7 Places To Visit In Louisiana When The Bayous Are Calling Your Name

Lake Martin is the preserve’s main attraction, and you can either drive down Rookery Road for some drive by scenery, or get out on foot and explore some of the trails on the boardwalk. The preserve is about 9,500 acres of cypress and tupelo swamp and bottomland hardwood forest, and is home to the usual suspects that typically live in the swamps and bayous. The lake includes a massive bird rookery, so you can count on some impressive birdwatching. (1209 Rookery Rd, Breaux Bridge, LA 70517)

If you’re in the New Orleans area, Bayou St. John is a nice alternative when you can’t get out to the Atchafalaya or further into Bayou Country. This lazy little bayou begins in mid-city and goes on for about three miles until it meets up with Lake Pontchartrain. Bayou St. John is perfect for canoeing or kayaking down, taking in the beautiful scenery.

Not only does Bayou Segnette State Park offer , but you can rent one of their cabins for the weekend, overlooking the bayou. Who wouldn’t want to wake up to views like this? (7777 Westbank Expy, Westwego, Louisiana 70094)

Is there anything prettier than Spanish Moss draped over a cypress tree, blowing in the wind? Honey Island Swamp in St. Tammany Parish includes nearly 70,000 acres of protected wildlife, and you absolutely should take a swamp tour of this beautiful area. You’ll be surrounded by all the beauty Louisiana could possibly throw at you.

The series of boardwalk trails over at Barataria Preserve make this place a perfect spot to go to when you’re needing to escape to the bayous and swamps. The preserve’s 23,000 acres include bayous, swamps, and marshes and a ton of wildlife. Keep an eye out for gators, turtles basking in the sun, snakes, raccoons, egrets, and so much more. (6588 Barataria Blvd.Marrero, LA 70073)

Clocking in at almost one million acres, the Atchafalaya is the largest swamp in the country. Come take a swamp tour from one of the many knowledgeable tour guides in the area, and they’ll explain all about this beautiful swamp that is the source of nearly 22 million pounds of crawfish a year.

Black Bayou Lake National Wildlife Refuge includes a mile-long nature trail that’ll lead you through bottomland hardwood forests and cypress swamps before reaching a pier that extends over the lake so you can that perfect picture. There’s also an observation deck further down that offers equally stunning views. (480 Richland PlaceMonroe, LA 71203)