Louisiana Parks for Nature & Outdoor Adventure

The Atchafalaya National Heritage Area is one of the country’s most rich and mysterious landscapes.

In addition to being home to America’s largest river swamp, it also has a number of twisting rivers and bayous. You can spend day exploring the heritage area and still wouldn’t be able to do it all but be sure you don’t miss out on its most popular feature: the Wetland Boat & Swamp Tour.

You can also go on the Old Cyprus Tour where you will be able to see and appreciate the majestic state tree, the bald cypress.

Other activities visitors can participate in include hiking, hiking, paddling, birding, camping, fishing, hunting, or playing a round of golf in one of the three golf courses in the Atchafalaya National Heritage Area.

Address: 2022 Atchafalaya River Hwy, Breaux Bridge, LA 70517, Phone: 337-228-1094

Just half an hour away from the hustle and bustle of New Orleans, Bayou Segnette State Park has a number of recreational activities for visitors of all ages to participate in.

You can spend your time there picnicking, playing in the playgrounds, hiking, boating, canoeing, fishing, or camping.

Anglers come from far and wide to catch trout, catfish, bass, redfish, and other species which are common in the area.

The park also houses a wave pool which you can go swimming and cool off in during the hot summer months. There are tons of places throughout the park from which visitors can witness the abundant flora and fauna in the swamps and marshland.

Address: 7777 Westbank Expy, Westwego, LA 70094, Phone: 504-736-7140

At 1,786 acres, Bogue Chitto State Park is one of the most dynamic outdoor spaces to explore in the entire state of Louisiana. You’ll come across a multitude of diverse natural habitats and scenic river systems. These include hardwood forests, rolling landscapes, small streams, and gorgeous cypress tupelo swamps. One of the park’s main features is Fricke’s Cave, which is more of a gorge with sandstone spires created by erosion. For preservation reasons, visitors cannot walk among the formations but are able to see them from a number of boardwalks. Activities you can participate in while at the park include picnicking, hiking, horseback riding, canoeing, kayaking, fishing, and camping.

Address: 17049 State Park Blvd, Franklinton, LA 70438, Phone: 985-839-5707

The Cane River National Heritage Area is a picturesque outdoor space that also has a rich history of being an important 18th century trade center. You’ll find more than 300 years of multi-cultural history etched into the designated landscape and come across several preserved architectural marvels such as colonial forts, churches, plantations, homes, and even cemeteries. You’ll find Cane River Creole National Historical Park within the heritage area as well. Visitors are able to take a self-guided tour of the grounds, though a guided tour is much more informational and includes access to the Oakland Slave/ Tenant Quarters and the Oakland Plantation Main House.

Address: 400 Rapids Drive, Natchitoches, LA 71457, Phone: 318-356-5555

Chemin-A-Haut State Park> is a must-visit park in Louisiana for nature lovers looking to explore places of natural, unspoiled beauty. The park, which was designed for the entire family to enjoy, is located on a high bluff which overlooks the gorgeous Bayou Bartholomew. Park amenities include two playgrounds and a swimming complex with a children’-only wading pool as well as a swimming pool for older guests. There are 35 designated family picnicking sites and five group picnicking sites each of which has grills and tables. Other aspects include a hard-surfaced trail, boat rentals, and opportunities to fish from the shore.

Address: 14656 State Park Rd, Bastrop, LA 71220, Phone: 318-283-0812

Chicot State Park is a 6,400-acre space that is full of bodies of water and lush rolling hills in South Central Louisiana. It is most famed with anglers as a popular spot to go fishing for red-ear sunfish, bluegill, crappie, largemouth bass, and other species of freshwater fish. Amenities to assist fishermen include a fishing pier, three boat launches, boat rental facilities, and a convenient boathouse. Other activities you can participate in at Chicot State Park include enjoying the natural landscape while hiking, biking, or backpacking through its many trails, staying overnight in one of the primitive campsites, or renting out one of the many cabins scattered throughout the park. There are also several playgrounds and picnic areas for visitors to enjoy during their stay.

Address: 3469 Chicot Park Rd, Ville Platte, LA 70586, Phone: 337-363-2403

There are so many unique and interesting things to do during a visit to Cypremort Point State Park. It is one of the few parks in such close proximity to the Gulf of Mexico and has a half-mile stretch of beach for you to enjoy. You can spend your time there picnicking, relaxing, swimming, and enjoying the surroundings. Get more active and partake in fishing, crabbing, windsurfing, water skiing, sailing, and boating among other things. Some of the park’s features include a boat launch and a 100-foot fishing pier from which you can catch redfish, flounder, and several other species of fish.

Address: 306 Beach Ln, Cypremort Point, LA 70538, Phone: 337-867-4510

The Fairview-Riverside State Park is a wonderful outdoor space from which you can explore and experience so much of Louisiana’s natural beauty. One of the main features of the park is Otis House, which was originally built in the 1880s as a family home for sawmill owner William Theodore Jay; today, the marvelous structure is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Some park amenities include a playground, a group pavilion, comfort stations, and a number of designated picnic sites under the canopy of huge oak trees. Some activities visitors enjoy are walking the nature trails, camping, crabbing, or freshwater fishing.

Address: 119 Fairview Dr, Madisonville, LA 70447, Phone: 985-845-3318

Fontainebleau State Park is one of the most historic outdoor spaces in the state of Louisiana. While exploring the space, you’ll come across the beautiful ruins of a sugar mill plantation which was built by town founder Marigny de Mandeville in 1829. Afterwards, adventure out to the 2,800-acre park where you can hike, bike, or in-line skate through the trails. The nature trails are extremely popular with visitors and have several interpretive signs along the way to help you identify the flora and fauna you may come across. The park’s sandy beach is the perfect place to enjoy a bit of sunbathing or a picnic while overlooking the multi-colored sailboats dotting the lake.

Address: 62883 LA-1089, Mandeville, LA 70471, Phone: 985-624-4443

Take a trip to the edge of Louisiana where you can take in the stunning, unadulterated beauty of Grand Isle State Park. There are so many activities that you can participate in while at the park such as hiking, sunning, boating, swimming, birding, fishing, and crabbing. Birding enthusiasts will love the varied species of birds they’ll come across because the unique environment of the lagoon and Gulf Shore houses several resident and migratory birds that can only be seen in the area. Fishermen come from far and wide to catch redfish, speckled trout, and other fish; there are even several fishing competitions held at the park throughout the year.

Address: Admiral Craik Drive, Grand Isle, LA 70358, Phone: 985-787-2559