I've paddled the Emerald Cut a few times now. Initially I didn't like the idea of paying to launch my own paddleboard. However, it's only $10 now that I have my own life jacket (saving me additional cost of $5 to use one of theirs, as required). Well worth the low cost for some soul-enriching, communing with nature. I have never made a reservation. I normally arrive around 10:30, most recently on a Friday. Parked for free on Baptist Camp Rd. Just a bit of a walk from there with my inflated paddleboard, but I don't mind the extra exercise. You can unload your stuff closer, if preferable. There are port-a-potties available. You can count on there being a line in the check-in office. Various recreation supplies are available there for purchase. The process moves reasonably enough. A reservation will guarantee your entrance, however, and possibly aide quicker personal info collection. I always plan to do the Emerald Cut in roughly 3 hours round-trip, allowing myself several stops to enjoy the surroundings. You do run into (quite literally at times) novice paddlers along the way, which can be a bit tricky, yet not a real nuisance for me. In general, there's friendliness along the waterway. Slighty rowdy, party vibes in some spots, but also opportunities for solace and zen in various nooks. Encountering wildlife, fragrant elderberry, and other captivating flora along this stretch is always gratifying. It's a popular recreation destination for good reason. read more

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This is one of the most beautiful places in Florida! Highly recommend visiting at least once. Being local, I've visited a number of times. A few things knock the stars down: - The amount of rules/ regulations is a downside. There are more than any other river we've visited in Florida. It's nerve wracking to make sure you're following every new rule. - Launching and landing at the dock is stressful. It feels rushed and disorganized. - The bathroom situation is DIRE. They have a few porta potties but they're pretty gross. - I've found some of the staff intimidating/ borderline rude. There are a lot of newbies to kayaking/ paddleboarding so patience is a virtue at busy times! It's a hard paddle up stream and coming back it can be easy to lose control around the corners. There are a few spots to be cautious of other paddlers. With that said, it's really stunning. They keep the area very clean and there are a lot of spots to pull off to the side to enjoy the view. I've never done a guided tour, but I've heard they're really well done! read more

Many tourists don't realize Florida is home to stunning crystal-clear spring rivers--perfect for swimming, kayaking, and tubing aka "hidden gems". My Hubby and I love kayaking, so we booked an excursion months in advance for Rock Springs through TripAdvisor. Our Tour Operator was Get Up And Go Kayaking located at Kings Landing in Apopka, FL. I LOVE saying Apopka ;) The good news: Apopka is a quick 1 hour drive from Orlando. Make sure you don't miss the turn to King's Landing, because the entrance is located on a narrow dirt road. You must drive past Kelly Park (which fills up fast). There is a Park Ranger located here who will guide you to King's Landing. As you get closer and if you see a parking spot, grab it! Check in is located in the Cabin like office where you will have to sign a waiver. If you do not want to take a clear bottom, guided Kayak tour, you can either rent or BYO Kayak versus taking a semi private, clear, guided kayak tour. NOTE: ONLY use their Sunscreen/lotion which is provided at no cost. It protects the wildlife and the Springs. We wanted the full experience as we have previously enjoyed renting clear Kayaks. Our guide for the morning was: Megan, who was fantastic! Full of energy, information and helpful tidbits about the Springs and its human and wildlife inhabitants. Our group was small and capped at 10. We paddled through both narrow and open stretches, and stopped to swim in the warm, crystal-clear water. One highlight was a banyan tree with an 8-foot natural "jump hole"--such a cool experience! It was a serene, memorable day, and fun fact: this is the very spring featured in the Visit Orlando commercials! Yeah, definitely take a day away from crowded Orlando to relax and enjoy Mother Nature! You will Thank Me ;) read more

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We reserved 2 single kayaks for a morning paddle. We arrived early and they let us on our way. It was beautiful! We were some of the first people out, and the paddle upstream was fun and relaxing. Coming back downstream, the barrage of other users had begun, and you could tell it was many of their first time paddling as they had 0 control. We were almost constantly being rammed into the bank (even when stopped and holding ourselves out of the way), and had to remain extremely vigilant until getting back to the launch area. We continued downstream--and the downstream area of Wekiwa Park was completely different and a lot less occupied. We saw lots of wildlife and it was just the right length. Returning and leaving was just as easy. Just exercise patience as the Emerald Cut area is tight and full of first timers. It's great to see people trying new things, though! read more

