The best place to visit in Marrero, in my opinion! This park is a gorgeous walk all year through forest and swamplands. Some trails are dirt/gravel, but some of them are completely smooth boardwalk, so strollers and wheelchairs can easily access those paths. I think that's just fantastic! I love that I've seen alligators every time I've gone to visit. One time, I even got to see an armadillo! Of course, you always see tons of birds, turtles, and lizards too. Seeing wildlife makes for a fun visit especially if you're not from the area! Some of the best parts are still currently closed due to the last big hurricane, but it can't be helped. I highly recommend visiting and then doing what you can to help Oh, and to visit this park is free! Walk the trails anytime, even when you're totally broke. Can't beat that! read more

We came in the first week of April which is right when all the snakes and alligators start "waking up" from their version of hibernation, known as brumation. It was AMAZING. We saw 34 snakes and 3 alligators. One of the snakes was busy eating a frog which was a bit much for my delicate heart. The poor frog was still blinking at us. The alligators were busy catching frogs themselves which is a sight I have never seen in real life. It was a fantastic walk. Partly shady, raised walkway so you can stroll through the preserve feeling like you have an upfront view of the wild life. Bathrooms at the start near the visitor center. Easy parking. Lots of benches en route for a rest stop/water break. Wear sunscreen. Bring water. My eldest son declared it the best nature hike he has ever been on. read more

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Very nice scenery and completely free! It has many different trails, they go beyond what Google Maps shows so I would look around for more trails or visit the visitors center for the complete list. Some trails were closed due to weather but we still had plenty of sights to see and spotted some alligators close by! read more

Barataria Preserve - Parks Near Me - Marrero, Louisiana

Walk the Trail at least 5 times. Really nice walk. Beautiful Swamp. Free Recreation. One of the trips I took here was with a big group of 15. We had a few elderly folks. One of them had a low blood pressure sugar episode. Park Rangers were deployed and were instrumental in getting our friend help. read more

Situated just 25min car ride from French District is a wonderful marshy haven to help you unwind from the bustling city. There were many wildlife of interest along the boardwalk to keep people all ages entertained. To get to it, map the visitor center and not Barataria Preserve. There is a short boardwalk trail right at the nature center and also few others just up and down the road from the visitor center. It's also a National Park so don't forget to purchase your national parks passport and get your first cancellation stamp! read more

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Just a short drive south of the hustle and bustle (and crowds) of New Orleans, this place allows you to travel much further back in time with just a short walk away from the parking lot. We started at the Visitors Center, where the staff are extremely friendly and knowledgeable about the park, surrounding area, and history. They also made certain we had plenty of water with us. The hiking trails are not long and are well marked, but with the heat of the summer and high humidity, sweating and drinking are two activities you have little choice but to participate in. In the Center, there is also a small history display that provides good information for anyone interested in knowing more about how the area has changed over the years, details on the Mississippi river delta landscape, and other pertinent goodies fun to learn. The trails are all flat, and well-maintained dirt or boardwalk, so you don't need any special hiking shoes or equipment. They aren't long either, but they still take you far enough away from the parking lot to make you feel you've stepped away from civilization; and far enough that if you didn't follow the recommendation to bring water, you will regret not doing so. The Marsh Overlook trail we walked was only a mile or so round trip, but it traveled through three different ecosystems; hardwood forest, cypress swamp, and open marshland. A few very interesting old-growth trees, lots of Spanish moss, aquatic plants, various flowers and other fun plants. I love the cypress "knees" that surround those particular trees too. We arrived fairly early (9ish) in the morning on a Wednesday and didn't see any other adventurers on the way out. Because of this, the wildlife was still very visible and very active. We shared the area with a few skittish but very large deer (not sure what kind), squirrels, birds, frogs, turtles, several very large spiders, and yes, a few alligators. As long as you remain on the trails, none of these will bother you. On our return trip, the trails were much more active with other people and we didn't see any of the wildlife visible on the way out. We wandered through in mid-June and while we were fortunate that the temps were unusually cool, the humidity was still high. Bugs are present and flying, so bring bug spray. The flies can be a nuisance. Overall a highly recommended trek if you are in the area. Bring clothes you can sweat in, comfortable walking shoes, bug spray, and plenty of water to drink, of course a camera of some sort, and have a good time! read more

