7 Natural Wonders Unique To The Pelican State That Should Be On Everyone's Louisiana Bucket List

The Atchafalaya River Basin stretches for nearly a million square miles across southern Louisiana, and it’s some of the most beautiful natural landscapes in the country. It’s the largest river swamp in the country (larger than the Florida Everglades) and home to over 65 species of reptiles and amphibians. It’s also home to the largest nesting concentration of bald eagles in the south! You often think about alligators when you think of the Atchafalaya, but keep your eyes to the skies and you might catch a glimpse of this majestic bird soaring over the water.

Louisiana’s only National Forest is a nature lover’s paradise. The forest sprawls out for 600,000 acres across seven parishes in northern and central Louisiana and is full of trails, swimming holes, lakes, and campgrounds to explore.

Clocking in at 535 feet, Driskill Mountain may be considered a hill in other states, but we love our little natural wonder - it's the tallest natural peak in Louisiana! Even though the mountain is on private property, the owners are gracious enough to allow visitors to hike the trail to the summit.

Named for a large population of honey bees that once swarmed the area, the 70,000-acre swampland in St. Tammany Parish is one of the most pristine river systems in the country, and we're lucky enough to have it right in our backyard.

Northern Louisiana isn’t known for scenic swamp views, but that doesn’t stop Black Bayou Lake NWR. There are over seven miles of multi-purpose trails for hiking and biking that’ll lead you all around the cypress swamp and bottomland hardwood forests.

Avery Island is best known for being the home of Tabasco, but did you know that the island is actually a huge dome of rock salt? Avery Island is one of five salt domes in Louisiana (the other four are Jefferson Island, Weeks Island, Cote Blanche Island, and Belle Isle). The fertile grounds provide the perfect habitat for flora and fauna to thrive, including the famous little red pepper that made Tabasco sauce famous.

Down past Lake Charles and heading towards the Gulf, Cameron Prairie National Wildlife Refuge contains over 9,000 acres of marshes, coastal prairies, and old rice fields. It also happens to be at the intersection of two major flyways for migratory birds, so it plays an important role as a pit stop for our feathered friends to recharge before continuing on their way.