12 Magnificent Hidden Gems To Discover In Louisiana This Year

The Black Bayou Lake National Wildlife Refuge boasts more than 5,300 acres to explore and is a great spot to do a little birdwatching. The Visitor Center features several informational exhibits, and the boardwalk trails really give you a front-row seat to enjoy this natural area. In January, you’ll run into fewer crowds, and if you get your timing right, you may even be blessed with seeing the refuge in a light dusting of snow!

Ok, so it's no Denali... but it is a mountain in Louisiana! Clocking in at 535 feet, it's the tallest natural summit in the state, and the hike to reach the top is only about a mile long. This hike is lovely year-round, but we picked February so you can see through the trees better, giving you a clearer view of Mount Jordan (pictured above) when you get to the top. Driskill Mountain is on private property, but the owners have been very kind and allow the public to use the trails, so just remember to leave no trace!

You may have heard about Poverty Point before, but few people actually make the adventure to visit it, especially locals. The site was once home to a massive community who created these giant earthworks in a cylindrical pattern along Bayou Macon. This was over 3,000 years ago! The Poverty Point culture left no written word about their day-to-day lives, so historians have had to use the artifacts that have been uncovered to try to solve the puzzle. There are many mysteries about Poverty Point, and you can learn all about them during your visit, where you can check out the artifacts in the Visitor Center as well as walk the boardwalk trail to the mounds. March is a great time of the year to do this, as the trail offers very little shade and Louisiana summers can be pretty brutal. Bring a hat!

Chimp Haven is the largest chimpanzee sanctuary in the world, and it's here in Louisiana! More than 300 chimps call Chimp Haven home, where they can live out their golden years in true first-class form. Chimp Haven is not open to the public for the majority of the year, but they do host Discovery Days where they allow the public to come through the gates and learn all about them. The next Discovery Day is scheduled for Saturday, April 15, 2023. Check out the website to learn more.

The Kisatchie National Forest contains hundreds of primitive trails that are perfect for the outdoor explorer, but the Wild Azalea Trail is the longest, and certainly one of the best hidden gems in Louisiana for hikers. In fact, this 24-mile trail is the longest primitive trail in Louisiana. May is a great time of the year to hike it, since that's when the trail's namesake flowers will be in full bloom. Of course, 24 miles in one day is pretty challenging... but you can pitch a tent and camp along the trail! Be sure to bring enough water, the trail's little creek that runs through it can be hit or miss depending on rainfall.

The Bonnie and Clyde Roadside Marker might just be one of the most hidden gems in Louisiana. Blink and you'll miss it! You can see it off to the right in the photo above. Bonnie and Clyde met their maker right here when they were ambushed by police in 1934. Not too far down the road, in Gibland, you can check out the Bonnie and Clyde Museum which is full of exhibits and artifacts about this infamous duo.

Swamp tours are far from a hidden gem, but have you ever thought about taking one at night? Traversing the swamps under the moonlight (and a few high-powered flashlights) will give you a whole new perspective of Louisiana's wetlands. Cajun Encounters offers a wonderful sunset swamp tour that the whole family will enjoy.

Got the need for speed? Gators & Friends is one of the most unique attractions in Louisiana. In addition to being a live alligator park and a petting zoo, Gators & Friends is also an adventure park with go-karts and a very unique zip line. The seven-part zip line will take you all over the park, with the final leg soaring directly over the live alligator pond, home to more than 150 alligators.

If you enjoyed soaring over a live alligator pond, how about the real deal? Zip NOLA offers a zip line course that will have you flying over the Louisiana marsh. Keep your eyes peeled and you may catch a glimpse of a deer, swamp rabbit, wild hog, or yes, even an alligator.

Down in Terrebonne Parish, the Chauvin Sculpture Garden will immediately catch your eye. The vibrant statues are the work of Kenny Hill, an artist who used to live here. He sculpted hundreds of these statues all around the property before the city evicted him. Today, the sculpture garden is maintained by Nicholls State University, and it's open daily.

November brings cooler weather that's perfect for camping. While most of the country is seeing the last bits of fall foliage, Louisiana is just getting started, and northern Louisiana state parks are perfect for leaf peeping. Lake Claiborne State Park is a popular warm-weather park, with many folks flocking to the white sandy beach along the lake, but fall brings an entirely new perspective to this beautiful place.

The holiday season can be a bit chaotic, so why not treat yourself to a little rest and relaxation at The Cabins of Horseshoe Ranch? Located in Natchitoches on a secluded 40-acre forested site, you can kick back and relax in one of the rustic cabins and reflect on the year. And while you're in Natchitoches in December, be sure to check out the Natchitoches Christmas Festival, one of the biggest and brightest holiday displays in Louisiana.