Rock Springs Run State Reserve
Rock Springs Run State Reserve consists of 13,500
acres of land located between the scenic Wekiva River and the cool spring
waters of Rock Springs Run. It offers a number of recreational opportunities
for the outdoor enthusiast including hiking, off-road bicycling, horseback
riding and camping.
There's a nice little interpretive boardwalk built
next to an Indian "kitchen midden" known as Twin Mounds. Not too many people
probably know about this place. It's quite a ways off the beaten path
(about 2 miles from the nearest hiking trail), It's located at the east end of
Shell Mound Road which is normally closed to vehicles except during hunting
periods.
Location
Located in south Lake County and north Orange
County about 16 miles west of Sanford, Florida.
Directions
From I-4 exit 51, go west on State Road 46 for
about 7.5 miles. Entrance will be on your left just after you go over the bear
crossing underpass.
Hours
Open from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. daily.
Fees
Self pay at the entrance kiosk.
$2.00 per vehicle up to 8 passengers.
Hiking
Rock Springs Run State Reserve has over 14 miles of marked hiking
trails. The trails are divided into two loops: an 8.5 mile northern loop
(blazed white) and a 6.2 mile southern loop (blazed yellow).
The trailhead is located at the first parking area (#1) on Spear Road
(entrance road).
Trailhead kiosk at Parking Lot #1. Planted
pine saplings can be seen growing along Spear Road.
A picture of one of the old tombstones found at the
abandoned Ellis Cemetery. This one was dated in 1883.
Biking
There are approximately 11 miles of bike trails at Rock Springs Run
State Reserve. The trails are divided into two loops: a 5.9 mile eastern loop
and a 5.5 mile western loop (both blazed blue). The trailhead is located
at the second parking area (#2) off of Spear Road.
Camping
Primitive horse camping is available by contacting
the Rock Springs Run Riding Stables (see contacts below). Each campsite is
equipped with fire rings, grills and benches. Water is also available from a
nearby electric well pump.
Zephyr Hilton campsite.
Canoeing
Although Rock Springs Run State Reserve doesn't
offer any canoe launch points, it does have one campsite for canoeist
going down the Wekiva River. It's located at the end of an old timber railroad
now known as the Buffalo Tram. You can still see signs of the trestle that
used to cross the river.
Hunting
| Hunting Schedule 2006 -
2007 |
| Archery |
Sep. 29 - Oct. 1, 6 - 8 |
| Muzzle Gun |
Oct. 13 - 15, 20 - 22 |
| General Gun |
Nov. 10 - 12, 17 - 19 |
| Small Game |
Dec. 2 - 3, 9 - 10, Jan. 6 - 7 |
Maps
Color
infrared aerial map of Rock Springs Run showing trails, campsites and
roads.
Interactive
aerial map of Rock Spring Run from Terraserver.
Interactive
topographical map of Rock Spring Run Area from Topozone.
GPS Data
Flowers
Yellow
Jessamine and Silver Aster
Local Weather
Trail Reports
- 01-Dec-2001: Most of the trails were okay except
for the hikers-only sections on the west side of the north loop and the
return trail for the eastern bike loop. There the trails were almost
completely overgrown. In a lot of places, the blazes were in poor shape or
just inadequate. The map available at the trailhead is really
outdated. It still doesn't show the correct route for the bike trails.
- 08-Dec-2001: As a result of the Southern Pine Beetle
infestation, a large number of pine trees had to be cut down and removed
from the reserve. In the process, some of trails were wiped out and
probably will need to be rerouted or re-blazed. In particular, the east-west
crossover trail between the southern and northern loop trails is gone.
Also a quarter mile section of the western bike trail loop is damaged. Some
blazes can still be seen but there is quite a bit of dead fall on the trail.
The hiking trail near Ethel Cemetery is also in bad shape.
Contacts
- For Horseback Riding & Camping: call
Rock Springs Run Riding Stables at (352) 735-6266
Links
Last modified on 13-Jan-2007 at 8:29 P.M.