King's Landing - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - Apopka, Florida

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What an awesome experience! we did the Emerald Cut sunset paddle. Our guide Gabby was great and did a wonderful keeping everyone focused and safe and pointing out all kinds of wildlife. We saw two deer, lots of turtles including a big snapping turtle, several small alligator, herons, egrets, ahingas and a pair of river otters. we got to jump into the clear water at several points in the cut. The river is surrounded by lush forest and you just feel like you are in another world. I highly recommend this tour. read more

We did a kayak trip and rented from Kings landing. This was an extremely beautiful canal in Weikiwa springs state park. We kayaked up stream the entire way and it took far longer than I expected likely due to the flow and tiredness after flying. Kings landing was a bit overpriced for the rentals although i am sure this is in part due to location. I would recommend they update their paddles or fix them so the hand pads are there or the black markers are correct for placement. Additionally the kayak had a weird positioned handle that kept scraping me. read more

King's Landing - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - Apopka, Florida

For my first time here I was just blown away by the stream, but before we get to that let's focus on the launching area that is Kings landing. You will need to make a reservation before you can launch here. They do take walk-ins but it does fill up rather quickly. So I highly recommend making reservations. Parking is very limited and if you don't get there early enough or at the right time you'll be walking a bit. You are able to unload your gear and the u-shaped unloading area where you can also inflate your paddle boards if you need to. But you will have to park outside of the launching area itself. Once you arrive, check in for your designated time and they will provide you wristbands. The launching area can get crowded so be ready for that. We had our own paddle boards which made it more efficient to launch. Along the stream, you'll see raccoons bugs. Of course. Some people said they saw alligators out in the murkier water. For my first trip we went upstream and the canopy was just breathtaking. You are in a totally new environment and you forget that you are in the middle of Florida while paddling upstream. As you make your way up the stream, you'll find little spots to relax and take a break. The water is so shallow that you could literally get out and just walk the whole thing if you wanted to. The water is also so clear and you can see fishes and the water. The launching area also has a concession stand if you want to buy food or drinks. It's got a little shaded area in the middle of the launching or the landing area where you can unload if you have people just want to hang out. It also has lockers for those who want to lock up their things before they paddle out. And porta potties for those who need to relieve themselves before or after their adventures. I definitely recommend this for anyone who wants to paddle board kayak and escape the city for a couple hours. read more

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Kayaking on the Emerald Cut is an experience of a life time! The water was clear, warm, and shallow enough for all ages! Our kids had a blast because of our terrific tour guide, Nigel. He was super nice, and very knowledgable about the area. He knew the history, the good spots play and taking photos. He showed us all kinds of fishes, turtles, birds and 2 alligators were hidden under bushes. What an amazing experience for the whole family! read more

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The river and guide (Jackson) were terrific! Jackson added history and science and perspectives and was careful to include all of us on the trip. My only caveat is that we had no idea about the absolute traffic jam to get by Kelly Park on a Saturday morning-it was good that we were 20 minutes early. Perhaps notification of such in the email? read more

An amazing experience on the Emerald Cut! Our guide, Nigel, was fantastic -- warm, engaging, and very informative. I joined the tour solo as a beginner, and Nigel made it feel easy right away with a quick paddling demo before we headed out. He was attentive throughout the trip and made sure everyone in our group (a family of five plus me) felt included. He also took great photos for everyone and even helped position me for a fun shot. The water was crystal clear, the scenery was beautiful, and we saw an alligator, turtles, birds, and lots of fish. I left with great photos, a deep appreciation for Emerald Cut, and a desire to kayak more. Highly recommend! read more

Brought our own kayaks for a lil outdoor activity. It costs $10 to launch from here with your own equipment (make sure to bring life jackets - they need be in the boat, but you don't have to have it on). The pics show "Emerald Cut", but you can't actually access it from this spot : ( The toilets are marked out of order, but the porta-potty setup seems like that's the long term solution. Irvin at the front desk was super patient (we had no service so had trouble pulling up the reservation among other issues). He also multitasks amazingly, and kept the line in check every time a rush of people came in. Overall, it was worth it for what we paid, even though some of the facilities aren't in order. read more

