This place is an absolute gem in Palm Beach County -- a stunning 1.5-mile boardwalk winding through 100 acres of constructed wetlands, and every step of the way there is something to take in. Informational plaques are posted throughout, making it easy to learn about the native trees and bird species you encounter along the walk. The boardwalk is also stroller and wheelchair friendly, so it truly is a place for everyone! Come prepared: hat, sunscreen, and binoculars are a must, and don't forget your walking shoes. If you live nearby and love the outdoors, this is also the perfect spot to get your steps in while soaking up nature and staying active -- a workout that doesn't feel like one! My husband and I originally planned a quick visit and ended up staying for nearly three hours -- this place has a way of pulling you in. We chose to walk the boardwalk first and save the nature center for last, but if you're visiting from out of area or just want more context before you explore, I'd recommend flipping that order. The nature center is packed with information about the wetlands ecosystem, the wildlife that calls it home, and the fascinating history of the site itself -- none of which I knew before visiting. Grab a map before you head out! On our walk, we spotted an alligator gliding through the pond, turtles, and an impressive variety of bird species. The sounds were incredibly peaceful, and the stretches of shaded tree hammocks offered the perfect reprieve from the sun. We came across Gumbo Limbo trees, sabal palms, and strangler figs among other beautiful native species. It was truly a magical experience, and I cannot wait to come back! read more

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An absolutely stunning experience that takes you on a boardwalk journey across the marshes of south Florida. If you are a wildlife person you'll be thrilled with the abundance and biological diversity this park has to showcase. Alligators, dozens of bird species, and tons of subtropical plant species abound. Both kids and adults of all ages will find plenty of wonder in this little slice of nature heaven. read more

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Great place to go to get your steps or be apart of nature! It's about a mile long and has a few different routes you can take to complete the mile walk. Along the way are different facts about the species or plants there. I was even able to spot a few of the birds as well. They have an indoor nature center as well, but was closed at the time I visited.I will definitely return! read more

Beautiful walk with nature, many beautiful views and close up contact with birds. Plenty of parking and good bathroom facilities on site. We walked twice around and it was about 2.25 miles. read more

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This is a nice long boardwalk walk. You can see a ton of animals from turtles, to birds, to alligators, and much more! You are safely above the waters on a long walking path. You get to go through water, forest areas, and grassy wetlands. This is a great place to take kids and let them get energy out. There's always something new to see so you can go back every day and see 1 million new things. I highly recommend coming here. read more

Oh, it's an absolutely wonderful and beautiful place, you take a walk. It's mother nature at its best. You take every step and you see something new, it is so nice just to walk around and enjoy the outdoors. It's for all ages very safe, nice and clean, and just a beautiful way to relax listen to music in your ears and enjoy mother nature outside. read more

Green Cay Wetlands - Duck day - Parks Near Me - Boynton Beach, Florida

Green Cay is the perfect place for people and children of all ages. I cannot believe I have lived in this area my entire life and have never been until recently! For starters, they have an air conditioned information center. It has information about the area, some animal habitats set up, and even a few animals for viewing! It was very cool to start here and learn a little more about the park before walking. It's also a nice place to end on a hot day! The walk itself is incredible. There is a surprising amount of wildlife here and it is wonderful to see them in their natural habitat. The entire path is a boardwalk, so it is stroller friendly and safe. They also have QR codes along the path to teach you about the different areas, wildlife, and plants you may encounter. Half of the boardwalk is shaded, but half is also in direct sunlight. Be sure to wear a hat or bring sunscreen, especially if you have little ones. I suggest visiting early in the morning if it your first time. Enjoy! read more

Green Cay Wetlands - Natural area - Parks Near Me - Boynton Beach, Florida

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So peaceful and a great place to relax and see our amazing Florida wildlife. You must stop in at the nature center too.