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We loved this place! There was tons of wildlife! Alligators, lizards, butterflies, birds, and snakes! It had all the stuff we came to see and more! My one issue was that people were sooo noisy and it was a bit crowded. But a good place will draw that sort of attention so can't blame the preserve for that! We will be back to see more nature in action! read more

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I love this place. Great for hiking and fishing or just to get away for a while. Located close to the city, it's an easy place to get to for a visit. read more

Barataria Preserve - Parks Near Me - Marrero, Louisiana

Nice short trail for all ages. We even saw two deer cross the boardwalk right in front of us!

The hiking trails here are phenomenal. We spent a beautiful couple hours here walking along the Bayou Coquille Trail and Marsh Overlook Trail. They are both super easy hikes. It's about a mile in and then a mile back. To be fair, it was early April. Temps were around 80 degrees. Insects were pretty much absent and humidity was low. It was about as perfect as it gets. It is just such a peaceful place to take a nice stroll. It's a little peace of heaven. And on this day, anyway, we saw a lot of animals. Snakes, rabbits, lizards, turtles, and a bunch of gators. One was sunning right up against the elevated walkway. It was awesome! The National Park Service does such a great job. Honestly, we saw more wildlife and were closer to the animals on this short hiking trail than we did on the expensive swamp tour just a few miles down the road. Here, you get an incredible experience at a price that can't be beaten! read more

Barataria Preserve - Pure serenity out here. - Parks Near Me - Marrero, Louisiana

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This is what I imagined hiking in southern Louisiana and in bayou-country would look like and the preserve more than met my expectations. Start off at the visitor center to get the latest info on alligator sightings. There's a trail right by the visitor center that had an alligator chillin that we got pretty close to. We then went on the Bayou Coquille Trail. Y'all got some hella large bugs down here (winter keeps them small up north) but the crazy-looking crickets & spiders made it exciting. Highlight was when we were about to cross a bridge on a trail and a male deer was standing on the other side. It started pawing the ground and my partner seemed to deer-whisperer with it. We moved to the side and the deer walked on the trail right by us! Look how close we got in the photos. It was pretty humid in mid-September but didn't see anyone else so felt like we had the place to ourselves. I tried the audio tour at a couple of the signs they have up and I recommend u try it out. Overall, we had so many close encounters with the local wildlife here! It made stopping here after going on a swamp tour nearby totally worth it. I only wished we had more time to explore the trails. read more

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We're not too far down the road and visit the trails often. This past weekend we were able to take our new canoe out on the twin canals. Wow, so beautiful and such a fun adventure. We must have ended up in an alligator nursery bc we saw so many juvenile gators, it was amazing. Highly recommend. March/April is a great time to visit before it becomes too hot. read more

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After a trip last year was cancelled by a deluge, I've been wanting to come back to the preserve and today seemed like the perfect day to finally get back. The weather was gorgeous and with great friends, I couldn't have asked for a better morning. Because of all the recent rains, we stuck to the boardwalk/gravel paths of the visitor's center, palmetto, bayou coquille & marsh overlook trails which all feed into each other. We probably walked about 4 miles there and back. We saw alligators, snakes, bugs galore, an owl, a swamp bunny, and a toddler almost get bit by a snake since he crouched down to look closely at it as it reared back to strike. Seriously parents what are you thinking. The irises are just start to bloom so you have another couple of weeks to see them in their full glory. The smell of all the honeysuckle was intoxicating. Plus I noticed a ton of blackberry vines so in a few weeks you might be able to have a snack while you wander around. Funniest thing was the clearly out of town folks who were fascinated by the little lizards that run all over my front porch and that's what they were sitting on a bench watching them run around. Oh and the girl who's swamp attire included fishnets, high heel boots and a mini-skirt. Other funny thing, we ran into my uncle, the park ranger, while out there. He LOVES his retirement job. I'll repeat that it's amazing to be out here and you're only 30 minutes away from the city. No power lines in sight, outside and you can just breathe the swampy air...which is home to me but may be cloying to others. Oh and brother 4 says that the twin canal trail (separate parking lot) is a good place to go fishing. And the highest of the non-boardwalked trails. Also as a National Park, it's free. read more