This place is such a hidden gem! The water is crystal clear and so peaceful, perfect for kayaking and paddleboarding. We did the $10 bring your own option in their website. It was such a fun and relaxing day. The water was calm, we stopped often for photos and snacks and it feels like we had the whole place to ourselves since we went on a weekday. Parking was super close to the canal, so launching was really easy. The only thing to note is that the restroom is just a porta polly, but thats minor compared to overall experience. I'll definitely recommend this to my friends whose visiting from out of state. Can't wait to be back and bring my family. read more

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My husband surprised me with a date at King's Landing, and wow -- one of the best dates I've ever had. I completely forgot to take pictures, but honestly that just shows how in-the-moment we were. We went kayaking, pulled over to enjoy some food by the water, and just soaked in how peaceful and beautiful the nature is out there. The water is so calm and clear, and the whole experience felt like a reset for the nervous system. At one point we actually flipped the kayak over and ended up laughing for a solid 30 minutes -- the kind of uncontrollable laughter you don't get enough of as adults. It turned into such a core memory for us. If you're looking for a fun, outdoorsy, connected kind of date (or just a peaceful nature escape), this place is truly special. We'll 100% be back. read more

It's an alternative option to waiting in the monstrous line next door to access Emerald Cut. It has amenities such as lockers, restrooms, showers, a small general store, and much more. You will be charged for everything, yes, even launching your own vessel - please ensure to bring a life jacket, even if you do not wear it, because they do not let you launch without one. Overall, we just wanted to get into the water asap, and we found that here. I was appreciative of the opportunity because we knew accessing the water at any of the surrounding major parks was going to be impossible. read more

Fantastic place. I came with my son and grandson. We brought one kayak and rented a double. We took the Emerald Cut route which is something to behold. Special thanks to staff member Giselle who made it all possible despite the fact we were "walk-ins" and spots were very limited. She was fantastic! read more

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This is a truly wonderful place with beautiful decor. It has come such a long way! I absolutely love coming here to enjoy the peace and nature. Plus, Andrew who works there is always respectful and so helpful with loading me in and out safely. read more

King's Landing is as beautiful as the pictures suggest! I'm so glad we made time for this on our Florida trip! It was absolutely breathtaking and such a fun experience. There are multiple spots on the clear aide to get out and swim! On the dark water side we did see two gators so I wouldn't suggest swimming there. We went on a holiday and it was very busy, sometimes making it difficult to navigate multiple kayaks on the river. The kayaks were in ok shape. If I were to go again, I'd want to bring my own equipment. read more

King's Landing - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - Apopka, Florida

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This is King's Landing, a spring where the water is crystal clear and flowing! My co-worker and I spend five hours in this beautiful Florida gem! I had an amazing day surrounded by nature and wildlife‍ from birds to an otter to baby gators My favorite encounter was with Rocket, a friendly raccoon loved by everyone! And I'm very thankful, grateful, and blessed that I wasn't/ we weren't bitten by an alligator. A huge thanks to my co-worker Stephannie for inviting me, for bringing the paddle boards and for such a fantastic experience!‍‍ read more

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Absolutely stunning place to kayak incredible tour guide, but the most important thing is our tour guide ended up saving some girls along the river who were holding a raccoon that was dying from rabies. As a friendly reminder don't touch wildlife it can kill you and great job Kim for saving these ladies! read more

King's Landing - Reminder: don't touch wildlife - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - Apopka, Florida

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We had an amazing experience on the Emerald Cut sunset paddle on the evening of 8/16! Our tour guide Nigel was awesome! Super friendly, helpful, informative, and just an all-around great individual! We kayaked past a gator, swung from vines, and jumped from a tree into the water! A surreal experience that will be remembered forever! I am looking forward to coming back and booking another trip with Nigel in the future, and I would highly recommend King's Landing! What a beautiful place! read more

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This was fun! I went out on a date with my wife and had a good time! Staff was very kind and helpful!

