Located a few blocks north of the Bonnet House Museum & Gardens, Hugh Taylor Birch State Park’s position between the Intracoastal Waterway and the Atlantic Ocean makes it a fun locale for all types of travelers. Those looking to get out on the water can canoe or kayak in the largest of the park’s coastal dune lakes. Adventurers who want to get their adrenaline pumping can bike along the nearly 2-mile paved park drive. Meanwhile, visitors who prefer to explore by foot can hike the Coastal Hammock Trail, which snakes through a native maritime tropical hardwood hammock ecosystem, one of the last of its kind in Broward County. Fisherman can make a catch at the seawall, while birders can look for 250-plus species that live in and regularly grace the park.
Many past visitors were quick to call this attraction a hidden treasure that shouldn’t be missed, no matter how long your trip to Fort Lauderdale is. Some cautioned the parking lots fill early in the day. Travelers found the park to be an oasis, citing its abundant flora and fauna and plentiful activities as highlights. Others appreciated the easy access to the beach, as there is a tunnel that brings visitors under the highway and directly to the shoreline.
Hugh Taylor Birch State Park is open from 8 a.m. to sunset daily. There is a $6 entrance fee for vehicles with up to eight people; single-occupant vehicles pay $4. Travelers who bike or walk to the park will be charged $2.