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So glad we booked this swamp tour excursion... got up close and personal with about 5 alligators... and even got to hold a baby gator. Our tour guide, captain John, was very knowledgeable. So much fun! read more

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A beautiful, natural trail to view the wildness of southeast Louisiana. I absolutely love how I feel on these walks. The sights, sounds, and smells of the bayou preserve are a treasure. read more

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We returned once again, trying our hand at the other side of the swamp. The Barataria Preserve is different than the one near the Jean Lafitte Visitor's Center. I'd say the Visitor's Center offers a more "viewy" hike, if that makes sense. There's more differentiation in what's viewable. The Barataria is essentially one big, long well-built, narrow boardwalk intimately positioned directly inside the swamp - close quarters, if you will. The Visitor's Center has more space, more of a viewing angle, and bridges and stairs and ups and downs and a 300 year old cyprus tree! In the Barataria Preserve we did locate some wild boar tracks, so that was scary. The foliage particularly is just wonderful throughout the Barataria Preserve, so many fans of green and yellow. The swamp snails shells are ubiquitous, and I'm sure there were alligators somewhere - but we didn't see any. Bring water, and wear boots if you brought 'em, because it can get swampy in a swamp. The stretches of path are long and beautiful, providing for wonderful picture opportunities. Wear bug spray FOR SURE, stay on the path, and outta the mud. We got stuck and had to make our way through a bit of mud, and trust me, it's wetter than you think, and will prove to go on and on and on, getting wetter and wetter, and more unmanageable with each new step. To think, people lived here for a time, that life must have been magically frightening all the time - I think the word for magically frightening is sublime. Be sure to read the signs! You'll learn so much about history, and where to not die. As always, be sure to pack out what you pack in - and in this instance, don't even leave foot prints; it's a protected area. Take the advice of the rangers, they're awesome. Happy plodding! read more

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Had a blast. Nice hiking trail through a swamp. Easy hike on a raised wooden trail. I'd suggest it to anyone. God to see a baby alligator and lots of other wildlife. Perhaps one day I'll go back and do one of the other trails. read more

Barataria Preserve - Parks Near Me - Marrero, Louisiana

This was always one of my favorite bicycle ride destinations when I lived in New Orleans - so I went there with a friend on my last trip. It had been raining a lot and unfortunately for us - the boardwalks were submerged and closed to the public. Otherwise - we would have enjoyed walking on the 1+ mi of boardwalks over the swamp, looking for alligators, turtles, water moccasins and other critters. It's a fantastic experience and I highly recommend it! Instead, we went down to Twin Canals and walked a little trail out to a small opening near enough water to make a whole mardi gras krewe of alligators happy and did not see any alligators. Did see water moccasins, garter snakes, fungus, birds and bunny rabbits. read more

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What a cool place. We saw alligators on one of the walkways. No zoo needed. There were not many people so it was awesome . Not like most touristy places that are overcrowded. Definitely go check it out. read more

Really lovely and easy day trip if you're in the New Orleans area! Heard about this several times and saw the pictures on instagram, so I decided to try it out for myself. It took 30 minutes to get there and the process of parking and finding the trails was simple. The park rangers are very COVID-conscious, and ask you to wear a mask whenever you're around other people in the park or on the trail. Wear your hiking shoes and be ready to see some gators! read more

Nice national park site. Cool hiking trails. Interesting animal and plant life. Enthusiastic rangers. Short junior ranger book that my kids enjoyed. Not a place that is unique and a must specifically see, but worth checking out if in area. read more

Great place to hike that's just a small drive from New Orleans. Located on the west bank, this trail is great for checking out local swamp wildlife and scenery! We saw 7 gators, several snakes, tons of frogs, birds, and lizards as well! The paths are a mix of boardwalks and rocks with several bridges over the different canals and over a dozen break-off points from the main trail to see further into parts of the swamp. This particular trail is 1.5 miles round trip and easy to navigate. Make sure to use the restroom before visiting this site because the public restrooms are back towards the main entrance of Jean Lafitte Park at the ranger station. read more