I'm so fortunate to live so close to the Green Cay Wetlands, it's a treasure! The boardwalk is shady and there are many spots with areas to sit and take in the beautiful scenery. The nature center offers walks, naturalist, events for seniors & children, a gift shop, clean restrooms, lots of parking, racks for bicycles, and water fountains. There are many markers to tell us about the fauna and flora here. The sounds of the birds and the wrestling of the shrubs feel like I'm in the middle of the Everglades not across the street from Publix. Coming to the wetlands is truly a free mini vacation. read more

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This is a nice low-key wetlands area right in Boynton Beach. If you get there early in the morning, you can beat the crowds. Green Cay is a free park with a 1 mile boardwalk around the wetlands. Plenty of birds, alligators, turtles and fish. The boardwalk and the entire park is super well maintained and clean. Loved taking my kids here when they were little. We used to go "Gator hunting". Now I just enjoy grabbing a coffee and taking a nice walk. Although I have to admit, I still like gator hunting and it's always a score when you spot one or two! read more

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Walk a mile and a half around wetland. The cay is always crowded no matter what time you go there. Walk past friendly people and say hello. I always look for great pictures to take & to see alligators. There are plenty of birds to see as well. read more

My family and I went to Green Cay for the first time and were in awe of this sensational preserve in the middle of Boynton Beach. So scenic and peaceful and a haven for nature lovers. Perfect place to capture photography or paint a picture. Walkways are planked and handicapped accessible. My husband was on his Drive scooter which was so easy to maneuver. This is also a great place to take a walk. The route is basically a mile circle. We saw alligators and a wide variety of birds. Saw a group of children on a class trip. So much beauty in our world! read more

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Went this morning. Beautiful to spend time walking through this habitat. I always see something new and learn more about the natural world. I'm always grateful that we have this beautiful place. read more

Love this boardwalk. So much to see, all the wildlife is just wonderful. We take our friends here whenever they visit.

Green Cay Wetlands is an absolute gem in my eyes! I cannot believe that this nature center is completely free with the different tank displays of frogs, gators, turtles, rescued birds/an owl, and educational information everywhere. The boardwalk itself is incredibly nice and kept well. What I also love is the local teeming wildlife. If you're lucky, you'll see a gator like we did! There's also wild turtles, different bird varieties, iguanas, bunnies, etc. Everyone on staff is also super nice and helpful if you have any questions about the wetlands or the locals that live within them! I had a great time here and it quickly became my morning walk every morning, because I couldn't get enough. If you're in Boynton Beach... this is the spot to stop into and stroll around/take your time! It's worth it! read more

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Such a wonderful place for walking, birding, bringing visitors to take a glimpse of all the natural beauty in Florida. Many beautiful birds and wildlife and all native species of plants. Two boardwalks one 1 mile the other 1/2, to get an elevated view of all the great interesting action going on beneath. Great for kids and adults of all ages. There is a scavenger hunt for kids and a reasonably priced gift shop, indoor exhibits also. Alligators, bunnies and egrets. Not to mention the most friendly helpful staff around. It's certainly a place to see. read more

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Very calming . Love the scenery and the different birds . Oliver is my favorite . I'm hoping to see an alligator on my next visit

Great family friendly environment I would consider this a hidden gem I didn't see any no dogs allow signs so if you would like to go on a nice walk with you best friend. I would recommend this trail. Beautiful out door there's a bridge so your close enough to admire nature but not close enough to get snatched by a gator . Also great to bring the kids my little one enjoyed the trail . I'll recommend bringing water bottles and a hat if you have fair skin sunscreen a must have . There's sitting area with resting area/Little tiki cabanas so if even grandma wants to go for a walk she has plenty of stops to rest . read more

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What a great way to spend the day entertaining out of town guests! It's free too! They have no admission charge. There is also plenty of free parking. Lots of boardwalk greets you nestled among wetlands full of colorful wildlife! Wear sunscreen as many areas are not shaded. We wore our masks too since it was pretty crowded. Alligators were laying out on the grass below the boardwalk sunning themselves. Lots of various bird species and swimming turtles were present. Even a butterfly garden was noticed. Checkee Huts were present every now and then for resting in the shade. The area is lush with beautiful vegetation. There were two trails to follow. One was a mile and the other a half a mile. We took the longer route. We highly recommend this fun way to spend the day with guests. read more

