Lower Wekiva River Preserve State Park

I spent 2 days camping on the Blackwater Creek.
Lots of large 10-12 alligators.
The Creek is blocked by trees 2 1/2 miles.from the entrance from the Wekiva.

Great peaceful place to go hiking. This has always been one of my favorite spots since I was a kid. My family and I enjoyed our day hiking. Will return again as always.

We came across this part of Wekiva after being unable to get to Wekiva springs (That place gets soooo busy!). Parked a a small parking area just at the end of Longwood Markham road - this is about a 0.5-1 mile from Katie's Landing, which you can reach on a trail. Within the Lower Wekiva park, it can be really exposed so be prepared to be burnt or drowned depending on the weather. If you look at my pics though there is quite a variety of landscapes to see all in one place! We saw a variety of wildlife which to me was exotic (but I'm from the uk😉). Other than walking not much to do but we like walking so will be back again!

Miles of beautiful, shady trails with a variety of trees, nice campground, primitive, bathhouse with showers, stalls, paddocks, new pavillion.

Well marked trails for pony carts or horseback riding. Large primitive camp area with a barn, open paddocks and high ties. Bath houses with a shower are really kept clean.

Most tourists visit the upper Wekiva and Rock Springs run for the clear shallow twisty turning river run and the beer garden at Wekiva Island. Nature lovers, birders, and people in the know prefer the wild Lower Wekiva with its spider web of river routes, ancient cypress, countless birds, and giant alligators. Not to mention flowing through a state bear sanctuary.
There are 2 kayak companies that offer paddling tours into the Lower Wekiva and only one that will take you all the way through downstream then drive you back to your car.
Now get out and explore!

Beautiful shady trails for horseback riding in Florida summers!!

If you want to experience nature at its finest, this is the place to go! The spring is amazing and the nature trails are fabulous. As long as you don't mind sharing your experience with 149,000 other people at the same time, this is a great place to cool off on a got Florida summer day!

Rode my horse here. Gorgeous!

Great spot to go walk and enjoy the outdoors! My family took a two and a half mile trot this morning with our dog and enjoyed all the scenery. We even spotted deer tracks and rubs, pig markings, and gopher tortoise holes. Love seeing natural Florida whenever we get the chance.

This park is absolutely gorgeous. The canoe/kayak launch is very easy to get to and use, and the rental staff are awesome to work with. My only critique is that there is not enough parking near the launch area.

We always enjoy camping on the nature trail. Took 2 of our young grandson this time. Teaching them to fish and about wildlife. The bathrooms and showers are wonderful! You get to enjoy primitive style camping and still have comforts.

Had a great time camping!

Great place to get away from the city

This place is my home I grew up here I remember when Katie's Landing was actually Katie's landing and it was a marina you could buy your shiners put in your boat I remember being a child you could catch striped bass you could catch largemouth bass you could catch numerous species of fish out of this beautiful freshwater river and then if you wanted to you could take and get in the right kind of boat and take it all the way to Jacksonville and get in the ocean and come all the way back down and getting to the Indian River and have a blast for a weekend or for a week used to do that as a kid and it was some of the most memorable times as a child and nothing comes close to that except for the surpassing memories I have of my wife and children so if it wasn't for my wife and children does be the best memories ever but nature is beautiful out here especially if you remember it the way I do they are destroying it and I wish the state would do more to help preserve it but one person can't decide the fate of our beautiful state I didn't mean for that to rhyme I'm not a poet but I will say this Katie's Landing is beautiful they did a beautiful job I just wish it was still really Katie's Landing with the marina where you could buy snacks and maybe a sandwich and you know when I was a kid it was just great and then there's a place called Bob's down the street that had a pool supply by the river in the 80s this was the most beautiful place on Earth and to me it still is except for my wife and children if you like nature it's a good place to be

Little bit over 2 miles on hard packed dirt road through Florida scrub to Wekiwa river. Perfect for taking your dog. Best during winter since very little shade

This review is for the entrances to the preserve in Seminole County. The Lower Wekiva River Preserve is located just east of the Wekiva River and north of rte 46 in Sanford FL. There are two parking areas, one on rte 46 (free) and the other on Wekiva Park Dr at Katie's Landing. Katie's Landing is nicer, has restrooms, and gets to to my favorite parts of the park faster, but you're supposed to pay $3 in an envelope slot there.

There are over 18 miles of trails through some wonderful pine forests. I discovered this park in May, but it's becoming one of my favorite places to visit. From Katie's Landing you cross the street, and you'll see a sign for the trail head. There are paper maps there. I always get one because the trail blazes are often absent. Intersections of the trails are lettered on the map and on posts along the trail.

So far I've seen about 50 species of birds in this park, but it's also the only place in Seminole County where I've been able to find Bachman's Sparrows, and for that reason alone, this is one of my favorite places to visit. It's also one of the better places to find Red-headed Woodpeckers in the county. I've found breeding Great Crested Flycatchers, Common Yellowthroat, and even a possible breeding Yellow-billed Cuckoo. The other wildlife I've seen here are Oak Toads, White-tailed Deer (many of them), and Florida Black Bear. Well, I haven't actually seen a Black Bear in the park (I've seen one in a nearby park), but I have seen bear tracks along the trails, so I know they're there.

Other than the restrooms at Katie's Landing, there's nothing here by way of accommodations. Major parts of the trail receive direct sunlight all day, so it can be pretty hot, and in the hardwood canopy, mosquitoes can be a problem. So bring water, sun protection and bug spray.

Really enjoy the horse trails and the camping amenities provided for horse people. The cost is so affordable! One of my favorite places to camp with my horse.

The wekiva river is a very scenic beautiful river to go kayaking, canoeing or even paddle boarding! In the right season you can catch big bass there also

Beautiful place. I will definitely be back. I love kayaking here.