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We enjoyed this place immensely. The visitor center is nice, but the real attraction here is the trail through the swamp. In addition to numerous snakes and lizards, we saw five alligators within a 1/2 mile stretch, one of which was right next to the boardwalk. read more

I happened to visit the Barataria Preserve on a perfect spring day, lower 70 degree temperature and early enough I encountered very few bugs other than dragonflies. Although I imagine at many times of the year it can get very muggy and buggy. I spent some time at the exhibits in the visitor's center before getting trail advice from the ranger. Since it had rained the day before, several trails were muddy. So he recommended taking the Palmetto Trail to the Bayou Coquille Trail to the Marsh Overlook Trail. I so enjoyed my walk through the lush vegetation of the bayou. I saw Giant Blue Irises, Swamp Rabbits, a Gulf Coast Ribbon Snake, and a Water Moccasin. I also saw an idiot trying to poke and then swipe at one of the Swamp Rabbits. Come on people! Always respect wildlife! The preserve is their home. read more

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Absolutely beautiful!! I went last weekend (April 21) and the weather and scenery were perfect. Short drive from the city (I live Uptown and got *just a touch* lost on the way so it was about 30 minutes) and well worth it. I parked at the Visitor's Center and asked the ranger, "How can I see alligators, but also remain a safe distance from them?" I am TOTALLY terrified of alligators, I'm pretty convinced they can and will kill me, so I was interested in staying on paved/boardwalk paths. She was more than accommodating and recommended I check out the Marsh Outlook path, as that is where people tend to spot them. My route ended up being: Visitor's Center trail (0.25 miles), Palmetto trail (0.9 miles), Bayou Coquille trail (0.8 miles) and Marsh Outlook (0.4 miles I think), then back to the visitor's center for a total of about 4 miles walk. That was pretty ideal--got a little workout and plenty of sightseeing in, but not so long that it was monotonous. The Palmetto trail has pretty lush vegetation. I found the Bayou Coquille trail the most interesting; it has informative signs about the changing landscape. Definitely go the the Marsh Outlook--beautiful sights! I got to check out the panoramic function on the camera on my phone and got some fantastic pictures. This place is a must-see in my opinion; just a few minutes outside the city you are immersed in this beautiful landscape! read more

Barataria Preserve - At the end of the boardwalk on the Marsh Outlook trail - Parks Near Me - Marrero, Louisiana

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It amazes me how close this was to the city, about a half hour drive and suddenly you are transported into a unique majestic landscape that looks right out of a movie. It is free which is amazing, and there is a boardwalk so you can traverse the swamp lands real easily. As you walk and look out it is hard to believe that you are looking at a body of water and not a forest because the swamp is often covered in lily pads. The terrain changes as you go so there are a lot of different views and some marsh land. We spotted some blue tailed little lizards, a frog, larger than I would like grasshoppers, a crawfish and a few snakes , but definitely came here to see a crocodile. Not realizing we were nearing the end a person traveling the opposite direction gave us the scoop of where to spot one. A safe distance away, yet entirely accessible from where we were was a large (10 feet long?) crocodile and not too far from it a baby. It was hard not to stare despite the stillness of the creature. It was a satisfying highlight of the hike but then you have to backtrack the whole route. There was so much lush greenery to look at, it was unlike anything I had seen with so much varied wildlife and plants. Definitely a highlight of the vacation and a welcome change from gorging myself with food and drink! read more

