Lafitte Barataria Preserve

While on vacation, it is part of our responsibility to check out nature in some way, shape, or form. For us this turned to an excursion to the Barataria Preserve. Located in Louisiana wetland area just outside of New Orleans you will find yourself taken to a place that is reminiscent of Jurassic park. Lots of swamp, big bushes, grass and trees. If it's warm enough and you're lucky you can even see some alligators! The day we went was cool one. They say cold in Norleans but where I'm from it was far from cold. This made the hike interesting as the mostly boardwalk trail was a bit slippery. Watch your step! We came to the preserve about 3:30. We were told explicitly "the gate shuts at 5:30, so you must be out of here or get shut in". What a warning... So we decide we could hack 4 miles easily, so we began and hit the 2-mile trek in and 2-mile trek back with ease and time to spare. During the whole venture we saw some amazing sites.No gators sighted on our chilly romp through the wetlands though. I'll let my pics tell the rest of the story. This is a place worth visiting if you're in the area. It's nature at it's finest!

Really fun and easy hike. The trails are mostly flat but there are some elevated sections that require walking up and down some stairs. I highly recommend taking the short guided walk with one of the rangers that is offered 4 days a week in the morning. It's a good introduction to the area

Amazing nature park. There are a few different trails to go on. The first one we walked through, was cool and shaded. The landscape was beautiful. Lots of trees and plants. Then at the end of the trail it over looks this gorgeous savannah. It feels like you are in the lion king. It was breath taking. The next trail we went on was along the bayou. We got to see lots of alligators and a few snakes. Some birds landed on the trail around us and there were beautiful cypress trees all around. It is a great place for people who love nature and photography.

Hailing from Australia, I've had plenty of chances to put shoe to dirt and wander around surrounded by nature. This walk was magical. I don't know whether we simply got lucky but I've never encountered such an abundance of wildlife on one walk.The swamp and marsh were beautiful. For much of our first walk we were on a raised pedestrian platform. For the later walk, it was a dirt path. Along the way on our two hour walk we saw raccoons, gators, snakes, hundreds of lizards, frogs, dragon flies, birds of all kinds, and a family of four armadillos. Incredible.

Whoa!!! Pictures will never do this place justice! We did the incredibly informative and interesting free walking tour then did our own hike around the trails. We saw tons of alligators up close, crazy spiders, venomous and non venomous snakes, bumble bees, and birds. The plant life was incredible and so many parts of the hike had a variety of ecosystems. It was stunning. The only thing that was a little sad was to see that someone complained about getting stung by a bumble bee, so the park employee sprayed the bee nest. It surprised me to see that in a national park where people should be the guests in the wildlife habitat not the other way around. Other than that, I was blown away and highly recommend this place. It seemed that the locals / Uber driver / hostel people had no idea about this place existing. I'm so happy to have found this gem. Absolutely spend a day outside the city to see the amazing natural beauty that is Louisiana!

Fantastic landscape- must see to appreciate the mystery surrounding the bayou. Huge bald cypress trees. Saw alligator snakes many spiders. Wear hat and bring plenty of h20. Hiking shoes recommended fir yep trails. At the visitors center the First trail features a nice accessible boardwalk for easy walk especially for elders.Easy drive from downtownCheck out their website to find the visitors entrance. GPSay not find this park without entering address as shown on their site.

Quite unbelivebale what driving out for 25 minutes or so from the city can do. Leads you to a national park named after a famous pirate. Gorgeous swamp and marsh land with reeds, palmettos, spanish moss, bald cypress and oak trees. Happy birds, lizards, and the like. Didn't get to see any nutria or alligators, which is fine. Just gorgeous. The walk on the side of the visitors center has wooden planks that are fit for easy walking, across the highway if it just recently rained, is muddy. Few more trails I would have liked to hike, I guess next time. No mosquitoes this time of year which is great, since I am def a mosquito magnet, or repellent for whomever is with me! The ranger was super-informative too.

This is the best place for DYI swamp tour. Boardwalks take you through the water and the ever changing fauna. We saw so many snakes, a bunny, lizards, birds... Is good for a rainy day too, just bring a jacket. Lots of good history to read in the ranger's station as well. We brought a picnic to eat on one of the many benches.

Amazing place. Recommend for everyone! We saw a bunch of gators, turtles, about 4 snakes, birds, and surprisingly to me no annoying nats or mosquitoes. Beautiful walk, if you want to see gators go when its around 80 degrees or hotter because they like to lay in the sun.