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Tradewinds Park South

Tradewinds Park

One of the largest parks near Fort Lauderdale, Tradewinds Park provides a surprising variety of activities, from farm animals and butterflies to miles of trails

Coconut Creek      ( 26.2737, -80.1742 )      3.4 miles

Across 625 acres, Tradewinds Park goes well beyond the typical county park with paved paths, recreation areas, and picnic pavilions.

It offers an extraordinary variety of day use activities in Coconut Creek, from therapy riding with horses to a miniature steam train ride and a boardwalk winding through a wild pond apple swamp.

There are ponds to fish in, great green spaces to roam, and one of the largest free-flight butterfly houses in the United States.

Still, it’s a nice place to simply have a family picnic, walk the dog, or let the kids ramble the grassy expanses.

Tradewinds Park Stands of cypress are a reminder that this was once part of the Cypress Creek floodplain


Resources

South Florida: An Explorer's Guide Exploring Florida's Botanical Wonders Hiker's Guide to the Sunshine State

Disclosure: As authors and affiliates, we receive earnings when you buy these through our links. This helps us provide public information on this website.


Overview

Location: Coconut Creek
Length: 3.4 miles in four loops and a spur
Trailhead: 26.2737, -80.1742
Address: 3600 W Sample Rd, Coconut Creek
Fees: $1.50 per person, children 5 and under free, to enter the park on weekends and holidays.
Restroom: in the picnic areas
Land manager: Broward County
Phone: 954-357-8870

Open 8 AM to 6 PM. Office open 9 AM-5:30 PM. Leashed pets welcome.

Tradewinds Park


Directions

 
Follow Sample Rd west from Interstate 95 or Exit 69 Florida’s Turnpike in Coconut Creek. The park is immediately west of the Turnpike. Turn right into Tradewinds Park North, or left into Tradewinds Park South. On weekends and holidays there is a gate attendant and park entrance fee. The first parking area in Tradewinds Park South gains you access to the entire trail system. We usually drive to the very end of the road, passing Butterfly World, and park near the Frittilary Pavilion.

About the Park

There are two sides to Tradewinds Park, as it is bisected by Sample Road. Of these, we have only explored the trails of Tradewinds Park South.

Tradewinds Park North

The north side of the park speaks to its heritage as a former ranch, with an educational farm with barnyard animals and an equestrian trail.

There are recreational elements too, including fields for baseball, football, soccer, and cricket.

Kids will love taking a ride on the model steam train that wraps around the park.

Aerial view of Tradewinds Park North
Aerial view of Tradewinds Park North (Adobe Stock)

Tradewinds Park South

The southernmost part of the park, bounding the historic channel of Cypress Creek, is a tropical forest with a pond apple swamp you can explore on a boardwalk.

Tradewinds Park Pond Apple Boardwalk


Just north of the swamp is a lake separating the park from nearby residences. Fishing is permitted in this area.

Tradewinds Park The lake on the west side of Tradewinds Park South


Winding asphalt paths go on for miles and picnic pavilions are scattered between patches of forest, with playgrounds and a disc golf course along them.

You can walk up to 3.4 miles on the trails of Tradewinds Park south by starting at the parking area near the park entrance and walking to the south end of the park. All of the trails are paved except the boardwalk.

Tradewinds Park The picnic pavilions are named after butterflies in Tradewinds Park South


The most prominent feature on this side of the park is Butterfly World, established in 1988 with a series of free-flight aviaries for butterflies and birds.

It requires a separate admission in addition to the park admission fee. Most residents get an annual pass.

Tradewinds Park One of the thousands of butterflies at Butterfly World


This natural attraction is not just a butterfly house. There is also an insect zoo and heritage exhibits. Its passionflower maze is outstanding, and other gardens ring the complex.

Butterfly World

Butterfly World

While butterflies are the main attraction at this complex of natural wonders inside Tradewinds Park, a series of gardens also put on quite a show

Park Map

Tradewinds Park Trail Map Please note that the loop lower left for the Pond Apple Boardwalk may have changed since we visited


Explore More!

Slideshow

See our photos of Tradewinds Park


Nearby Adventures

More worth exploring while you’re in this area.

Fern Forest ferns

Fern Forest Nature Center

A bounty of ferns awaits at Fern Forest Nature Center, where more than two miles of trails introduce you to a slice of Florida’s past, a tropical forest surrounding the original floodplain of Cypress Creek

Tall Cypress bromeliad

Tall Cypress Natural Area

Protecting 66 acres of natural habitats in Coral Springs, Tall Cypress Natural Area offers a wonderland of ferns along its loop trail through a cypress slough

Pondhawk Natural Area

Pondhawk Natural Area

Pondhawk Natural Area protects 79 acres of scrub habitats and wetlands, including a relict pond apple slough with some of the tallest pond apple trees in Florida.

Secret Woods tropical forest

Secret Woods Nature Center

Designated the first “urban wilderness area” in Florida in 1978, Secret Woods protects a 56-acre floodplain of cypress strand and mangroves with uplands of tropical hammock

Category: Biking, County Parks, Equestrian, Hikes, Loop Hikes, Nature Trails, Parks, Paved Bike Trails, Southeast Florida, TrailsTag: Accessible, Boardwalks, Coconut Creek, Dog-friendly, Family-Friendly, Fishing, Fort Lauderdale, Picnic, Pompano Beach

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