Take a trip on the St. Johns River, whether by boat or by wandering its shores on foot, and it’s possible to imagine a time when saber-toothed cats and mastodons wandered the Florida peninsula or the Timucua people inhabited its banks. Modern-day explorers can find natural serenity and plenty of p laces for a full immersion in the wilderness along Florida’s longest river, which stretches for 310 miles as it flows north before meeting with the Atlantic Ocean just outside of Jacksonville. Central Florida’s portion of the “River of Lakes” leaves many experiences for adventurers to dive into — from springs to waterfront restaurants and scenic boat tours. Visitors to Wekiwa Springs State Park in Apopka dive to the spring boil on a hot summer day in this underwater view. At 7,723 acres, Wekiwa Springs is one of the largest state parks in Central Florida, pumping 42 million gallons of 72-degree water into the Wekiva River daily. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel) Dive Into Springs There are 148 known springs along the St. Johns River, leaving many places for swimmers and snorkelers to cool off and splash around. In Central Florida, the most popular of these is Blue Spring State Park, a wintertime haven for manatees and a summertime oasis for tourists and locals alike. Though a little further from the river itself, DeLeon Springs also flows into the St. Johns and offers opportunities for swimming, diving, boat tours and eating pancakes at the Old Sugar Mill Pancake House. Patrick Connolly/Orlando SentinelCalm, clear waters add to the scenery at Gemini Springs Park in DeBary. (Patrick Connolly/Orlando Sentinel) Gemini Springs and Green Springs both flow into Sanford’s Lake Monroe, one of the larger lakes along the St. Johns River. Though neither allows swimming, the parks make for great places to have a picnic or take a stroll. The Wekiva River also flows into the St. Johns, which is fed by Wekiwa Springs and Rock Springs. Both of these offer places to swim (or tube at Kelly Park) and relax during a sunny day outdoors. Ocala National Forest is chock full of springs that flow into the St. Johns River, including Alexander, Juniper, Silver Glen and Salt Springs. Silver Springs also joins the St. Johns by way of the Ocklawaha River. Jim Romano enjoys a beautiful Central Florida spring afternoon while walking his labradoodle “Brooklyn” down the Sanford Riverwalk Trail along the shoreline of Lake Monroe in Sanford. (Orlando Sentinel file) Parks and Trails Plenty of parks and trails offer the chance to get up close to the St. Johns without getting wet. Black Bear Wilderness Area, for example, takes hikers on a 7-mile loop with well-maintained boardwalks right along the river’s edge. Nearby, the nearly 5-mile Sanford Riverwalk gives cyclists, runners and walkers a chance to enjoy views of Lake Monroe. Other outdoor areas that share a connection with the St. Johns River include Mullet Lake Park, Little Big Econ State Forest, Hontoon Island State Park and Lake Beresford Park. In the future, DeBary’s 170-acre Alexander Island will allow the public access to the St. Johns River on land right across from the Black Bear Wilderness Area. The St. Johns Rivership Co. takes tourists across Lake Monroe while returning to Sanford aboard the Barbara-Lee in 2023. (Patrick Connolly/Orlando Sentinel) On the Water From scenic boat tours to kayaking and sailing, there are no shortage of methods for exploring the St. Johns River by water. The St. Johns Rivership Co. has multiple cruises a week that depart from Sanford, including dinner and lunch excursions and “Rockin’ on the River” every Friday. A St. Johns River Nature Cruise departs from Blue Spring State Park daily. Patrick Connolly/Orlando SentinelKayaking on Rock Springs Run yields views of Florida wilderness in Apopka. (Patrick Connolly/Orlando Sentinel) Airboat tours are available at a number of locations, including Camp Holly in Melbourne, Airboat Rides at Midway in Christmas, the Black Hammock in Oviedo and Twister Airboat Rides at Lone Cabbage Fish Camp in Cocoa. Boat rentals are available at venues such as Highland Park Fish Camp and Holly Bluff Marina, both in DeLand. Prime places for kayaking and paddleboarding include the Wekiva River and Econlockhatchee River, both of which flow into the St. Johns. Joshua C. Cruey, Orlando SentinelThe Jolly Gator Fish Camp restaurant in Geneva is one venue for waterfront dining along the St. Johns River. (Orlando Sentinel file) Waterfront Dining For seafood lovers who also enjoy great views, the St. Johns offers many areas for waterfront dining. Venues include the Jolly Gator Fish Camp Bar & Grill in Geneva, Gators Riverside Grille in Sanford, St. Johns River Steak and Seafood in Sanford, Swamp House Riverfront Grill in DeBary and Drifters Waterfront in Astor. Adopt River-Friendly Practices St. Johns Riverkeeper, the primary nonprofit that protects and defends the river, encourages visitors to adopt environmentally friendly practices while visiting and urges people to consider environmental stewardship. 310 miles, 8 days on the St. Johns River: An epic kayaking odyssey from source to sea Boaters should be mindful of loose items to prevent litter and avoid leaking fluids into the water. People who live within the St. Johns River watershed, which includes the Wekiva River and Econlockhatchee River, are encouraged to create a river-friendly yard by using fertilizer responsibly, avoiding pesticides, using organic mulch and selecting native plants. The St. Johns Riverkeeper’s website has many more tips for those looking to give back and plenty of more places to explore along Florida’s longest river. Visit stjohnsriverkeeper.org or explorethestjohns.com to learn more. Find me @PConnPie on Instagram or send me an email: pconnolly@orlandosentinel.com. ...read more read less