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Print Friendly MapCypress Creek Trail is a shared use path that runs from the Everglades towards the sea in the southeastern Florida city of Tamarac. The trail lies just outside the Everglades' eastern border. For nearly 3 miles, the paved greenway parallels Southgate Boulevard on one side and C-14 Canal on the other. It initially ended near the Fern Forest Nature Center. However, there is a more recent eastern segment that continues the journey towards the sea and extends the trail to Lyons Road for a total of 7 miles.
Running along the river, the trail is mostly smooth, wide, and flat. The Cypress Creek Trail brings locals and residents closer to the river and to the flora and fauna that surround it. Offering plenty of opportunities for recreation, it is also a connector to various destinations ranging from schools and shopping to parks.
Tephford Park Playground (10301-10573 Southgate Blvd) is located at the trail's western end. Tamarac Veterans’ Park (7825 Southgate Blvd) is midway along the route and Fern Forest Nature Center (201 S Lyons Rd, Coconut Creek) is at the eastern endpoint of the trail.
The trail has good signage throughout. Note that the trail offers little shade, so you'll want to wear a hat, shades, and sunscreen. Restrooms and drinking water are located along the route and are marked on the TrailLink map.
Broward County Transit (BCT) provides easy access to the trail. Refer to the BCT website to plan your visit.
For those driving, parking is available at a number of locations along the trail, including Tephford Park Playground (10301-10573 Southgate Blvd) at the western trailhead. Visit the TrailLink map for all options and detailed directions.
Fern Nature Center is a real, off road trail (with some big intersections but that’s Florida) going west follows a canal on an 8-10 ft concrete path in very good condition. Pleasant views and will do again. Going east however is just an amalgam of sidewalks and unprotected bike lanes on busy roads that aren’t largely even pleasant to drive on.
Portion from Everglades to Fern Forest is in very good shape. Easy traffic crossing. Back and forth 24 Km
West end is nice concrete, flat ride an wide path but with several road crossings. These crossings require short rides along a 5’ pedestrian walk and the crossings have heavy traffic……pay attention. The easterly end is not a trail, but mostly a road edge ride or on pedestrian walks. This section really should be removed from the mapped trail as it is unsafe and promotes illegal pedestrian walk riding. West end is great spot for locals and adjoiners.
Start your ride early, so that you have less traffic. Started a few miles South on A1A. A1A has a decent bike lane too.
The road though Pompano Beach / Fort Lauderdale is not always marked. I know Fort Lauderdale from driver perspective, but didn't know that Race Track Road changes its name every mile. That was the only confusing thing. Also, go south on Powerline until you reach South Palm Aire Ave.
The real trail starts at Fern Forest. Despite the early hour, there were people walking their dogs, the trail crosses roads each mile, so I couldn't maintain a constant speed.
I use a mountain bike, with wide tires. A tribike would have been better, although the pavement is not perfectly flat everywhere.
With the extra 3 miles to home, I rode 39.19 miles in 3h18m, mountain bike.
Overall it is a nice experience.
I am amazed this can be called a trail or Greenway. It is miles of blazing sun, no green below or above, next to heavily trafficked fast moving roads. I see sad hot workers commuting on this by necessity not fun.
Too many street crossings on busy roads I got hit by a car that ran a red light
Looks good at first riding on concrete as opposed to gravel, but ,then you end up riding in a bike lane with cars going by. When I got to the first parts where I would have to cross a busy street, I turned around, and went back to my car. It took a while to actually locate the trail. I wouldn't have minded that if the trail wasn't so close to traffic.
This is a lovely idea, high quality concrete trail bed. However, this path is interrupted every several miles by major high volume road interchanges. Get off and carry bike over high curb busy streets. That’s after figuring out where to park. Cypress canal is some kind of drainage ditch, there are pumping stations along its route, ‘nuff said. Serious bikers should avoid this nonsense. Fine for walking (but must walk to crosswalks to get across busy streets) if objective is long walk.
Good ride.
Nice wide trail west of Fern Forest Park, a little buggy this time a year. We saw tons of iguanas, some ducks and a couple of baby owls. I do it again when the weather is cooler¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿
The trail east of Fern Forest Park to the beach is really a sidewalk. The sidewalk is just 5 ft. wide but not much pedestrian or bike traffic. It is well signed except along Atlantic Blvd. Atlantic Blvd. is busy , so I took the streets one and two blocks north of Atlantic, very little traffic. Restrooms and water at the beach, but no other place on this section of trail.
I enjoyed riding on the trail despite having to cross busy roads. There are pedestrian cross walks, though, and for the most part the motorists yielded to the bikers and walkers as they should.
I did find the trail rather boring as far as the scenery. And what can we say about those unkempt backyards full of debris/trash? But as far as the actual concrete trail goes, I found it to be very accommodating to both cyclists and pedestrians.
I would ride the trail again!
