Tucked into a corner adjoining a major highway interchange, between a suburban grid and the vast river of grass known as the Everglades, Markham Park opened over fifty years ago.
On the fringe of Sunrise, it has outdoor activities spread across nearly 670 acres of green space with connectivity to greenways in two directions.
Nature Trail entranceThere are nature trails, a campground, mountain bike trails, disc golf course, racket sport courts, an observatory, boat ramps, and a shooting range.
Busy on the weekends and most days of the week, this county park can be a noisy place, especially near the shooting range.
Walkway to the pollinator gardenResources
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Overview
Location: Sunrise
Length: 3.9 miles
Trailhead: 26.126722, -80.359806
Address: 16001 W. SR 84, Sunrise
Fees: Free weekdays, $3 per vehicle weekends and holidays
Restroom: At the front office and picnic areas
Land manager: Broward County
Phone: 954-357-8868
Open 8 AM to 7:30 PM. Leashed dogs welcome and can be let off leash inside the Barkham Dog Park.
Directions
From Interstate 95 in Fort Lauderdale, take Interstate 595 west for 10.6 miles. Exit onto SR 84 west at the cloverleaf with Interstate 75 and the Sawgrass Parkway. In 0.4 mile turn right to enter the park.
About the Park
For nature enthusiasts, the most intriguing part of the property is a wooded area close to the entrance. A parking area is along the paved road where a concrete walkway starts.
It leads to the Nature and Lakeview Trails and the pollinator garden. The campground is also within easy walking distance of both nature trails.
Quiet spot in the pollinator gardenThe center of the park presents a large grassy lawn dotted with picnic benches and grills next to an elongated, winding lake. Playgrounds are on the north and south sides of the lake.
Given strategically placed life preservers and no swimming, we are guessing these lakes are deep borrow pits from road construction in the 1970s.
Picnic area next to the lakeAn 18-hole disc golf course runs along the eastern side of the park and has a dedicated parking area near the midpoint.
Next to the disc golf area, drones and radio-controlled planes take to the sky over a wide field in the southeast corner.
Disc golf courseSurrounded by the lakes, several miles of mountain bike trails wind across a wooded island. At the south end of the trails, a bike shop offers rentals and supplies.
It adjoins a small food truck that is open on the weekends. A pass is required to use the mountain bike trails, stop by the park office for more information.
Bike shopHike
Starting at the parking area next to the dog park and ranger station, a concrete pathway leads out across an open clearing before splitting in two directions.
To the left, the walkway continues for a few hundred feet before ending at the butterfly garden.
Grassy paths meander around tidy clusters of flowers with signs displaying the name of the plant and host species of butterfly
Bench in the gardenTurning right at the fork in the sidewalk, the Nature Trail invites visitors with a large sign and wooden walkway leading into the woods.
Cross over the bridge. A side spur leads to the New River Greenway, a paved trail that continues several miles eastward.
Color coded arrows designate the main trail and five separate loops that explore a variety of different landscapes.
Map kiosk at the trailheadThe main trail follows a neatly trimmed corridor for 0.3 mile before reaching a water control structure that provides access to the Conservation Levee Greenway outside the park.
A birder’s delight, the Conservation Levee Greenway is a flat gravel-topped levee along the edge of the Everglades, extending north to Parkland parallel to the Sawgrass Parkway.
Meandering all the loops of the Nature Trail along with the butterfly garden, you can walk up to 1.6 miles on this trail network inside Markham Park.
Cypress trees along a side loopThe Lakeside Trail is a separate linear footpath starting near the campground. The easiest way to access it is by parking at the western boat ramp.
A sign designates the south entrance of the trail across the road. The wide pathway enters dense stands of Australian pines.
Lakeside Trail entranceWind alongside the water’s edge for a little over a mile. Benches offer spots to rest and a small dock near the middle provides views of the lake.
A wooded island is set aside for wildlife to roam. A few side trails bypass areas where the pathway may be wet during certain times of the year. A round trip tallies 2.3 miles.
Lake viewCamping at Markham Park
The park offers 88 RV style sites, some of which are also designated for tent camping. Each site provides water, electricity, a picnic bench, and access to a restroom with showers.
In addition to the developed campground, a primitive group camping area is available. Call to make reservations in advance.
Campsite in the developed campgroundTrail Map
Explore More!
Video
A walk through Markham Park
Nearby Adventures
Flamingo Gardens A nonprofit botanical garden with its roots in a citrus grove, Flamingo Gardens began with tropical trees planted in 1928, now giants among the thematic gardens across 60 acres of Davie.
Tree Tops Park Explore an ancient Everglades island where you can climb into the canopy of ancient live oaks to browse among the bromeliads or wander wetlands boardwalks on a 1.3 mile loop.
Chapel Trail Park Nature Preserve Preserving 450 acres on the edge of Pembroke Pines, Chapel Trail Nature Preserve makes an excellent birding destination as well as an easy-to-reach sampler of Everglades flora and fauna.
Florida Trail, Big Cypress North 11.9 miles. The northern portion of the Florida Trail in Big Cypress is very different from the southern part, more elevated and shady with several outstanding backcountry campsites.
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- Bullfrog Creek WEA - April 7, 2026
- Ney Landrum State Park - April 3, 2026