Exploring Hugh Taylor Birch State Park in Fort Lauderdale

There are a lot of things to do in Fort Lauderdale but it’s mostly known for its long, beautiful beach and waterways throughout the city. Even though it’s a busy area with a bustling downtown and lots of beach goers, there are still some spots within the city where you can get lost in nature. One of those spots is Hugh Taylor Birch State Park.

Wedged between an Intracoastal Waterway, neighborhoods and the beach is where you can find a quiet place in nature to explore the mangroves and coastal woods of Florida. It’s easy to miss if you don’t know it’s there, but the park is right off A1A minutes from downtown. It’s one of many state parks in Florida and something different to see if you have the time.

About Hugh Taylor Birch State Park

This state park gets its name from Hugh Taylor Birch who bought the land when in search for a vacation home back in the 1890s. Upon his death in 1943, he gifted the land to the city in order to preserve it.

Hugh Taylor Birch State Park is a bit interesting in that it consists of 180 acres which encompass or are next to very different parts of nature. On one side of the park is an Intracoastal Waterway with boats, fishing and potentially manatees (if it’s the season). And on the other is the long stretch of sand that makes up the Fort Lauderdale beach. In between those two is where you’ll find coastal woods, a long and skinny fresh water lake, and a mangrove habitat.

The park is long and skinny with one main paved road looping through the park. You can choose to drive through or walk/bike, but there are several spots along the way to stop.

Things to Do

Depending on what you want to do here, you can spend an hour or several hours here. Here are some of things to do within the park:

Live Oak + Banyan Trees

One of the first stops on the loop road is the south picnic area which has a pavilion, restrooms, picnic tables and grills, and a volleyball area. But the highlight is rounding the corner and seeing the giant Banyan tree. The branches have created a large canopy over the path and the sun creates a shadowed pattern on the ground.

The Bayan tree has many branches rooted to the ground and even some that have created a ‘doorway’ you can walk through. On the other side of the picnic area is where you can find some large live oak trees as well. It’s a pretty area and would be a great lunch spot.

Butterfly Garden

Right before the north picnic area is a small butterfly garden trail. There’s a boardwalk overlooking the garden and a path you can take that goes right through the garden as well. The garden wasn’t the most scenic but we were surprised to see several butterflies and lots of dragonflies flying around.

Marti’s Meditation Garden

Near the intracoastal is where you’ll find Marti’s Meditation Garden. It’s named after philanthropist Marti Huizenga and consists of granite benches, a pergola and stone labyrinth meant to encourage focus and reflection.

Manatee & Mangrove Pavilions

The north picnic area has two more pavilions for picnics and is situated near the water. There are some nice pathways to take and benches along the waterway to sit at. On the other side of the parking lot is a playground for kids.

Walk or Bike the Trails

Hugh Taylor Birch State Park is essentially a long loop road around the park. The loop is a 2-mile paved road that you can drive or hike/bike along. There’s also an unpaved trail that roughly follows the loop road that you can hike along. If you want a shorter trail, you can take the Maritime Hammock Trail next to the entrance. It’s about a 15-20 minute long trail through the coastal woods.

Take a Guided Ranger Walk

If you want to take a free guided tour with a ranger, they happen every Friday and Saturday from 10:30-11:30am and start at the entrance. You’ll be learning about a different part of the natural communities depending on the week. Topics include: the Coral Reef and Dunes, Maritime Hammock, Costal Dune Lake and Terramar, Tropical Hardwood Hammock and the Mangrove Forest.

Paddle Down Long Lake

On the east side of the park, there’s a long, skinny fresh water lake called Long Lake. It’s a great spot to get out on the water to paddle. It’s not for swimming but you can rent different kinds of water craft right near the visitor center. They have canoes, kayaks and paddle boards to choose from.

Grab a drink at Park & Ocean Restaurant

One thing that surprised me is that there’s actually a bar and restaurant on the grounds called Park & Ocean. It’s aptly named as it sits on the edge of the park right across the road from the ocean. You can get a drink or bite to eat here and can sit at the bar or sit in the shaded courtyard.

There’s also an entrance/exit from the park that puts you right at A1A so you can head to the beach right after. You can also walk into the restaurant from the beach but to visit the rest of the park, there’s an honor code to drop a $2 fee into the box once you exit the restaurant.

Hit the Beach

Once you leave Park & Ocean, there’s beach access right from the exit just by crossing the road. Fort Lauderdale beach is a popular beach in Florida. It has plenty of space to park for the day and palm trees on the sand. You’re likely to head to the beach before this state park, but most people don’t realize how close they are in proximity.

Facilities:

Within the park there are several facilities available for visitors. There’s a public floating boat dock for personal vessels shorter than 30 ft. A short walk down from the dock is where you’ll find a water taxi stop which is part of an 11 stop route. This has an additional fee is you want to take the water taxi.

Throughout the rest of the park, you’ll find several picnic areas and pavilions. And if you want to get active, there are several rentals available such as bikes, kayaks/canoes, paddle boards and even jet skis!

What’s Nearby

• Fort Lauderdale Beach – The state park runs right alongside the Atlantic Ocean. Head to the beach afterwards to relax or walk the boardwalk along the sand.
• Las Olas – This famous street in downtown Fort Lauderdale is full of shops, bars and restaurants. It’s a fun street to walk along and grab a bite to eat or browse.

If you don’t mind venturing out of Fort Lauderdale, there are a ton of things to do in South Florida as well!

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