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Free, Amazing experience of wild animals not in cages ..All animals are free to roam except for the alligator in one area kept behind a fence..But if he were to go into the water, most likely there is an underwater canal connection and it could probably leave. But with all the wildlife, birds and bird eggs for example and fish why would it want to leave. Great place to take children. read more

Used to go there all the time. It was really nice you could see real wildlife. Saw quite a few times bobcats and baby alligators. Not anymore. To start with it is load with iguanas which is not native to Florida and they are eating the wildlife that live there and are native to Florida. Besides that -- the people who visit there are about the rudest I have ever seen. Loud and inconsiderate of others, knocking into you while you trying to take a photo. On the phone talking loudly like some new residents of Florida from certain states do. I won't be back not as enjoyable as it once was. It is a shame that people act like animals, no manners avoid unless you enjoy being around rude people and prevent you from enjoying and observing wildlife. read more

This is as good as it gets! If you're a nature or wildlife enthusiast this is about as good as it gets: and it's free!!! Plenty of free parking in a nice part of Delray Beach Florida with lots of wildlife to view. Wildlife include: alligator, hawks, egrets, heron, fish, falcons, ducks, snakes, songbirds, lizards and others in a plush wetland makes this a birding paradise and photographers dream. It features a very modern, well air conditioned nature center with bathrooms and exhibits and fully elevated boardwalk that surround the entire wetland. Expect to see many advanced birders and long lens photographers enjoying this incredible wetland. Don't believe anyone when they say nothing good is free anymore as Green Cay is a fabulous free nature lovers paradise! Bring your camera or you'll regret it, visit Green Cay! read more

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It's a very serene and beautiful spot to enjoy a walk or sprint around. Water is still so usually it's quite. People from neighbouring houses walk their pets almost any time of the day but you can still enjoy the solitude. There is no food or drinks available to purchase but feel free to take your food along. Enjoy it on the rightly placed benches in and around the park. read more

Wonderful wetlands park with a boardwalk that allows you to view all kinds of wildlife and plants. We saw an alligator, spoonbill, hawks, egrets, heron, iguana, piliated woodpecker and more. A great stress buster, a wonderful way to improve your mental health. Several guests brought expensive telephoto cameras, and they got wonderful shots, but you can also get some great photos, just with a cellphone. The nature center has shorter hours, but you can enjoy the boardwalk until sunset. read more

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Parking is widely available,which is a huge plus! This park offers beautiful scenery and wildlife (various cranes, ducks, alligators (sometimes), iguanas, etc). It is somewhat crowded on the weekends. Staff is helpful and friendly and this is a nice place for the whole family (but the young kids may not be so patient with the 1 & 1.2 mile trails). Overall, a lovely, fun, and free experience! read more

Another great place in South Florida to check out the great wildlife and have a nice walk in the blistering heat if you go there in the summer like I did today. There is plenty of parking and the best part is that there is no fee for entrance to the wetlands and nature center. There are a couple of different paths you can take and some covered areas for you to take a break from the heat or sit to enjoy the splendid beauty that is in front of you. I got to see a lot of different birds, butterflies and turtles. I still haven't seen any alligators in the wetlands that I have been to here in South Florida, but I will one day! read more

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Beee-you-tiful place to stroll for nature lovers of all ages. Twice around the boardwalk makes for some serious exercise too. If you are in the park just after first light, about 15 minutes before official sunrise, you can witness the spectacle of hundreds of ibises departing from their nightly roost here in the park. And gators, and all kinds of turtles, and iguana galore... Who would have thought that a wastewater facility might one day become a garden of Eden? Palm Beach County Water Utility did. If you don't believe in a god, a sunrise walk in this park might change your mind. read more

There's a half mile boardwalk and a mile long board walk loop to choose from. We did them both. Both were beautiful, there's a ton of expansive land to look out on plus you go through some more wooded areas as well. Since this preserve is quite large the wildlife is much more spread out and illusive at times. We saw 3 crocodiles but they were decently far away. There's a small nature center where you can see Oliver the resident owl. He's adorable and tiny! We had a lot of fun but if you're choosing between this and Wakodahatchee Wetlands, I personally preferred wakodahatchee since the wildlife gets a lot closer to you but if vastness is your thing green cay is much larger and they have Oliver (he really is that adorable). read more

