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Located within John U. Loyd State StatePark in Dania Beach, FL, this is a shallow 2 1/4 mile paddle between the beach and the mangroves. It is well sheltered from the wind and partially shaded. In addition to paddling in the creek, other options are dragging the kayak over to the beach, going into the intracoastal and looking at cruise ships or trying to go out the cut. The creek got its name from rumrunners during the 1920's who would hide in it. If you get to the south part of John Lloyd Park on the ocean side (best done from the alternative Dania Beach put-in), there is a long line of cement jacks (used as amphibious assault barriers during WWII) going straight out from the beach starting about 50 yards from shore almost all the way to the 1st reef. There is a single cement jack on the beach to mark the spot. This is great structure for snorkeling. If you go into the intracoastal and especially into the inlet, wear your PFD. Motorboat traffic here is always heavy. Note- avoid paddling the north half of the creek during the hour before and after low tide, or you will be portaging (i.e. it's too shallow to paddle at low tide).
Directions: Take I-95 to Stirling Rd east. At US1 turn left, then make a quick right at the next light onto Dania Beach Blvd. Go over the intracoastal and follow the signs to John U. Lloyd State Park. Take the road about 2 miles to the boat ramp entrance. If you cross the bridge over the creek you've gone too far. For the alternate put-in at Dania Beach, take the first exit off the loop over A1A.
Entrance fee/parking: $4 and up (depending on number of people in car) park entry fee. Park in the boat ramp parking lot.
Facilities: Concession stand with food, bathrooms, canoe, kayak and sailboat rental. The fishing jetty at the northern tip of the park is closed, so you can kayak to it and fish.
Put-in/Take-out: 2 cement boat ramps. In the northern part of the creek you can paddle over and pull up onto the beach side also. You can launch into the ocean from the beach anywhere in John Lloyd Park.
Alternatively, if you want to start at the south end of the creek, you can park at Dania Beach near the pier and there is a sandy area just north of the parking lot from which you can launch a kayak. This is at the north end of the marina. If you want to launch into the ocean, you have to drag the kayak over sand about 200 yards north of the pier to John Lloyd territory if the lifeguards are around. Same for landing. From Dania Beach it's a short paddle to the north end of West Lake. Parking is metered, $1.50 per hour.
Route: Head east from the put-in and you're in the creek. Water is only a few feet deep at high tide in most places, so motorboats don't bother you. At low tide some of the shallow spots are not navigable, but it's a hard sand bottom that you can walk on. It runs a little over 2 miles due south to the marina at Dania Beach, at which point you can go out to the intracoastal or back the way you came. The current runs in and out from both ends of the creek. If you start out heading west you're in the intracoastal and can head north to the inlet. For a circular route, take the intracoastal the direction the tide is going (south on incoming, north on outgoing) and take the creek the other way. It is about a 30-40 yard portage from the creek over the beach to the ocean. You are allowed to launch oceanside from anywhere in the John Lloyd park.
Wildlife: Herons, egrets, ibis, stingrays and lots of mullet. Manatees may be seen in the intracoastal during winter months.
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Put-in spot within John Lloyd Park is in pink
Alternate put-in at Dania Beach
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