The Observation Tower at Anne Kolb Nature Center
Rising 68 feet above sea level, the observation tower is the nature center's signature vantage point — five levels reachable by either stairs or an elevator, ending in open-air views across West Lake and out toward Port Everglades.
What's here
- Five-level accessible structure with both a stairway and an elevator to the top.
- Open-air viewing levels look out over the mangrove canopy, West Lake, and Port Everglades in the distance.
- Included with a regular visit — no separate ticket or reservation needed.
- A good first stop for orienting yourself before heading out onto the trails or marina.
Good to know
Wind picks up noticeably on the top level — worth a windbreaker even on an otherwise warm South Florida day.
Five Levels Up
The tower climbs five levels above the mangrove canopy, and visitors can choose either the stairs or an elevator to reach the top — a detail that makes the view accessible to nearly anyone who visits, not just those able to climb five flights of stairs.
Each level offers a slightly different vantage as you rise, moving from views into the mangrove canopy itself up to the open, sweeping views across West Lake once you reach the top.
What You Can See From the Top
At 68 feet above sea level, the top level looks out over the full sweep of West Lake's mangrove estuary, with the towers of Port Everglades visible in the distance beyond the wetlands.
It's a useful stop before heading out onto the trails or marina, since the height gives visitors a sense of how the mangrove channels, open water, and trail network fit together before setting out to explore any one part of it on foot or by water.
Named for a Conservation Pioneer
Anne Kolb Nature Center takes its name from Anne Kolb, the first woman elected to the Broward County Commission, who championed protecting this stretch of mangrove wetland from development. The nature center opened in 1996 as the gateway to the land she helped preserve.
The observation tower, as the tallest structure in the park, has become something of a symbol of that legacy — a vantage point built so visitors can appreciate the scale of the estuary that might otherwise have been lost to development.
See the rest of the park
Observation Tower is one of 6 featured areas at Anne Kolb Nature Center.