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Wekiwa Springs State Park, Apopka, Florida
By Lori Litchman
 lorida
is well known for its beaches and, of course, the corporate
sponsor of the state, Disney World. I'm down south for my best
friend's wedding at Disney's Grand Floridian resort. But after
days of park hopping and celebrating, I'm exhausted and I need
an escape to one of Florida's unassuming nature retreats. My
trusty companion is a forever friend from my youth in small
town Pennsylvania who is also feeling the need to find some
woods and find it fast.
 e
head to Wekiwa Springs State Park, located in central Florida,
about 25 miles west of Orlando. Wekiwa is an Indian word that
means, "spring of water," although after our hike,
I secretly think it means, "place of many mosquitoes."
 he
park is nearly 8,000 acres of scenery, but during our visit,
most of the hiking trails are closed. We aren't sure why at
first, but during our hike, we come across a sign telling us
the reason - an infestation of the Southern Pine Beetle, a bark
beetle that is deadly to pine trees. The beetles tunnel through
the inner bark of the tree and within days of an infestation,
thousands of beetles may colonize a tree. The park was in the
process of tearing down trees to prevent the beetles from spreading
to healthy trees.
he
main springs of the park are crystal clear and beautiful, and
although it's November, folks are out sunbathing, and a few
brave souls are even swimming. The springs maintain a year-round
temperature of 68 degrees, and deliver 42 million gallons of
fresh water each day. Wekiwa Springs are the headwaters for
the Wekiva River. Wekiva is an Indian word that means, "flowing
water."
he
park offers fishing, canoeing, camping and swimming and boasts
an array of natural Florida vegetation ranging from low, wet
river swamp to high, dry sandy ridges. Trees throughout the
park include pine, palm and palmetto. Some animals that call
the park home are deer, fox, opossum and white ibises. During
our trek, we see two peacocks strutting around, a feisty gray
squirrel, a small lizard and a black spider the size of my hand.
 uch
of the hike through the wetland area is on a man-made wooden
walkway. The trail later evens out to a sandy trail that is
mostly flatlands. My companion and I hike for nearly two hours
and although we are covered with mosquito bites, we are refreshed
and energized. |
Click on the picture to enlarge
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More Information:
The park is open year round. For more information, including directions,
go to http://www.dep.state.fl.us/parks/district3/wekiwaspring/index.asp.
For more information of the Southern Pine Beetle, visit
http://eny3541.ifas.ufl.edu/pbb/SPB_info.htm.
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