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    Holly Beach

    4.4 (12 reviews)

    Holly Beach Photos

    Recommended Reviews - Holly Beach

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    Reviews With Photos

    Dave O.

    Holly Beach sits on the very edge of the Gulf of Mexico 18 miles south of Hackberry and about 12 miles west of Cameron, Louisiana. It's a place I knew well growing up, it was a shabby little settlement made up of mostly wooden houses referred to as camps, built with no regard for beauty, standing on wooden pilings that tilted and sagged, bending and leaning as the sand shifted and the winds blew. As I recall the beach was never pristine and on the best of days the water was cloudy and filled with silt from the effluent of the rivers and marshlands lining the coast line. As kids we navigated through the beer cans, pop bottles and old milk cartons that littered the roadsides and beach sand not knowing of any better place on earth as we splashed in the murky waters trying our best to avoid the jellyfish and blue crabs that swam just under the surface. The summer months were the best, swarms of people invaded the beach every weekend with coolers full of beer and an appetite for having a good time. I can still hear the echoes of Cajun music playing and the old timers speaking in there strong French dialects telling stories of the old days but most of them spoke of tragedy and strife from one of the most unforgettable events of their lives that occurred on June 27, 1957, when one of the most destructive hurricanes to strike these parts in generations, bearing the picturesque name of "Audrey," came up out of the Gulf, smashing this settlement to smithereens, and carried it away into the marshes, depositing it there in a heap of irretrievable ruins.Holly Beach was not only destroyed; Holly Beach was gone. The storm was so devastating that most who had fled or survived the hurricane either vowed never again to return to the scene of this dreadful tragedy. But the resolve of the people of Louisiana as they always do returned and rebuilt their lives, in much the same way before Audrey understanding it wasn't very likely that a similar tragedy would recur in their lifetime. How long would it be before the powers of the sea and the wind rise again, as they have done so often and Holly Beach would experience a similar death? In September 2005 Hurricane Rita pushing a 10 foot storm surge that completely leveled the small beach town again leaving almost nothing but ruins and the lonely water tower again testing the will of the people. In 2008, three years after Rita, Hurricane Ike came ashore and brought a 22-foot storm surge, which was far worse than Rita's 10-foot surge. Nearly all of the coastline in that area was flooded heavily, with surge and floodwaters reaching 60 miles inland, reaching as far north as Lake Charles, in Cameron Parish the communities of Cameron, Holly Beach, Hackberry, Creole, and Grand Chenier were essentially destroyed. During my recent visits to the area I witnessed the devastation first hand and it unbelievably disheartening to one that grew up in the area, but like a Phoenix rising from the ashes, Holly Beach lives on because never once did the fortitude of the people waver...

    It's not sand, it's shells! Miniature shells form part of the beach, watch where you step.
    Shayla A.

    This beach may not have crystal clear water, but it has everything else. Be sure to check bacteria levels before planning a swim trip here. Regularly, especially in warmer weather, there are swim advisories present. When it's safe or you feel like taking your chances, the waves are a blast to brace against or ride on a boogie board. Because of the less clear waters, be observant of crabs and jelly fish just under the surface. Want to look for shells? This is paradise! Bring a bucket and shovel for a sand castle; the beach is soft and perfect for making sculptures. Free camping on the beach, fires allowed, fishing is great, and the locals are full of Cajun kindness. Clean porta potties for your use and a view to be envied. A much recommended spot and a staple to your family get away.

    Beautiful day
    Barbara S.

    Nice place to kick back. Surf fish and hunt shells. Will be going back as soon as I can.

    Beautiful

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    Beautiful view. Quiet. Definitely not a tourist trap. Would love to see a souvenir shop or something

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    Ask the Community - Holly Beach

    How is the beach today? Is it full of seaweed or black mud?

    08/05/17; the water is murky but clear of debris and very limited seaweed. Warm water with some fun waves to ride, but be cautious of jelly fish.

    Are dogs allowed on the beach?

    Yes! Absolutely bring your dog along.

    View All 6 Questions

    Review Highlights - Holly Beach

    Some people know Holly Beach, also known as the "Cajun Riviera", is a coastal community in Cameron Parish, Louisiana, United States.

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    Sabine National Wildlife Refuge

    Sabine National Wildlife Refuge

    4.3(3 reviews)
    13.7 mi

    Want to see the Louisiana wildlife up close and personal until you say....damn where is my…read morecrossbow, taser or holy snikeys runnnnnn? Well then this is the place for you. In all seriousness this is a great wildlife refuge and just be alert! There is a parking lot, bathrooms for your first break on the road if you are headed along the map trip and plenty of outdoor walking opportunities. Please remember your bug spray but, even the deep woods off won't help you; I mean the mosquitoes seem to enjoy the extra deet in it. While they were eating me alive I could almost hear them say.."oooh is this deet in there because I just love me some deet?" You want to go to the right of the sign and start walking which will lead you on the trails= loop, into lookout towers, seeing grassy marsh land, alligators, plants, birds, etc. The nature out here is inspiring and even though it was a steamy Louisiana temperature it was still worth it. The lady at the starting point told us this is where you see the biggest gators but, we didn't see any unfortunately since we were getting eaten alive by mosquitoes but the scenery tempted me to keep going. This is a well kept nature trail/park and the grass was mowed but, unfortunately there was a dead alligator that was stinking up the first part of the trail. Make sure you wear long pants, long sleeve shirt, bring water, wear walking shoes and come ready to sweat and endure!

