There are no fees. Visitors may park and visit Wakodahatchee Wetlands for free.

Wakodahatchee Wetlands is open daily. Exceptions include annual closures for maintenance and safety-related repairs to the boardwalk. Typically, this annual closure is scheduled for October or November and will be posted in advance on the website. Other closures may arise due to unpredictable severe or inclement weather such as tropical storms and hurricanes. If other county parks are closed due to extreme weather or hurricane-related events, it is safe to assume that Wakodahatchee Wetlands will also be closed.

Yes, mostly due to changing amounts of daylight with the seasons and Daylight-Saving Time. Please check the website at the top of this page for current hours of operation.

Yes, parking for Wakodahatchee Wetlands is available on site at 13270 S. Jog Rd. During hours of operation, enter through the entrance gate. Be aware that during busy times of year, there may be a wait for parking. Remain patient and wait until a spot opens up. On-site security staff will assist with directing traffic to an available spot. Do not drive past security unless they direct you to do so.

While the parking lot may become full during the day, especially from late winter to early spring, spaces will periodically open throughout the day as people leave. Please note that there is no overflow parking and we do not keep track of wait times. Remain patient and wait until a spot opens up. On-site security staff will assist with directing traffic to an available spot. Do not drive past security unless they direct you to do so. If you do not have time to wait, Green Cay Nature Center and Wetlands is located a few minutes away at 12800 Hagen Ranch Rd., Boynton Beach, and has triple the amount of parking spaces available. Green Cay also offers an indoor nature center and a similar elevated boardwalk across a constructed wetland environment.

Yes, there is one designated bus space available on a first-come, first-serve basis at Wakodahatchee Wetlands. This bus spot can accommodate a typical shuttle bus; it cannot fit a coach-size bus.

The entire boardwalk and walking path is ¾ of a mile (1.2 kilometers). There are benches and shaded gazebos which allow places to stop for a break.

It is a partial loop. There is one way in/out near the entrance but more than half of the path is a loop.

The path is mostly an elevated wooden boardwalk over open water and there is a shorter concrete section over land.

The county often performs routine maintenance in October or November; it's wise to check for specific closure dates which will be posted on this webpage.

Yes, there are several benches and places to sit and rest.

No, there are no food services, vending machines or other eating amenities at Wakodahatchee Wetlands. In order to maintain as natural an environment as possible, eating is discouraged and there are no picnic areas on the property. Food may also attract wildlife and lead them to become dependent on human assistance, which is discouraged at this and other natural sites.

No. There are no food services, vending machines or other eating amenities at Wakodahatchee Wetlands. In order to maintain as natural an environment as possible, eating is discouraged and there are no picnic areas on the property. Food may also attract wildlife and lead them to become dependent on human assistance, which is discouraged at this and other natural sites.

Yes. It is recommended that you have your own water bottle to use at our refill station which is located by the restrooms in the parking lot. Once you enter onto the boardwalk at Wakodahatchee Wetlands there will be no additional water stations until you return to the parking lot.

Restrooms are located opposite the boardwalk entrance/exit on the east side of the parking lot. Observe the pedestrian crosswalk markings which lead to the restroom building.

No. Other than the restrooms, there are no other enclosed buildings on property. To visit the nearest Nature center with visitor amenities, try Green Cay Nature Center and Wetlands, located at 12800 Hagen Ranch Rd., just a few minutes away from Wakodahatchee Wetlands.

You can stop by one of the gazebos for shade and trees provide some shade on different parts of the path. However, many parts of the boardwalk can be in full sunlight. As such, hats, sunblock/sunscreen, parasols and/or other protective clothing is recommended.

No. We do not offer Wi-Fi anywhere on property. However, you may be able to receive cellular service (for example, 5G) from your local carrier.

