Pa-Hay-Okee Overlook

This is one of the shortest walks in the Everglades, but what it lacks in mileage it makes up for in sheer scale of view. A flat, paved interpretive path leads you through a brief corridor of tropical hardwoods before depositing you onto a raised wooden observation platform. From there, the world opens up — an unbroken expanse of sawgrass prairie stretching to the horizon in every direction, the River of Grass laid bare in a single panorama. It looks like someone flattened the entire state of Florida and covered it in golden-green marsh, which is essentially what happened. Interpretive signs along the way explain the hydrology that keeps this whole improbable ecosystem alive. This is the trail for anyone who wants to understand what the Everglades actually are, not just walk through them. Perfect for first-time visitors, photographers, and anyone with ten spare minutes.