We took the trail at Markham Park (Sawgrass) yesterday to Hiatus and was hoping t pick up Plantation to Cypress Greenway. However, we need to turn around as the sun was beginning to set and didn’t want to ride in the dark. We live right near Fern Forest (Cypress Greenway). We are hoping to take Cypress Greenway to Plantation/Hiatus Greenway and then to New River Greenway. Hoping that works for a great ride that we plan to do often. I’ll revise and let you know.
Nice trail overall, the crossings, I hope they can improve on. A bridge a tunnel or a direct path would be nice. The scenery was beautiful as it was my first time. It was a cool morning so not much Iguanas, thank goodness. I did not make the connect past Lyons rd, more signage would be nice. I looked at the map but it didnt work out as planned, I was tired anyway, so I just headed back home. If they could add better crossings, improve the Lyons road connect and add more rest stops, it’ll be perfect. 8/10 as is.
It's much longer than described. I passed a farmers market on Sunday and a luxury RV park. The sun was shining. The birds were flying. Stunning nature and scenery. The path is a very smooth ride. I continued to ride it east up mcnab. I made it to powerline ........and then could not find the signs. I'm hoping it goes all the way to federal highway.
I live off Lyons.......from Lyons to the Sawgrass Exprwy is about 7 mi (45 min bike ride avg speed). The cool thing I found is you can go down nobhill to Atlantic and go under 75 where they have a paved road and parking to access the Levee (by the everglades). There you have a choice of riding a trail to Markham Pk(14mi) or a recreation area(10mi) going a different direction......bring water and a flashlight (just in case)
I have not taken the entire path, but every time I do ride on it I'm blessed with it's hidden beauty.
Keep your eyes open.....
There's a GIANT colony of burrough owls along a lot of it. I've spotted in one ride 17 between university and nob hill. They're on the specials interest list of endangered species.
Other sites.... Sea otters, fish, iguanas, small parrots, ducklings, and too many other species of birds I have yet to identify.
Offers plenty of garbage and rest stops to get out of the sun along the way.
I personally look forward to more exploring.
Good concrete surface. Scenery consists of boring canal on one side & mostly people's seedy backyards on the other. Street crossings really detract from the whole trail overall. We rode the trail on 3/19/16 and there were 2 locations undergoing heavy underground utility work that forced you to walk you bike through equipment, hoses, and sand. Realizing these are a temporary obstruction does not take away from the trail (except on the day we chose to ride it). The Fern Forest county park on the east end of the trail is a nice stop to get off the bike and walk and stretch a bit, but you cannot park there until the park opens at 9:00 am. If you want to start early and do the whole trail you will need to start at the west end.
Good concrete surface. Scenery consists of boring canal on one side & mostly people's seedy backyards on the other. Street crossings really detract from the whole trail overall. We rode the trail on 3/19/16 and there were 2 locations undergoing heavy underground utility work that forced you to walk you bike through equipment, hoses, and sand. Realizing these are a temporary obstruction does not take away from the trail (except on the day we chose to ride it). The Fern Forest county park on the east end of the trail is a nice stop to get of the bike and walk and stretch a bit but you cannot park there until the park opens at 9:00 am. If you want to start early and do the whole trail you will need to start at the west end.
Never knew that such a nice bike trail existed in SFLA! Been to Fern Forest many times and always saw cars with bike racks. Finally brought my bike and went exploring. Rode from Fern Forest to the end of the trail at the Sawgrass. Enjoyed the nice, wide concrete path. Be prepared for your return ride as you might face the wind when you head East.
This trail was extended east to Lyons Road.
1.9 miles - University to Rock Island
1.0 miles - Rock Island to 441
1.2 miles - 441 to Lyons Road
The crossings, like most trails in South Florida, are terrible but the trail is nicely paved and maintained. I ride this trail frequently and incorporate in my routes heading east to the beach.
As for a bike trail, this is pretty darn good. It's straight forward and nicely paved. I did the trail this morning and I really enjoyed it. Not very busy as some trails. It's basically for cruising, jogging, and walking. You'll have walkers on the trail but have plenty of room. I believe this trail goes beyound (east)of University Drive. It has a dog park at the University Dr. Entrance. I believe it also has a dog park on the west end of the trail. I could'nt believe thay also had a small rock climbing area for kids but it was closed off.
The trail is just short of 3 miles (University Dr to Sawgrass Expwy. There is not much shade so if your thin on top, where a cap. I think I will be a regular at Cypress Creek Greenway.
The trail runs from Saw grass Expressway to Lyons rd.
you have to cross a few roads but great trail
8101 southgate is closed off. Enter condos past 8101 and circle around and par by pool. It is a residential area with guest parking. It is best to pass 8101 and park at Veteran Park.
This trail starts from the sawgrass expressway and it ends in university dr. It is long, smooth, clean, quiet and not many people in the way. However, you do have to stop and cross a few intersections. You have Coral Ridge drive & Pine Island road. This path runs on the side of a canal and view is pretty cool.
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