Everglades National Park to Replace Pa-Hay-Okee Overlook Trail and Tower

Everglades National Park will begin a six-month project on March 17 to replace the aging Pa-Hay-Okee Overlook boardwalk trail and tower, which have deteriorated over time. 

While Pa-Hay-Okee Road will remain open as a turnaround, the tower, boardwalk, and parking lot will be closed for the project’s duration, with the trail expected to reopen in the fall.

“Pa-Hay-Okee Overlook is a favorite stop for many park visitors as it offers a bird’s-eye view of the vast Everglades ecosystem,” Superintendent Pedro Ramos of Everglades National Park said. 

“We are excited to undertake this project to ensure that future generations can safely experience this unique perspective of the river of grass,” Ramos explained.

Located 13 miles from the park’s Homestead entrance, the Pa-Hay-Okee Overlook features a 0.16-mile trail and a 15-foot-high observation tower, providing an elevated view of the Everglades landscape. 

The project will replace both the tower and boardwalk while improving the parking area and enhancing accessibility and pedestrian flow.

The contracted work will be handled by the same company that previously replaced the decking and structures on the Anhinga and Bobcat Boardwalk Trails. The improvements align with broader efforts to modernize infrastructure across the park.

Funding for the project comes from recreation fee funds collected at park entrances, which are reinvested into facility upgrades under the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act (FLREA). 

The law allows the National Park Service (NPS) to retain a portion of collected fees to enhance visitor services and maintain park infrastructure.

The project is part of a broader initiative to address aging infrastructure within Everglades National Park. Recent upgrades to trails and boardwalks reflect ongoing efforts to improve safety and sustainability for visitors.

Once completed, the upgraded trail is expected to enhance the visitor experience by offering improved structural integrity and accessibility features. The renovations align with long-term sustainability goals to ensure the preservation of key park attractions.