No. Pets are not permitted due to the confined space of the boardwalk and for the safety of other pedestrians on the boardwalk as well as the nesting birds and wildlife on property. For a list of dog-friendly parks in Palm Beach County, please refer to Palm Beach County Parks & Recreation: https://discover.pbc.gov/parks/General/Dogs.aspx

No, due to the high volume of visitors on the boardwalk at Wakodahatchee, speedwalking and running is not permitted.

No, as these are wild animals and should not be fed by the public. Food and picnicking at Wakodahatchee Wetlands is not permitted. For more information on why not to feed wild animals, please refer to Palm Beach County Parks & Recreation's info page here: https://discover.pbc.gov/parks/General/Animals-Do-Not-Feed.aspx

No. Plants and animals (including eggs) should not be touched, even if reachable from the path. Wakodahatchee was designed to create an environment as close to nature as possible, that is, free from human intervention. Please observe all animals and birds from a safe, respectful distance and allow them to conduct their behavior free from human interference.

No, drones are not permitted on property. For the safety of other visitors and for the birds and wildlife, drones are not permitted.

No, biking as well as skating are not permitted on the boardwalk or walking path at Wakodahatchee Wetlands.

No, smoking is not permitted.

No, fishing is not permitted anywhere along the boardwalk, walking path, or at a gazebo. Any fish in the waters at Wakodahatchee Wetlands are there to feed the birds and other wildlife.

No, alcohol is not permitted.

No. Activities of any kind are not permitted in the water at Wakodahatchee Wetlands. All visitors must always stay on the boardwalk and designated walking path at all times. Only authorized county personnel and/or authorized county maintenance vendors are permitted to conduct maintenance activities off of the boardwalk.

You can check out our live cameras at https://discover.pbc.gov/waterutilities/Pages/Wetlands.aspx to see what is happening at three different areas of the wetlands. While not all parts of the wetlands are visible, it will give you a good idea of what to expect upon arrival in terms of weather and visitor volume on the boardwalk.

You can check out our live cameras at https://discover.pbc.gov/waterutilities/Pages/Wetlands.aspx to get an idea of current weather conditions. There are also many services on the internet that can provide up-to-date weather forecasts and the latest conditions in the area.

Different kinds of birds will nest at different times of the year. There are normally the most birds nesting from later winter to early summer. Wakodahatchee is known for active nesting sites of wood storks, egrets, glossy ibis, great blue herons, purple martins, common gallinules, and black-bellied whistling ducks. Other birds will also regularly be visible and possibly nesting as well.

While there is never any guarantee of a sighting, alligators are commonly present throughout the year and are often visible. Visitors should never attempt to attract, lure, or otherwise disturb any alligators that may be visible.

Local organizations like Audubon Everglades frequently host guided bird-watching walks that require advanced registration through the host organization and may require a donation and/or membership in the group. If you would like to book a tour in advance with county personnel which offers a general interest perspective including the history, building of the site, its use of reclaimed water, and its role in the environment, please email WUDPR@pbcwater.com for more information.

No, there are no regularly scheduled programs. If you would like to book a tour in advance with county personnel which offers a general interest perspective including the history, building of the site, its use of reclaimed water, and its role in the environment, please email WUDPR@pbcwater.com for more information.

All requests for on-site filming on any county property must first be submitted to the Palm Beach County Film and Television Commission at https://www.pbfilm.com/.

The memorial plaque program at Wakodahatchee Wetlands remains discontinued, although existing plaques are currently maintained. Green Cay Nature Center and Wetlands (https://discover.pbc.gov/parks/pages/greencay.aspx) is accepting new donations in memoriam, and Palm Beach County Environmental Resources Management (https://discover.pbc.gov/erm/Pages/Natural-Areas.aspx) also has a memorial bench donation program in place. Both agencies offer options for friends and families to honor the memory of a loved one.

At Wakodahatchee, Palm Beach County Water Utilities Department discharges approximately 750,000 gallons (2.8 million liters) up to one million gallons of highly treated reusable water daily and naturally filters the water further through the layers of soil and sand below the wetlands. While it is not potable water, it is safe for the environment and very beneficial for plants and wildlife.​​