The 5 Best Outdoorsy Towns to Explore in Louisiana

Louisiana is full of beautiful outdoor places to visit and explore! Most visitors to the Pelican State tend to gravitate to cities like New Orleans and Baton Rouge, but Louisiana residents know there is much more to their great state than that. Louisiana is full of bayous, swamps, forests, and beaches, and its diversity is a wonder to behold.

There are lots of outdoorsy towns in Louisiana that are adjacent to incredible natural areas and these towns are all worth checking out. They offer restaurants, shops, and accommodations, plus easy access to parks, trails, beaches and more. If you're looking for a fun and beautiful place to visit in Louisiana, read on. This list of small towns in Louisiana for nature lovers is sure to get you excited and get you ready to plan your next trip.

1. Grand Isle

Grand Isle is a barrier island on off the coast of Louisiana and the town upon it shares the same name. It's also home to Grand Isle State Park, one of Louisiana's most beautiful sections of coast. People flock to Grand Isle for world-class deep-sea fishing and incredible birdwatching, and it's a wonderful place for swimming, relaxing, and camping, too.

The forests on Grand Isle are unique, as well. The oak-hackberry forests found here are not found anywhere else in the world. The island's Lafitte Woods Nature Preserve is an excellent place to experience them.

After checking out the beach, the state park, and the rare forest environment on Grand Isle, you can head into town for some of the freshest seafood you've ever enjoyed. Grand Isle is incredible; it's not surprising that many visitors to it return year after year.

2. Breaux Bridge

Breaux Bridge is just east of Lafayette and about an hour west of Baton Rouge, but many people who travel between the two places don't even realize this incredible place of wonder and beauty exists. If you want to visit a traditional swamp environment, you're going to love it! Breaux Bridge sits right in the middle of the Atchafalaya Basin, the largest swamp wilderness in the nation. The Bayou Teche Waterway, a scenic area for kayaking and cycling, passes right through town. And Lake Martin, an 800-acre protected swamp area, is just five miles away at the Cypress Island Nature Preserve, too. Anyone who loves boating, hiking, biking, fishing, or wildlife watching will love visiting Breaux Bridge.

The town of Breaux Bridge has a population of around 7,500 residents and is known as the Crawfish Capital of the World. The town is full of authentic Cajun charm, a vibrant Zydeco music scene, antique stores, and friendly folks. It's a great place to visit, and no matter how long you stay, you'll wish you planned an even longer visit.

3. Natchitoches

Natchitoches is best known for its historical aspects, but it's a fantastic place for nature lovers to visit as well. This small city of around 17,000 residents is the oldest settlement in the area that included the Louisiana Purchase, and people flock from all over to visit its 33-block National Historic District. People also come to fill up on local cuisine like meat pies, to shop in unique and historic stores, and to attend the massive Natchitoches Christmas Festival each year. Cane River Lake passes through town, and it's a lovely place to walk and reflect at any time of the year.

Most people who visit Natchitoches stay in town, but they should really venture out as well—this city is the gateway city to the 604,000-acre Kisatchie National Forest, Louisiana's largest natural area. This national forest is full of opportunities for paddling, biking, hiking, camping, birding, fishing, and learning about the natural world.

4. Holly Beach

Holly Beach is affectionately known as the Cajun Riviera due to its location deep in Cajun country and its absolutely incredible beach. Unlike the other outdoorsy locations on our list, Holly Beach isn't really much of a town at all; it only has a few scattered residents, unfortunately, after much of the actual small town itself was destroyed by hurricanes over the past two decades. Still, people come from all over the state and nation to this exceptional place not just despite that fact, but because of it. Holly Beach is raw nature, and that's what makes it so special.

Holly Beach may have no commercial amenities, but people love this area for shelling, crabbing, birdwatching, beach camping, and swimming. Unlike most beaches in the United States, visitors are welcome to drive right onto the beach here and set up camp next to their cars. You won't find anywhere else quite like Holly Beach in the United States, and that's exactly why this "town" is on our list.

5. St. Francisville

St. Francisville lies north of Baton Rouge and is forested, hilly, and on the bank of the Mississippi River. People love this small town of around 1,500 residents because it's small, historic, and full of Southern charm. Most visitors visit St. Francisville to check out its plantations, antebellum estates, preserved gardens, and quaint downtown, and it also hosts numerous festivals and events throughout the year.

Nature lovers love St. Francisville, too. It's the site of the 6,500-acre Tunica Hills Wildlife Area and the exceptional Cat Island National Wildlife Refuge. Both offer opportunities for hiking and memorable wildlife watching. It's also an area that is known for quiet paddling, exciting bird watching, and primitive camping. St. Francisville is quiet and serene and is an outdoor enthusiast's paradise.

Anyone who has explored Louisiana beyond its biggest cities knows that it is a hidden gem for lovers of the great outdoors. The Pelican State is incredibly diverse and filled with immense beauty at every turn. Whether you are someone who loves the ocean, the forest, or anything in between, you're sure to find a natural area in Louisiana that you'll just love, and the towns adjacent to these outdoor playgrounds are also welcoming and waiting for you. Get out there and explore Louisiana! You may just find an outdoor paradise that's absolutely perfect for you.