Hugh Taylor Birch State Park

Who It's For

This state park works well for families, nature walkers, and paddlers who want calm freshwater before or after a swim. The lagoon inside the park is separate from the ocean and makes for an easy, protected paddle along the loop road. Crowds run moderate rather than packed, and the shaded hammock grounds give visitors a break from direct sun between trips to the sand.

Parking & Access

Entry runs $2 for walk-ins and cyclists, $4 for a single-occupant vehicle, and $6 per vehicle carrying up to 8 people. Parking is easy to find once you're inside the gate. The park sits between the Intracoastal and the ocean, and the only way onto the sand is through a pedestrian tunnel under A1A, plus a marked crosswalk over the road itself; there is no footbridge.

Rules & Safety

Leashed dogs are welcome throughout the park grounds on a hand-held leash no longer than 6 feet, though they aren't permitted on the ocean beach itself; service animals are the exception. Watch for rip currents once you're past the tunnel, and keep an eye on kids at the A1A crosswalk. Lifeguard coverage here is seasonal and limited, so treat any swim as your own responsibility when no one is posted.

What's There

Inside the gate you'll find restrooms, outdoor showers, grills, picnic pavilions, and a paved loop road good for biking. A concession rents kayaks and paddleboards for the freshwater lagoon, and hammock canopy shades much of the grounds. Snorkeling is possible at the adjacent beach on a calm day, though it isn't the park's main draw.

Before You Go

Island Water Sports' Pompano Beach store is 6.8 miles from the park, worth a stop for beach gear, sun protection, or a paddleboard rental before you head out.