Welaka FloridaBEACHES & WATERFRONT ESCAPES
Listed below are the best beaches and waterfront escapes near Welaka, Florida.
1. Mud Spring
CRYSTAL CLEAR NATURAL POOL
Mud Spring is a crystalline natural basin in Welaka State Forest that pumps out up to 1.4 million gallons of water daily into the St. Johns River. Visitors can enjoy swimming in the 72-degree spring water surrounded by a shaded forest setting accessible via a gentle 1.7-mile loop trail. The spring features clouds of white sand bubbling from below, creating an underwater garden in its clear blue-green waters that offers a refreshing escape from the Florida heat.
2. St. Johns River
HISTORIC WATERWAY PARADISE
The St. Johns River flows through Welaka, providing a perfect base for kayaking and other water recreation activities. Visitors can paddle along the eastern shore of the river, exploring its rich ecosystem and enjoying scenic views of the surrounding landscape. The river offers abundant opportunities for fishing, wildlife viewing, and peaceful water adventures in a historic Florida waterway.
3. Juniper Springs Recreation Area
PRISTINE SPRINGS OASIS
Juniper Springs Recreation Area offers one of the most beautiful and pristine swimming spots in the Ocala National Forest, not far from Welaka. The main spring pool features crystal clear 72-degree water year-round, perfect for swimming and snorkeling among underwater vegetation and small fish. Visitors can enjoy the spring's natural stone walls, adjacent picnic areas, and the opportunity to canoe or kayak the adjacent Juniper Run through old-growth forest.
4. De Leon Springs State Park
HISTORIC SWIMMING SPRING
De Leon Springs State Park centers around a natural spring where visitors can swim in the clear, refreshing 72-degree waters year-round. The spring produces millions of gallons of water daily, creating a natural swimming area with a sloped entry point perfect for families and swimmers of all ages. After swimming, visitors can enjoy the park's famous Old Spanish Sugar Mill restaurant where they can make their own pancakes at the table, or explore hiking trails and boat tours through the adjacent wilderness.
5. Mike Roess Gold Head Branch State Park
LAKE SWIMMING AND RECREATION
Mike Roess Gold Head Branch State Park features a beautiful spring-fed lake with a designated swimming area and sandy beach. Little Lake Johnson provides visitors with a peaceful swimming experience surrounded by pine forests and rolling hills. The park also offers canoe rentals, hiking trails through ravines, and camping facilities for those wanting to extend their stay.
6. Washington Oaks Gardens State Park
COASTAL GARDENS AND BEACH
Washington Oaks Gardens State Park offers a unique combination of formal gardens and rocky Atlantic shoreline just a short drive from Welaka. The park's beach area features unusual coquina rock formations along the shore, creating tide pools and a distinctive coastal landscape unlike typical Florida beaches. Visitors can enjoy beachcombing, photography, and exploring the shoreline before visiting the park's lush gardens featuring azaleas, camellias, and ancient live oaks.
7. River To Sea Preserve
WHERE WATERWAYS MEET
River To Sea Preserve spans both sides of A1A, offering access to both the Matanzas River and the Atlantic Ocean within a short drive from Welaka. The preserve features a quiet beach area with natural dunes and shore birds, perfect for those seeking a less crowded coastal experience. Visitors can enjoy swimming, fishing, beachcombing, and wildlife viewing in this unspoiled natural area where inland and ocean waters converge.
8. Madison Blue Spring State Park
CRYSTALLINE SPRING SWIMMING
Madison Blue Spring State Park features a crystal-clear first magnitude spring set within a limestone basin that flows into the Withlacoochee River. Swimmers can enjoy the vivid blue waters of the main spring pool before venturing out into the river, with underwater limestone formations visible through the transparent water. The park offers picnic areas, a boardwalk providing river views, and is popular with both swimmers and certified cave divers exploring the underwater cave system.
9. Wekiwa Springs State Park
ORLANDO'S NATURAL SWIMMING HOLE
Wekiwa Springs State Park, Orange County's oldest attraction, features emerald springs feeding the Wekiwa River just minutes from downtown Orlando. The main spring area offers a natural swimming basin with crystal clear 72-degree water, surrounded by tropical hammocks and abundant wildlife. Visitors can swim in the refreshing spring waters, rent canoes or kayaks to explore the river, or venture onto miles of trails for hiking, biking, or horseback riding.
10. Crescent Beach
WHITE SAND ATLANTIC SHORE
Crescent Beach offers a wide, white sand shoreline south of St. Augustine within driving distance of Welaka. The beach features hard-packed sand perfect for walking, biking, or even driving in designated areas, along with gentle waves ideal for swimming and water recreation. Visitors appreciate the less crowded atmosphere compared to more touristy beaches, making it perfect for relaxation, shelling, and enjoying spectacular sunrise views over the Atlantic Ocean.