Green Cay is currently my favorite nature preserve in the area. It's got a giant 1.5 mile boardwalk which traverses a magnificent wetlands area. We absolutely love it and visit a few times a week. Aside from gorgeous landscapes, Green Cay arguably has the most vibrant assortment of wildlife in the south Florida area. No matter when we visit, we see lots of birds, alligators, iguanas, raccoons, turtles and who can forget the adorable rescue owl named Oliver. My kids absolutely love him. Since Covid-19 started, the facilities on site are very weak. The bathrooms are always locked and closed and there's no working water on site. But if you go to the bathroom beforehand and bring your own drinks, you're good. BTW, there's a super clean bathroom at Starbucks about 10 minutes away on Atlantic. We've made many a run there after a big hike on the boardwalk. Facilities aside, Green Cay gets 5 stars from me. Truly love this place. read more

This morning I got up early and took a short 4 mile drive over to The Green Cay Wetlands Nature Preserve. I wanted to beat the rain we are expecting later. I walked the 1 1/2 mile loop on the elevated handicapped accessible boardwalk. Along the way were little signs that you could scan and read about the area and different habitats. This was an absolutely beautiful walk and scenery. I saw many different birds and marshes, trees. It was so quiet and relaxing just walking around looking for different wildlife. I didn't spot any alligators today, but I will certainly be returning soon. read more

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The Green Cay Wetlands is a reminder of how lucky Palm Beach County residents are to live so close to something so beautiful. I've had the pleasure of visiting on many occasions - mostly over the weekend for a casual stroll with friends and relatives. The landscape is gorgeous, worthy of being the subject of paintings and photography. It's almost as if the flora and fauna have conspired to enthrall and rouse every visitor with breathtaking scenery on every inch of the land. I've also had the pleasure of visiting migration celebrations. Although it's a bit more crowded than to my liking, I love the fact that I'm surrounded with people, young and old, who value our environment and its preservation. The nature center hosts activities for the young and young at heart, including yoga and tai chi! And I absolutely love to peruse the gift shop offerings for gifts. Tips: If you're going during the day, wear sunscreen and a hat... much of the boardwalk is completely exposed to the sun. Weekend mornings are the perfect time to visit - with birders, nature lovers, and community members just wanting to get in a brisk walk all sharing the same space. Finally, if you have guests from out of town visiting from other parts of the world, bring them here to experience the best of what South Florida has to offer. read more

Green Cay Wetlands - One of the most beautiful locations in all Palm Beach County! - Parks Near Me - Boynton Beach, Florida

I tend to forget about Green Cay Wetlands, but I was pretty stunned to recently re-discover this park. I've grown to adore the crazy bird mania that is Green Cay's sister park, Wakodahatchee Wetlands. Green Cay, however, has its own appeal. The parking lot is ample, spacious, shady, and almost otherworldly-- a quiet, peaceful oasis in suburban Boynton Beach. From the parking lot, you walk through a butterfly garden onto a giant deck which houses bathrooms and an education center. A sturdy, strong wooden boardwalk takes visitors through the wetland. It is very safe for little ones to run around on; they can't fit through the gaps. Almost all of the boardwalk is in full sun, but there are a handful of covered pavilions with benches here and there, plus at least 2 tromps through the 'high road' of canopied 'woods.' We barely saw anyone else at the park, but the first woman we saw showed us where a Mama alligator was resting in a certain spot below the boardwalk. Later on, a man pointed out two baby alligators. That was pretty special, to see these small creatures in the wild. We also saw a ton of butterflies, moths and dragonflies, abundant in the marsh plants. Spiders and webs between the boardwalk slats. A marsh rabbit eating reeds. Birds: though maybe a quarter of what Wakodahatchee holds. The showstoppers at Green Cay: quiet, open sky views and open water wetlands. Such a nice place for walking, immersing into nature, and observing the beauty of Florida. read more

