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Paddle through downtown, going by Riverside and the Broward Center for the Performing Arts. Paddle a little further to the waterfront neighborhhods off Las Olas Blvd., which prompts a comparison to Venice. Water quality is what one would expect from an urban waterway. If you turn up into the Tarpon river it makes a loop tour, the east part has nice homes but most of the rest is cement walls and backyards. To the west of the launch site is mainly suburbs. The launch site is called Cooley's Landing at Sailboat Bend.
Directions: From the north take I-95 to Broward Blvd East, turn right at NW/SW 7th Ave (Avenue of the Arts) and go straight onto Cooley Ave. Don't go left and over the bridge. From the South take Davie Blvd east from I-95, turn left on SW 4th Ave., cross the bridge over the river and make a very sharp left back onto Cooley Ave. after you cross the bridge.
Entrance fee/parking: Metered parking. There is technically no parking on weekdays for cars without boat trailers, but they apparently don't enforce it and are supposed to change the rules. On weekends you can legally park in the metered spots.
Facilities: Bathrooms
Put-in/Take-out: Cement boat ramps
Route: You can head east toward the intracoastal or west to where the New River forks into North and South Forks. The Tarpon River loop is not navigable all the way around. Tidal currents are mild.
Wildlife: not much.
This section of the New River is less developed and more of an urban wilderness adventure. The section between I-595 and the Dania Cutoff Canal has no buildings and the west bank has been lined with rip-rap and replanted with mangroves. Tarpon and snook patrol the area. Manatees are common in winter. The highlight of the trip (for me) is the Pond Apple Swamp. Others may enjoy the mega-yachts at the boatyards by I-595.
Directions: For Riverland Wood Park turn east on Riverland Road off 441 just north of I-595, then make the first right turn past some convenience stores. The park is at the end of the road. The 30th Street ramp is on 30th St a few blocks north of Griffin Road. (Note- the streets on the north and south sides of Griffin are numbered differently)
Entrance fee/parking: Both sites are free with ample parking and no security.
Facilities: None
Put-in/Take-out: Cement boat ramps
Route: From Riverland head east a mile until you see the "Pipe Welders" sign, then turn right and go under 595. The Pond Apple Swamp is now on the west bank. You will see a forest of bromeliad covered pond apple trees with a dense understory of leather ferns. As of April 2008 there are two small entrances into the swamp that a kayak can squeeze into, but you have to poke around to find them. Keep heading southwest until the cutoff canal. From the 30th St. ramp head west a mile, then turn right after you pass a noisy FPL building. Paddle another mile or so along the scenic part of the river to the Pond Apple Swamp.
Wildlife: Manatees, egrets, herons and iguanas.
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Pond Apple swamp
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