We loved the guided tour. It was so much fun. Nigel was funny and very knowledgeable on all things during our tour. I give 4 out of 5 stars only because there is a dock worker here who has a serious attitude problem. I think his name was sawyer or something. I understand some questions people may ask might sound stupid to you, but some people have never been to kings landing or have kayaked before. Other than that amazing experience! read more

I wish I could give 0 stars. We called ahead before booking to make sure our service dog would be allowed on the kayaks. The staff on the phone clearly told us service dogs were allowed, so we went ahead and booked two single kayaks for $110. We then drove three hours to get there. When we arrived, my service dog -- the sweetest little English bulldog girl -- was quietly standing with us in line while I was busy signing all of their waivers. Some random obese woman in line kept messing with my dog, getting in her space and distracting her. My dog barked once because of that interaction, and suddenly the staff decided she wasn't allowed. So after confirming on the phone, driving three hours, and paying $110... they refused to let us kayak. To make matters worse, the entire operation seemed to be run by children. There was no actual manager or anyone with authority to speak with. No one could resolve the situation, no one could explain the contradiction with what we were told on the phone, and no one took responsibility. And the refund situation? Even worse. They said they couldn't reimburse us and that it had to be issued as a credit, which I am still waiting to receive an email for. This place used to be beautiful and enjoyable, but the current management is clearly hurting it. Poor communication, zero accountability, and a completely unprofessional operation. Save yourself the time, money, and frustration. After a 3-hour drive and $110 wasted, this was one of the most disappointing experiences I've had anywhere. 0 stars. read more

The entire experience was top notch. Kevin, our guide, was friendly, patient with instructions and knowledgeable about the waters we were kayaking. Highly recommend this experience for the entire family. read more

Was the perfect adventure for my family and I. Kim was amazing!!! She took great care of us and our kids loved it!!! 9, 7, and 4 year old. Recommend for anyone looking for a great time. read more

King's Landing - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - Apopka, Florida

King's Landing is a great way to enjoy rocks springs. The water is crystal clear and perfect for kayaking or paddleboarding. The whole area is peaceful, with tons of wildlife and beautiful trees lining the river. It's the kind of place where you can really disconnect and enjoy nature. Bring water shoes and a dry bag, and definitely don't forget your camera. read more

King's Landing - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - Apopka, Florida

We had an awesome experience at King's Landing. Nice facility and easy access to the spring.

I am an enthusiast of Florida's natural wonders and have loved living and adventuring here for my 60+ years. With the enormous portfolio of experiences to be enjoyed, it's thrilling to keep discovering extraordinary NEW ones! My wife and I booked a 6:30am Sunrise Kayak Tour with Nigel (best guide ever!) at Kings Landing this past weekend and it was truly one of the most beautiful, tranquil...immersions in nature...that we've ever had. Picture a snow-white shallow sand bottom and gently flowing crystal clear spring water flowing through serene Florida woodlands, with all the birds and animals just waking up in the morning. Otters playing and heckling(!) small alligators, big barn owls, herons and bass in the cool of the morning, with sunbeams breaking through the tree canopy. It was a spectacular, peaceful, paradise. We were just blown away by the experience, and quite disappointed that we hadn't done it before. Give this gift to a loved one...friends...or yourself! You'll be super-glad you did. read more

We (family of 4 with kids 6 and 11) went on the Emerald Cut kayak tour with Nigel, and it was fantastic! We got to swim in the crystal clear waters, and Nigel was an excellent guide. He was super knowledgeable, very friendly, and he was also very accommodating when I got the time wrong and showed up late. After all the artificiality of Orlando, being out in nature was a highlight of our trip! And just a tip: We used the regular kayaks. The clear bottom ones looks like they would be harder to paddle. read more

It was amazing! So quiet and beautiful! The sunset tour is after hours so our group was the only ones there on Memorial Weekend! We had fun getting out of our kayaks and swimming! Nigel was a great tour guide! We definitely will be back to try the sunrise tour! read more

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Kings Landing offers rentals and the option to bring your own vessel. Great spot for travelers, visitors or local Floridians.