Green Cay Wetlands - Mama alligator. - Parks Near Me - Boynton Beach, Florida

Great place for a walk with lots of wild life to see. I always come by when I'm in the area. It's never too crowded and you always get to see different birds and an alligator here and there. read more

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Recently visited Green Cay for the first time. I've lived in the neighboring city for several years but only heard about this place recently as it had been closed for a while and was being renovated. There were quite a few people walking the two boardwalks when we went on a weekday morning. We picked a beautiful day. The one wooden boardwalk was 1 mile long and the second was one half mile. Both went through and around the beautiful wetlands. We saw birds, alligators and lizards. Both boardwalks looked new. There were restrooms and a visitor center open. I will visit more regularly as it was a wonderful place to walk and enjoy nature. read more

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Green cay is my favorite outdoor treadmill. Walk outdoors and experience the sounds of nature. Gigantic birds flying over your head and alligators in the water waiting to eat you. They are not. They love you. The birds let you get very close and they are not scared. Lots of older ones spend their days photographing wildlife. This is the place to go to bring you peace of mind and get closer to your creator. Do some research on birds before going. You will be amazed. read more

Green Cay Wetlands - Parks Near Me - Boynton Beach, Florida

Wow. This place is a true hidden treasure. It's a perfect spot for avid bird-watchers since there are more species of bird than I've ever seen. It's also great for a peaceful walk or a little workout to get your steps in. There is not much shade, so beware. Wear SPF. There is a little nature center with animals to see. It can get crowded! read more

I was in the Boyton neighborhood and asked my brother where there was a nice park to walk and check out nature. So delighted he told me about Green Cay park, I walked for a few hours, I saw many different kinds of birds, such as common gallinule, black crown Herron, white ibis, and many more I don't know all their names. There were three different types of turtles and I even spotted a couple of alligators. The park has lots of different types of vegetation such as sabal palm, live oak, bald cypress, red maple, pickerelweed, royal palm, duckweed, strangler fig, and palm apple. I met this man named David who spotted the birds I missed and knew a lot more about the birds than I do. He said there are different types of birds that come out at different times. I am glad I had my own personal tour of the park. Green Cay wetlands has a lot of people walking for exercise and photography. More about the wetland. Green Cay Wetlands and Nature Center is a nature preserve located in Boynton Beach, Florida. The 100-acre (0.40 km2) property was purchased in 1999 from Ted and Trudy Winsberg, who used the property for farming. The Winsbergs sold the property for 1/3 of its appraised value with the condition that it would be made into a wetland. Construction began in July 2003. It was created jointly by the Palm Beach County Utilities Department and the Palm Beach County Parks and Recreation Department in 2004. This park includes 1.5 miles (2.4 km) of an elevated wooden boardwalk, which takes visitors through various habitats, including cabbage palm hammock, cypress swamp, wetland hammock, and tropical hardwood hammock. The boardwalk also features a Seminole chickee hut as well as several gazebos, which have descriptive signs offering information on the wildlife and plant life. The Nature Center showcases exhibits on the water cycle as well as a turtlepond, frog terrarium, American alligator hole with young live alligators, and a wetland diorama. There is also a theater, gift shop, owl, and an exhibition hall inside. The park is a water reclamation facility, and naturally filters millions of gallons of water each day. If you are into nature walks, this park is a must-see gem. read more

Was a great walk and beautiful weather and views. Not to many people. Parking lot wasn't too full and lots of room.

Green Cay is fantastic. A big selection of birds in the wetland and you might catch a glimpse of an alligator and iguanas. I am told there's a bobcat there but I haven't seen it. There's a boardwalk all around which makes it an easy stroll. read more

There were two wetlands I went to. This one and the one in Delray Beach. This one had a longer path and you could choose between .5 mile or 1 mile. I like this more it was a longer loop and oh so beautiful. The birds and vegetation with the gators and not as many spiders as the one a little further out. Highly recommend. Will be back read more

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