motorhomes to horses. Detailed information on the fees can be obtained from the Lower Nature Conservation Authority of the Wekiva River on (904) 888-5555.

Reservations can be made by telephone using Visa, Mastercard, Discover or American Express.

For the exact number of motorhomes and horses required per reservation, a reservation is required. Reservations are made by post or by payment of a cheque to the Lower Nature Conservation Authority of the Wekiva River National Park.

You must be 18 years or older And you have to pack food, water and firewood, pack garbage and pack your food and water along with firewood.

Tents are allowed, but may only be set up on designated campsites, and there is no bathhouse or toilet for campers. Fire is only allowed with a barbecue, barbecues are not available and the gathering of firewood is forbidden.

RV, trailer and parking spaces are grilled according to the principle "first come, first served"; stables and enclosures are also marked according to the principle "first served, first served."

There are no entrances and no temporary fences of any kind are allowed, and there is no drinking water for horses. In several places there are hollows, but they are only open for a short time and not for more than a few minutes.

You must always carry proof of negative gears with you, and this is only possible through horse camping. For more information, visit Horse Camping in Lower Wekiva River State Park, New York State, for rules and regulations.

Cyclists of all levels can find challenging and pleasant rides in this nature reserve, with a wide variety of trails and paths for all ages and abilities.

The paths are about 2.5 km long and the paths are diverse, so plan your trip accordingly and stay on designated paths. Cycling is allowed, but please respect the wildlife of the park, drive responsibly and meet occasional hikers or drivers in a park vehicle. The park closes at sunset and must be left at this time; please plan the excursions accordingly.

All persons under 16 years of age are legally obliged to wear a helmet when cycling, and all children under 5 years of age wear a helmet.

Hiking trails are located in the wilderness and offer access to the Lower Wekiva River State Park Trail System and a number of other trails.

If you use water, please take a water compass or water map with you and if you use it, take it with a map. The self-guided Sand Hill Nature Trail provides access to the Lower Wekiva River State Park Trail System and a number of other hiking trails. Visitors can reach this path on foot, by bike or on foot from the parking lot on the south side of the park. At the foot of a steep hill in the upper part of the Sandhill Nature Park is a hiking trail.

It is in a wilderness area, so please respect the wildlife of the park and plan your hike accordingly. The trail is varied and you will occasionally meet cyclists or drivers of a parked vehicle on the lower part of the Sandhill Nature Park trail. Please walk responsibly and stay on designated trails and respect the wildlife and the rules and regulations of the park. This park closes at sunset and must be left at this time ; please plan responsibly.

When using the water, please bring a water compass and a water map, when using the water with a compass or a map, bring water and a map.

While this route is versatile, be prepared to encounter parking-seekers, but riders must stay on the designated path. The path leading to the northern entrance of the reserve is accessible via the parking lot at the southern end of the Lower Wekiva Nature Reserve.

No negative cog railway is required, but please plan your trip accordingly and respect the wildlife of the park and ride responsibly. The park closes at sunset and must be left at this time, so please respect this and plan accordingly.

Canoes and kayaks can be launched from the area formerly known as Katie's Landing on SR-46 in Sorrento at the foot of the park.

The Lower Wekiva Nature Reserve does not have the facilities to start a canoe, but the toilets are stable and you can start outside. You can visit the WeKiva River Reserve, but the only starting point in the reserve is the parking lot at Katie's Landing on the SR-46 in Sorrento, south of the park.

Shower facilities are stable and the facility is wheelchair accessible, but there is no access to the showers in the Lower Wekiva Nature Reserve. There is a parking lot at Katie's Landing on the SR-46 in Sorrento, south of the park. The facilities are wheelchair accessible and there are some parking spaces in the WeKiva Nature Park, north and east of Sor Brento.

The self-guided sand hill nature trail in the Lower Wekiva Nature Reserve is offered as part of the WeKiva River Nature Trail System. The path can be accessed by visitors from the parking lot of Katie's Landing on the SR-46 in Sorrento, south of Sor Brento. At the entrance to the park, east of Katie's, there is a parking lot and a sign for the trail.

The trail is versatile and meets occasional cyclists or cyclists in a parked vehicle, so plan your hike accordingly. The park closes at sunset and you must leave the park at this time and stay on the designated path. Please respect the wildlife in the park and hike responsibly and respect the rules of the Lower Wekiva Nature Reserve and the state park system.

Cyclists of all levels can find a challenging or pleasant ride in the nature reserve, with a wide choice of paths and trails for all types of riders.

The paths are about 2.5 km long and each path is about 1 km wide, with a maximum length of about 4 km, but each path is versatile. The park closes at sunset and must be left at this time.

Plan your trip accordingly and stay on designated routes. Cycling is allowed, but please respect the wildlife of the park, drive responsibly and meet occasional hikers or cyclists in a park vehicle.

Pets are welcome on the trails of the nature reserve, but not on the original campsites. Camping is only allowed on primitive campsites with at least two tents and a maximum of three tents per person.

Florida law requires that all pets be vaccinated against rabies and that pets be kept on a leash. Pet owners must pick up their animals and return them to the front door, but Florida law says they must keep their animals on a leash unless required by law.

Animals that are noisy, dangerous, intimidating or destructive must not stay in the park and must be locked up. Animals may not be kept in the grounds of the parks and any animals that may harm other animals, such as dogs or cats, may be euthanized.

Southern Entringce Preserve is located at the southern end of the Lower Wekiva River State Reserve on the west side of Lake Michigan. It is about 800 meters from the entrance of the park, turn right onto Lower Wikeva River Road and turn left onto the road to the parking lot of the southern entrance protected area.