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I'm a huge fan of the National Parks Service and once I found out that this place existed I knew I had to check it out. We rented a car for the day, left early in the morning, and drove down to the Preserve. It was an easy and short drive from New Orleans. We arrived to find plenty of parking, lots of bugs, and, of course, very friendly park rangers who gave us good information about which areas to see the most wildlife. There is a small visitor center with ample information about the Louisiana delta, Katrina, the area wildlife, and conservancy efforts. There are two types of trails at Barataria: paved and dirt. We opted for the paved trail which is about 4 miles round trip. There was no one else really in the park at this time, so we basically had the entire trail to ourselves. The Visitor Center Trail is a great introduction to the beautiful swampy landscape and it is a short .50 walk round trip. The Palmetto Trail is beautiful as well, however, the walk is redundant as far as scenery. The Bayou Coquille Trail and Marsh Overlook were by far our favorite trails to walk. Not only did we see plenty of alligators laying in the sun, but we also saw the landscape change and become quite beautiful...very different from the Palmetto Trail. There is no shortage of wildlife in the Preserve. We heard many animals and birds, but unfortunately, our only wildlife encounters were with a ribbon snake hanging from a tree on the Palmetto Trail and many alligators on the Bayou Coquille Trail. There are also plenty of mosquitoes, so it might help to bring some type of repellent. We went in early April...can't imagine how it must be in July or August. There are also plenty of hairy caterpillars, fluorescent-colored dragonflys, tiny black grasshoppers, and squirrels. We had a great time at Barataria. I'm glad we chose to do this rather than a more touristy "swamp tour." read more

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This is a wonderful place to take your visitors to get the real swamp experience with out actually getting into a boat or spending the afternoon with a guy named Boudreaux. It's a 20 minute drive from the city, just take the Westbank Expressway to Barataria and go left for 10 miles, easy shmeasy!! I love the Bayou Coquille walk, it is the second parking area on the right once you have driven past the National Park sign. There are walking decks that take you a mile or so out into the marsh. You will see al sorts of plants and wildlife. (This past visit we saw 7 or 8 alligators of various ages, plus lots of lizards, turtles, some snakes, a few weird bugs and some birds.) I recommend going the spring time, irises blooming, baby gators everywhere, not too many bugs yet. read more

The Jean Lafitte Park is one of the coolest parks in the metro area. Even though it is only a 20-30 minute drive from downtown, you feel like you are much further from civilization. The best part about the park are the miles of trails through the different environments of the preserve. Some trails are "improved" and have boardwalks and concrete paths, but others are simple wilderness trails. I have never been here when I did not see some type of wildlife. During the summer you are almost always guaranteed to see alligators, snakes and giant black grasshoppers which make you believe a plague is upon Marrero. Even during the colder times, you are almost guaranteed to see something of interest. I highly recommend this park. It is one of the places I don't get to go as much as I'd like, but I need to correct that. read more

Did you know that this is outside? Like, in nature and stuff? I know! I was shocked too! I am not what you would call an "outdoorsy" person. A guy that I am seeing was recently shocked when I told him that I occasionally do venture outdoors and have even been known to enjoy an outdoor festival. Anyway, I hadn't been here for years when a photographer suggested that we explore this place for a photo shoot. Okay, I'm down. The part of the preserve we ventured into was basically a mud trail next to a swamp. I could tell that it was pretty well traveled as it was pretty worn down and there was some trash (coke cans) left behind. Unfortunately, on the day we went it was muggy and hot and the bugs were everywhere. If I had brought bug spray, I would have actually loved exploring this area. I'm giving it 5 stars because it is well taken care of and patrolled regularly, so I felt pretty safe. I will probably return when it cools down a little and the insects head South for the winter. read more

Moving here from Portland, Oregon in June, I was feeling a bit cooped up after a summer trying to acclimate and worshiping the A/C. Portland is home to Forest Park, which has something like 70 miles of recreational trails right in the city, so nature was literally right out your urban backdoor. Since it has cooled off enough for us fragile West Coasters, we were excited to hit Barataria Preserve for some nature walking and to see some wildlife. We were certainly not disappointed. While the area isn't huge, it is lush and serene and has nice boardwalk trails. I'd love to see more signage on the trails of the types of flora and fauna, but overall my new favorite weekend spot for a couple hours of family time. Remember to respect the habitat and not touch things off-trail, including animals and don't litter, jerks (sorry, I told you I was from Oregon, I'm a tree-hugging hippie, remember?) read more

