Sullivan Park / Deerfield Island
Deerfield Beach, Florida · Broward County
Sullivan Park's floating dock puts beginner and intermediate paddlers straight onto calm Intracoastal and mangrove-creek water, five minutes from our Deerfield Beach store. Paddle across to boat-access-only Deerfield Island Park, a wild, roughly 56-acre preserve with gopher tortoises and a free weekend shuttle dock. Watch for manatees, rays, and ospreys, and time your crossing for slack or high tide.
The Paddle
The water here mixes open Intracoastal with a quiet mangrove creek, calm enough for beginners once you're off the main channel. The signature route is a short crossing to Deerfield Island Park, a boat-access-only preserve of roughly 56 wild acres with trails and a resident gopher tortoise population; some habitat areas stay closed to visitors year round to protect them. Manatees, rays, and ospreys turn up regularly along the mangroves. Aim for a calm morning around slack or high tide, since current builds up near the Hillsboro end.
Launch & Parking
Launch from the floating dock at Sullivan Park, built for kayaks and paddleboards rather than trailered boats. Parking is free, but the small lot requires registering your plate at the kiosk and caps your stay at 4 hours, so this isn't the spot for an all-day session unless you move your car partway through.
Rentals
Sullivan Park has no rental concession on-site, so bring your own board or gear up beforehand. Our Deerfield Beach store, just up the road, rents paddleboards and can set you up with everything else before you launch.
Rules & Safety
Boat traffic on the Intracoastal is the main hazard, and current builds noticeably near Hillsboro, so slack or high tide makes for an easier crossing than a moving ebb. If you're paddling over to Deerfield Island, stay alert for the county shuttle boat running the same route on weekends. Statewide paddleboard rules also apply on this water; the summary below covers them.
Gear Up Around the Corner
Our Deerfield Beach store, the flagship, sits only 0.6 miles from Sullivan Park, close enough to grab a paddleboard, paddle, leash, or dry bag on your way to launch. We also book lessons if you want a local guide before you cross to Deerfield Island.
Florida paddleboard rules
Outside designated swimming, surfing, and bathing areas, Florida and the U.S. Coast Guard treat a stand-up paddleboard as a vessel, which means basic boating rules apply. Carry one Coast Guard approved life jacket for each person on board, and children under 6 must wear theirs while the board is underway. You also need a whistle or other sound device audible for at least half a nautical mile, and after sunset or in poor visibility, a flashlight or lantern with a white light to signal your position. Inside a marked swimming or surfing area these vessel rules do not apply. Non-motorized paddleboards under 16 feet do not need Florida registration. Rules can change, so check current FWC guidance before you paddle.
Summarized from FWC and U.S. Coast Guard guidance, verified 2026-08-12. Rules can change; check current FWC guidance.
FAQ
Is there a shuttle to Deerfield Island Park from Sullivan Park?
Yes, a free county shuttle runs from the Sullivan Park dock Fridays through Sundays, 10 am to 3 pm, in addition to paddling or boating over on your own.
Can I rent a paddleboard at Sullivan Park?
Not on-site. There's no rental concession at the park, but our nearby Deerfield Beach store rents paddleboards and gear, well under a mile away.
How big is Deerfield Island Park, and can I explore it on foot?
Deerfield Island Park is a boat-access-only preserve of roughly 56 acres with trails, though some gopher tortoise habitat areas stay closed to visitors year round.
Nearby paddle spots
Boca RatonLas Olas Isles Canals (Fort Lauderdale)
Fort LauderdaleWhiskey Creek
Dania BeachWest Lake Park / Anne Kolb Nature Center
Hollywood