Hiking, Camping and Beyond: Amazing Adventures in Louisiana’s Fresh Air

Louisiana is home to 21 state parks and numerous federally protected forests and wildlife refuge areas, providing an endless list of outdoor activities to enjoy solo or with friends and family. One of these is located right in the city limits of Monroe: Black Bayou Lake National Wildlife Refuge. American alligators and blue herons are perhaps the most iconic of the refuge’s inhabitants, but you may also spot turtles, coyote, deer and other waterfowl as you stroll the boardwalks along the bayou. Book a cabin for an overnight stay and get ready to to relax, or head to Louisiana State Park-operated Black Bear Golf Club and reserve a room in the cozy Black Bear Lodge. Nearby in Northern Louisiana, the water sports of Jimmie Davis State Park, the fishing at Lake D’Arbonne State Park and the woodland splendor of Lake Claiborne State Park make them all excellent choices for that perfect blend of adventure and family fun.

Central Louisiana is filled with landscapes begging to be explored and photographed. The more active visitor will find excitement venturing through river systems and thrill-filled dirt bike and ATV treks. Cypress forests and freshwater swamps make perfect backdrops for daydreaming and picnics for those who are looking to relax. Forty developed recreation sites with more than 160 kilometers of trails for hiking, mountain biking and horseback riding await in the Kisatchie National Forest, where you can also interact with some of Louisiana’s smallest inhabitants at the Catahoula Hummingbird and Butterfly Garden. Nearby, Sam Houston Jones State Park is a birder’s paradise, with nearly 200 bird species observed around the area’s tree-filled lagoons. For camping, head to South & North Toledo Bend State Parks, where you can spot bald eagles relaxing from your tent or cabin and roast marshmallows near one of the USA’s largest reservoirs. Reserve a tent at Bogue Chitto State Park to explore a scenic river system winding through cypress swamps and hardwood forests, or settle down for the evening at Chicot State Park to fish to your heart’s content.

Enjoy extensive urban trailways that get you to all the incredible attractions, restaurants and celebrations that New Orleans has to offer, then take a short drive to experience quiet and serene outdoor spots nearby. Tickfaw State Park offers a natural oasis just an hour outside the city, where wooden boardwalks wind through four distinct ecosystems, and a nature center and aquarium invite you to learn more. Fairview-Riverside State Park’s dozens of crystal-clear streams make for great kayaking, fishing and alligator spotting, while Bayou Segnette State Park provides an excellent backdrop for a family picnic with easygoing hiking trails, playgrounds and a wave pool. At Fontainebleau State Park, watch the sunset over Lake Pontchartrain and go walking, biking and horseback riding along nearly 44 kilometers of scenic paths. Grand Isle State Park is another great home base, where the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico are conducive to year-round swimming and paddling.

Getting to Louisiana is easy. Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport (MSY) offers direct flights from most major airports. Airports in Baton Rouge (BTR) and Shreveport (SHV) also have regional flights throughout the USA.