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Markham Park
124 reviews
4.25 of 5
16001 W. State Rd. 84, Sunrise, FL 33326
(954) 389-2000 - FAX (954) 389-2019
Opened in 1973, this sprawling 666-acre park is perched at the edge of the Everglades Conservation
Area, which is accessible from one of the parks two boat ramps. A series of interlocking lakes offers
opportunities for fishing (licenses required for ages 16 and up) and the use of personal watercraft, and
theres a swimming pool complex with mist pool, snack bar, lockers, and showers/restrooms.
One of the sites most prominent features is its outdoor target range, built in 1984. The complex includes
50-yard and 100-meter rifle/pistol ranges, skeet/trap fields, a mile-long sporting clays course, two pro
shops, and a clubhouse with snack bars and a meeting room.
Among the parks other distinctive amenities are the Fox Observatory, a model airplane field, and a
mountain bike trail. A large campground includes 86 sites for RV and tent camping, eight with full
hookups and 78 with water and electricity.
Athletic facilities include a tennis/racquetball center, two basketball courts, a biking/jogging path, and
volleyball areas. Bikes and boats are available to rent, and there are nature and equestrian trails.
Two 120+ capacity and three 60+ capacity picnic shelters -- all with grills, tables, and water, two with
electricity -- are available for rentals, and there are other picnic tables and grills scattered throughout the
park. A 1,600-square-foot clubhouse adjacent to the target range can also be rented.
Summary: These trails are some of (if not) the best we have going for us in South FL. Markham is a ton of fun especially with a group. If you like twisty, technical singletrack with a fair share of funky bridges, abrupt climbs, and exhilarating drops, this is the place to go in So. FL. The trail and elevation are actually built into and around the fill from the surrounding lakes dug throughout the park. The terrain is comprised mostly of very fine hard packed sand, and dirt with some rocky sections, for good measure. A lot of fun. Everything is marked perfectly, so there really aren't any surprises or potential to ride up to something you didn't anticipate. Props to the volunteer trailbuilders, they have brought this place to an awesome level of rideability relative to its former state, it flows beautifully (if you expect the typical type of terrain that Markham offers). I went yesterday and even though it was pouring rain and I was drenched, the trails were so well maintained and fun to ride, I felt like I was on a Disney-owned property.
Recommended Route: Start from the beginning and hit every trail, in succession. The only trails I would think are worth missing are the bypass sections (never ridden them).
Other recommended trails in the same area: If you like to ride, and are locally bound to South FL, the only other ride worth doing is Oleta. Oleta has many more tree roots, and they are from mangrove trees, so they are copious and can be slippery, but does offer some generally, less-aggressive(while it has its moments), longer-lived trails. Amelia is the only other ride we have in South FL besides the two aforementioned and is the most novice of the three, and it's worth mentioning that if you go to amelia earhart cover up, unless you don't mind being eaten alive by sand flies.
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Summary: Will come back again! First time here proved worth the 1 hour drive. Overall, lots of elevation changes for a "flat" park in South Florida. The 'easy' trails are nice warmups, some even have some stuff to contend with. The 'intermediates' are very good, comparable to most of Pinehurst's blues/some reds, but they are much longer. Problem was the wetness - it was holding a lot of water, and it rained as we were leaving. Thanks for the fresh water showers though!! Now they just need a new Port-O-Let (disgusting)!!
Recommended Route: Do the Warm-Up Loop to get the blood going, start at the Black Warm-Up if you've got skills, it's only Black for the first 40 feet. My son and I liked Armadillo (good climbs and descents for a blue), Outback & Redback. Middle Earth was nice warm up, too. Route-66 was closed. Lost Ring shows as a blue on the park map, but it's labeled Black where you enter. It was a good Blue/black, nothing radical. Did Danny's Twail - big rock climb 20 seconds in is the hardest part, but there's some good stuff to dodge and descend through. Not too many logs to jump/roll over, but lots of limestone rock and coral outcroppings. Stay on your bike!!
Other recommended trails in the same area: We'll check out Oleta in the future.
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Summary: Nice job trail builders. Some nice stunts, nothing dangerous. The "Double Black" trails here are comparable to the blues out west. Challenging switchbacks and some decent jumps. One interesting thing to note: there are WAY too many volunteer "Mountain Bike Patrol" guys riding around. As in there are about 40 of them on a seven mile trail. And they will let you know exactly what their opinion is on everything, even if you very plainly want to ride, and not jabber. Nice guys for the most part, just a little too nosy for my taste. And the day I was there, the patrol outnumbered the rec riders 2:1. That's a lot of overbearing volunteer cops. Nice spandex, guys ;)
Summary: I LOVE this place. Trails for every level and then some. Flowins singletrack, technical stuff, steep climbs and drops.... you name it. Trails are very well maintained and have good facilities as well.
Well worth my 2 hour drive to spend the day or a weekend here.
Recommended Route: Warm Up Loop to Middle Earth which leads you to Washing Machine, Route 66 to Deep Dark Forrest. Around to Armadillo (something or other) to Redback. On to Outback and Crime Scene then over to Gun Range.
Other recommended trails in the same area: Caloosahatchee Regional Park (CRP)
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