    We were on our way to NOLA . We stopped by lake Charles and made a quick decision to cover the…read morecreole nature trail and Rutherford beach. And man we were so happy we made that decision. This trail is so beautiful with different kind of birds and gators and it was Christmas Day , we had the trails scattered across more than 100 miles all to ourselves. This is such a a gem . The long board walks in the swamps amid different birds , turtles and gators was amazing. This trail starts from the town of sulphur and runs more than 150 miles looping all the way through swamp lands to the sea at holy beach and Rutherford beach. Take out at least 6hours from your itinerary for a leisurely trip through the trails. If you rush through you will miss all the exotic things it has to offer. Keep yourself informed from one of the visitor centers near lake Charles Cameron etc.

    Photos
    Sabine National Wildlife Refuge
    Sabine National Wildlife Refuge
    Sabine National Wildlife Refuge

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    Sea Rim State Park - Blue crabs

    Sea Rim State Park

    3.8(21 reviews)
    38.5 mi

    Very small state park, but I somehow like it a lot better than Galveston Island SP because it is…read moreless crowded. I read on everywhere to beware of the mosquitoes. I surprisingly didn't have to deal with any mosquitoes. What was very annoying was the plethora of flies. I sprayed myself and my dog, Sneakers in deet spray because they were relentless landing on us. Park staff was nice and pretty much hands off. I checked in and bought a magnet all from the comfort of my vehicle. I don't think you can walk inside the park HQ. There's only one trail which is under a mile long. It's a boardwalk that goes over marsh swamp with blue crabs walking below. Sneakers had a blast looking at the crabs. I had to stop him a few times from jumping down below to eat them. The parking is plentiful. I brought a picnic blanket, an inflatable dog bed, a small camping table, and my 2015 Yelp towel so Sneakers and I could eat snacks while watching the waves come in. It was very relaxing and peaceful. We both fell asleep on the shore until we were abruptly woken up by a family feeding the birds. It clearly states in the park map not to feed in the birds, but people are always out to break the rules. The water wasn't cold, but lukewarm. I saw several needles buried in the sand in various areas of the beach. Park rangers could do a better job at cleaning it up, but I'm sure they're more busy handling their day to day. I think Sneakers had a great time at Sea Rim with me. He got in the water and was swimming a bit until he got too scared to go into deeper water. Entry was free with the TX Parks Pass otherwise it would have been $3 which my friend thought that was too much money. It's not, but to each their own opinions. I had fun and will be back!!

    We really enjoyed our stay. Park staff was friendly and gave great information. We loved our…read morebeach walk and successful fishing. Quiet nights to relax despite monster mosquitos. Take bug spray!

    Photos
    Sea Rim State Park - Tiny blue crabs

    Tiny blue crabs

    Sea Rim State Park
    Sea Rim State Park

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    LDWF Rockefeller Wildlife Refuge

    LDWF Rockefeller Wildlife Refuge

    5.0(3 reviews)
    30.8 mi

    This place is pretty amazing. We made the trip down for some crabbing and shrimping. We scouted it…read moreout the day before and saw more DWF agents there than I've ever seen in my life. With all the visitors, they must need them all. We came back the next day and arrived about 30 min before sunrise. They are very strict about not entering before sunrise. As early as we were, there were still about 8 cars ahead of us. It's like the land rush when it opens with people rushing out to the docks to claim their spots. They day we went, the crabbing and shrimping was not that great. Some around us caught better than others but the general opinion was that the day was slow. Even with it as slow as it was, we had a great time, caught some stuff, even a fish fish but bo keepers. Will definitely be back. Just get there early!

    The refuge was deeded to the state by the Rockefeller Foundation and is managed by the Louisiana…read moreDepartment of Fish and Wildlife. It was originally 86,000 acres, but beach erosion has decreased it to 76,042 acres. There are 26.5 miles of coastline. There is a road that runs next to a canal for access to several ponds and marshes. through several areas. Fishing, birds and alligators. There is a canal that runs the length of the road, I have seen people crabbing. There is a lot of oil and gas activity in the area. http://www.wlf.louisiana.gov/refuge/rockefeller-wildlife-refuge

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    LDWF Rockefeller Wildlife Refuge
    LDWF Rockefeller Wildlife Refuge
    LDWF Rockefeller Wildlife Refuge

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    Holly Beach - beaches - Updated May 2026

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