Hugh Taylor Birch State Park

The Hugh Taylor Birch State Park is an oasis perfect to relax and enjoy - it’s a perfect getaway for the community of Fort Lauderdale. From reading under the shade palm trees to inline skating, this park has everything that one seeks. It is named after Hugh Taylor Birch, who preserved his state and gave away this amazing oasis. 

The park is also known as the “Central Park” with a 2-mile loop road for running, skating, bicycling, and whatnot. The park visitors can enjoy wildlife viewing and can access the beach that is a minute away. There are also many picnic areas in this park and you will not regret visiting this place. 

What to Know 

The park is located in the middle of Florida where you can enjoy picnics, camping, canoeing, swimming, and much more. You will also get a chance to visit the home of the man who donated his estate to Florida - the Terramar Visitor Center which showcases the area’s natural and cultural history. The place is beautiful with lots of birds, and a really nice walking trail that takes you to the mangroves, palm trees, and Intracoastal waterway. 

You can also get to see gopher tortoises, iguana, and other small marine life. A great place to spend your day with a really low noise level and a small entry fee of $2. The parking is $6, which isn’t a lot for such a beautiful place. You will also love the Beach - rent an umbrella, and a chair, and relax. If you’re hungry, there is also an open-air restaurant serving delicious food items and beer on tap. The beach can be accessed through the crosswalk on A1A. A group/youth campground is available to organized groups.

How to Get There

You can use a Water Taxi, which is a great way to explore this beautiful city from the water. You can purchase a ticket for this taxi, and it will give you unlimited rides all day. And if the Water Taxi rate is too much for you, there is another option of using a public bus. If you are travelling in your private car, you can exit east at Sunrise Boulevard from Interstate 95 or Florida’s Turnpike. At Birch Road, Sunrise Boulevard, you can find the entrance to this park. Another great way to get to this park is by booking a Small-Group Fort Lauderdale Tour which features this scenic attraction! 

Best Time to Visit

Visiting this Park in summer is fine, but to truly enjoy this place, you must visit it in colder months. From November to April is the ideal time to enjoy all the views. In summer, it can be too hot and humid for you to handle. There might also be thunderstorms, which can make everything worse. So, if you have to visit this place in summer, you can consider going early in the morning or late afternoon. Also, pack an umbrella with you. 

Highlights & Features

- Tucked between the Atlantic Ocean and the Intracoastal Waterway, it’s a beautiful, vibrant place within Florida. 

- Enjoy canoeing, kayaking, paddle boating, and stand-up paddle boards to enjoy the park’s freshwater coastal dune lake. 

- Direct access to Fort Lauderdale’s Beach.

- Beautiful trails with a 2-mile loop road for walking, running, bicycling, skating, etc. 

- Many shaded areas and pavilions to enjoy picnics.