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This is a park ran and operated by the National Park Services through the Federal Government. There is a visitor center, and things that are done by the park rangers. You can find out about all of their services and amenities by visiting https://www.nps.gov/jela/barataria-preserve.htm and get all of the details. I have a passport to the National Parks that I am gradually filling up with all of the National Parks. Eventually, I hope to be able to say I have been to all, each with their own stamp. You can get a passport here and get a stamp. The visitors center has all sorts of useful information about the different trails to walk, and about the wildlife you will see on the trails. I think this is a great option to get out and enjoy the swamps on a raised wooden path. Make sure you double check at the ranger station to be on the lookout for aggressive wildlife and hints on how to avoid the more dangerous sections and animals. It would not be cool to antagonize and alligator or wild boar. I would not suggest these walks for small children who might not pay attention or head warnings. This is a wonderful park, well maintained and plenty of ways to occupy your time with hikes and becoming one with nature. There are campgrounds nearby for several days of fun. I would suggest this for an out of the way attraction for those who are more in touch with the outdoors and those who do not want to hang the entire time in the Quarter, or for locals who want to feel like they have gotten out of town, but be close to home. read more

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Loved it! While planning a trip to New Orleans, I knew I wanted to see the swamps. I think visiting Barataria Preserve satisfied that desire perfectly. We stopped at the visitor center first. My boyfriend enjoys history, and learning things. He really liked the exhibit and talking to the park ranger there. We hiked two or three trails through beautiful swamp land. We saw rattle snakes and alligators. It was great! Good exercise and a great time. It's about 25 minutes from downtown Nola by car. There were no parking or entry fees. read more

Barataria Preserve - Walking through the swamp in casual clothes. It was like 65 degrees, a bit humid and early February. No mosquitoes. - Parks Near Me - Marrero, Louisiana

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Great trails, lots of wildlife. Not always well maintained, but still worth the visit!

Wonderful park in a beautiful location. Nice Visitors Center with exhibits and a great Ranger-led Nature Walk on gravel and boardwalk paths. Ranger explained history and ecology of area and pointed out abundant wildlife along the trail - lots of small alligators, turtles, snakes, etc. Very enjoyable visit. read more

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5/5 swampsong. okay, there isn't actually a song. but there is a swamp. and a marsh. and irises, and water moccasins, and alligators, and swamp bunnies, and lots of bugs and other fun things. had a terrific morning stroll here last good friday and it was a great way to spend the day away from the desk. the established paths are easy to follow, and the guides are happy to help and provide tips. do bring water and maybe take care of the sunscreen and bug spray before you begin your adventure. parents and families, do stay aware.. on the last leg of the trail there was a family who let their kid within about 3 feet of a water moccasin...could have been a very different outcome for them. read more

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This is a big and beautiful park. I will not give it 5 stars until my 3rd time. The biggest problem I had was actually something most would call a feature. There are TONS of GIANT spiders that like to build webs along the paths. But it seems they LOVE my height and since any one I saw was big enough to look like a face-grabber from Aliens, I'm not going to go back. I do NOT want to kill them or destroy their homes. And I don't want you to do so either. So just leave the paths alone if you see webs. Their lives are more important than your silly ideas about walking around crap while destroying the natives. P.S. We have learned nothing from history in this world. read more

This was truly the highlight of my recent New Orleans visit. We didn't bring our kids with us so we were able to take in the swamp at our own pace, which was slow because us city slickers would flinch any time we heard a sound. I know, we're freaking losers! We started at the Visitor Center and had a make shift photo shoot because the area was just too damn perfect not to capture and then continued our way to through the Palmetto Trail. The trail didn't provide any real wildlife besides the occasional squirrel hopping among the trees, but once we crossed over to the Bayou Coquille Trail and to the Marsh Overlook Trail we saw three gators (one just about three feet from the walkway), a water moccasin, a turtle and a tiny western ribbon snake that I almost stepped on. This preserve was spectacular and wasn't busy at all so it's the perfect place to zone out, be one with nature and take it all in. Be advised though, the only bathroom that I recall seeing was at the visitor center! read more

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Probably the best "hike" you can do close to New Orleans, I really like this place. I've been a few times and each trip see spiders, snakes, and alligators -- all right on the trail. Take the long trail out to the bayou overlook for some nice photos of the local waterways. read more

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I'm from New Orleans and loved this place growing up. However, now it is in a state of disrepair. Most of the trails are closed, and the rest are not maintained. Even after 3 days of sunny weather, most trails were muddy. Bring swamp boots as some of the trail ponds were over a foot deep. read more