Launch Location: Riverland Woods Park in Dania. The ramp can be slippery due to algae growing on it so it is best to wear water shoes.
3950 Riverland Road, Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Description: It’s been a long time since I’ve goon kayaking due to being injured twice in two separate car accidents. I’m still recovering from the second accident so had to limit how much paddling I could do.
This was my first time trying to paddle this area. We missed the righthand turn before Secret Woods Park and didn’t realize it until we were almost so far east that we were approaching the I-95 overpass. We turned around but by this time strong winds and a storm hit. We paddled on anyway and finally got to the turnoff point to head to the Slough. We looked for a way in but we missed the one point that looked open of Google Earth. Finally exhausted and fearing getting hit by even worse weather we headed back to the launch.
Now that I’m familiar with the area planning on going back soon and looking for the entrance into the slough that can be seen on Google Earth. But overall it was a very enjoyable paddle with lots of wildlife and very enjoyable waters.
Kayak Rentals Availability: Rentals are not provided by the park.
Amenities: There are public restrooms in the park.
Download Kayaking Track For Use In Google Earth
Try launching at South Fork Canoe Launch, a Broward County park located on 441 just North of Griffin Road. No ramp but easy launch from the shore. You head East about a quarter mile and you reach a fork in the water, the left turn of the fork is Pond Apple Slough. If you paddle to 595 & back, it’s a 4 mile paddle.
Thank you for this tip :)
Feb. 10th 2022. .My impressions of the South Fork Canoe Launch are a bit negative. The access and launch point is good. It’s just the close proximity of the intersection of SR7 & Griffin Rd. area which gives me a concern about the safety of my vehicle while parked there. It is right on SR 7 so anyone driving by can see it, but you know-no one is going to pay attention to the spot I just did not feel good about leaving my vehicle there, but that is just me.
The waters edge has a few rocks in it and not a lot of shallow before dropping off. Enough to get in, but I use skin on frame kayaks and didn’t like the rocky situation.
The better parking sight which I felt was more “vehicle secure”(if that means anything these days.) is the “Riverland Woods Park” as shown. Depending on the tides the low tide has the algae on the ramp. High tide line seems to be a bit cleaner as it dries out during low tide.
The problem with missing the turn off into the Slough from the “New River” is that the boatyards have docks on both sides of the waterway so it does not look accessable. Look at it on Google maps and you will see Bradford Marina on one side. Look at the satellite view and if you can imagine being on the river it does not look like an waterway to pass through, but it is.
Thank You .
I’m planning on doing this paddle again I would really like to park closer to the Slough. Vehicle safety is a priority though.