I will say kinda sad we didn't do the whole self tour but the views were amazing!!! We did the canoe!!! Wow I will say it's all about the communication between the person in the front and back. We did struggle a bit but at the end we got it running!! It takes a get used to but as first timer we made it through!!! It a nice activity to definitely do!! Also it's nice to take pics and stuff. Everyone we passed by was friendly in the water which can vary of course but we had a good experience!!! Staff does let you know the pretty basic stuff but I when it's come to the canoe it's about teamwork and community!! read more

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An absolute must visit. I have had this in my list of adventures for quite some time....and today me & my youngest went! Worth every penny!!! read more

King's Landing - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - Apopka, Florida

This was my fifth time visiting kings landing and it's about time I wrote a review! First off- kings landing is a beautiful experience, and the pictures do not do it justice! It's so full of nature and wildlife it's definitely a sight to see! Kings landing is definitely good for new and inexperienced paddlers, and very family friendly! The staff is always extremely helpful and knowledgeable of the area and paddling! read more

King's Landing - Wild raccoon - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - Apopka, Florida

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One of favorite places relax and recharge over the weekend. The staff are very helpful. The other kayakers are nice and pleasant to be amongst. It's like everyone there enjoys seeing other people participating nature and joy . It can be very busy on some weekends, which can be a hassle sometimes when trying to maneuver through people kayaking for the first time. The benefits outweigh this con. I take multiple breaks when it gets busy and just park to the side and soak in the sunshine. read more

King's Landing - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - Apopka, Florida

Our kayak trip was fantastic. We had Nigel who was attentive and informative. He relayed great information about the springs without making it like a history lesson. He was fun and took lots of pictures for our group. Really enjoyed it!! read more

Great place to swim and to see nature the employees there are great and always welcoming especially jazelle always bright smile and great personality read more

We had a wonderful adventure at King's Landing today paddling through Emerald Cut. It was our first time Kayaking and let me tell you it was a workout but well worth it. Owen was our guide and he was fantastic. Owen was so patient with me and encouraged me even as I crashed into the mangroves and did 360 degree turns due to the current. You can tell he is passionate about conserving this environment and is glad to share how this can be done with anyone who will listen. Truly can't say enough great things about him. He pointed out the fauna and foliage in the springs. Even showed us hemlock in its natural state, as well as Elderberries and the invasive Hyancinth which I had seen floating on top of many bodies of water in my native country. We saw Kevin the Egret, several spiders and fish but no alligators. We were able to get out and take pictures at the end of the spring as well as by the Bonsai Tree. The canopy of trees kept us cool and provided a spectacular scenery. Unfortunately, due to Tropical Depression Debby, the water was not clear but a iced tea type of color. Once we reached the end of the spring we were able to see the natural clear color. Just beautiful. The tour is 2 hours long and I listened to the reviews and booked the 8:30am tour. It was a great choice because on our way back down, it became a bit congested and we had to avoid many other kayaks and paddleboats and it was not even 11am. Even with that, we look forward to doing this amazing tour next year and bringing the rest of our family. read more

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I took the $59 Emerald Cut Kayak Adventure. It was a nice kayak trip. But not sure it's was worth price. I'm comparing it to a kayak tour I took earlier this year at The Paddling Center at Shingle Creek (see my review). Prepare for a bit of a workout. The first half of this trip is upstream. The day I went the current was pretty good (about 3-4 mph) making it exercise not a leisurely paddle. Fortunately, after a beautiful trip through the narrow jungle foliage, you get to pretty much coast downstream back to the dock. Unfortunately, it was a bit crowded and there was no sign of wildlife. Our guide, Nigel was very nice and provided some periodic interpretation and history along the way One more thing, unless you are there early, be prepared to walk as there is no dedicated parking - even for paying tour guests. read more

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Amazing! Go early! I like the group size for the guided tours. Our guide was Tara - incredibly nice and super knowledgeable on the area and history surrounding the springs! I was nervous going by myself but so glad I did. We went to the 8:30am option again glad I did it was packed on the water by 10am when were leaving.we got lucky with 60 degree weather that when you felt the water it was nice and warm. Can't wait to return for the 8 mile option! read more

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