Well if you can catch them when they're open. Been there once or twice on a whim and they were…read moreopen, nice variety of tackle and baits, live and artificial. Again it's just da fact if and when they're open.

The best free walking trail around. People are also boating fishing too…read more The trail is elevated, So you do not disturb the swamp. Plus it is an easy walk. Being in this natural environment just plain feels good. Bro g the kids and unplug!!

The Mississippi River trail is what locals call "The Levee". Much of my family is from the River…read moreParishes so I grew up walking on, skating on and just hanging out up on the levee-- as it is directly across the street from my family members homes. Looking at the river and seeing wildlife. Depending on how high the river is cresting you may see more wildlife. The coolest thing about this trail is that over the years it's been improved with a paved roadway which makes it great for cycling long distances along the river. I live uptown and though I haven't braved the entirety of the trail, if I found the energy, I could ride my bike from uptown to Destrehan to go visit my grandma's house...about 20 miles one way. One of these days I'll get it together and take the ride. The Levee is the barrier between the River and the towns on the other side...it's flood protection and also a recreational space. We love a multifunctional system.

Safe off street route for long rides, but can get monotonous, and the headwinds/crosswinds can be…read morechallenging. Reasonably well-maintained, but a few pretty rough spots, especially where driveways cross the trail. Overall, not bad, and I wish we more off street options.

We are OBSESSED with the cabins! Lots of wildlife to…read moreappreciate, very friendly staff, and the location is perfect! Close to the city, right in town, but still in the country. We've been before and will definitely be back. The screens had holes and let in a lot of bugs but it's a form of camping and we loved all of God's creatures nonetheless. I do wish they had some form of souvenir but we took home great photos and countless memories. See you again soon!

I have been here twice now. Once for a fish fry put on for a local Veterans group and once for a…read moreWinter Lantern Festival. The last event I went to here was interrupted by the amount of mosquitoes wanting to suck my blood. You have to pay for admission to get in, at $5 which is inexpensive, but if you rent a picnic area, you also have to pay for that. It is nice though.

AN UNEXPECTED NEW ORLEANS ADVENTURE AND WE SAW THE GATORS!…read more We originally wanted to book a swamp tour, but unfortunately we were too late to get one for the day. I've been to New Orleans before, and seeing an alligator in its natural habitat was still on my bucket list, so we decided to take a ride out to Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and see what we could find. And baby... LO AND BEHOLD! Not long after we arrived, we came across some locals standing near the swamp taking pictures. We walked over and THERE IT WAS an alligator right there in the water! Bucket-list moment CHECKED! Now, here's where those locals became our best friends for the day! Do NOT go out there poking sticks in the water, trying to get an alligator to come closer for your picture! Thank God we ran into people who knew the area and gave us some much-needed knowledge. They explained just how quickly these animals can move and reminded us to keep a safe distance. Needless to say, we enjoyed our gator from WHERE WE WERE! The entire experience was beautiful because this wasn't a staged attraction we were able to see wildlife right there in its natural environment. The drive in was peaceful and beautiful, surrounded by woods and the sounds of nature. And then there were the SPIDERS! The spiderwebs throughout the area were absolutely incredible, but some of those spiders were bigger than a half-dollar! So keep your eyes OPEN while you're admiring the scenery! If you're visiting New Orleans and want a FREE, authentic nature experience, this is definitely worth checking out. Just remember: respect the wildlife, keep your distance, stay aware of your surroundings, and if you happen to run into a knowledgeable local LISTEN! We went looking for a swamp tour and ended up having our own little adventure instead. Beautiful scenery, nature at its best, giant spiders, local wisdom, and MY ALLIGATOR! Bucket list: CHECK! New Orleans owes me nothing!

Arrived shortly after the Government shut-down during our 11K road-trip across America. We had…read morealready been disappointed at a couple stops that were completely closed due to shut-down. We were so happy to find the trails and boardwalk were open and our biggest surprise was to find that the Rangers/Staff was kind enough to set-out the Park Cancellation Stamp (very thoughtful during their stressful time). The bathrooms were also opened so greatly appreciated by myself and family. We walked the Boardwalk and was treated to the amazing beauty of a Moma Alligator with a pod of youngsters around her right off the boardwalk. What an amazing opportunity to see wildlife up close and in their natural environment. I was able to get some pictures (I have a 600M Lens) so at a distance. We did not bother them and they remained where they were at chillin. What a sight to see, one of the coolest yet of the wild side of National Parks.

I just love walking in a forest in the middle of the city. It's so peaceful and pretty. I just wish…read moreit had longer trails. I love "climbing" up to the highest point in New Orleans! Just watch for mosquitoes during most of the year!

Unbelievable forest right in center of city park!! My grandchildren love it!! It's very safe to let…read morekids explore!!

Great boardwalk trail over the marsh. It's a good way to see wildlife on the northshore on an easy…read morehike.

"I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of…read morelife, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived" ― Henry David Thoreau, Walden I have always felt like Thoreau knew what he was talking about when he wrote that. It's been some time since I've gone to live in the woods, but I do think one can accomplish a lot by taking a walk alone into the wilderness. The boardwalk in this section of the Big Branch Refuge is a great place to take such a walk. Located in between Slidell and Lacombe, this section of the national refuge is somewhat different than the other two areas. This spot in particular is a half mile boardwalk trail that runs from the pine forest to the swamp. The trail lets you see first hand how the forest has subsided over the years and become swamp. The remnants of dead pine trees that could no longer survive the excessive moisture dot the landscape. As the trail continues, you will end a large expanse of swamp and an incredible view. There is also more trails to hike, but on my most recent visit I was running out of daylight. This trail is popular, but I have found that more times than not, you will be the only hiker. On my most recent trip I encountered several groups on my hike back, but only one group was irritating enough that I wanted to push them into the swamp. When people are hiking and enjoying nature, hooping and hollering is not enjoyable to others. My hike though the wilderness was very enjoyable. For the first part of the hike all that could be heard was the wind and the birds. If you need to think, want to take photos, or just enjoy a walk through the woods, check this trail out.

Nature center is nice and the trails are nice. !3 entry fee. Trail is closed off due to rebuilding…read moreafter the flood happened. It's after you get over the bridge that you will see the barricade.

During our cross country road trip in the summer of 2022, we traveled with the truck and trailer…read morefrom Los Angeles to Key West and back. My wife booked a few nights in Tickfaw state park, sight unseen, to be more or less in the vicinity of New Orleans, a plantation tour, and a swamp boat tour that we had booked months in advance. As it turned out, we actually enjoyed this state park stay more than our visit to New Orleans! The state park entrance is actually at the back of a neighborhood of sorts, on a narrow two-lane road that cuts away from the highway at a weird angle. Once inside the park proper, visitors are treated to beautiful swamps, complete with cypress trees, Spanish moss, and all the critters you would expect to find here. The campground we enjoyed had full hook ups, a small wooden deck, and a long back-in pad for our trailer. There was also a resident raccoon who kept us honest about locking things up at night, and securing coolers and food. Tickfaw state park features long boardwalks with railings, that afford visitors beautiful hikes in different parts of the park through different kinds of trees and plants. Unfortunately, many of these were still damaged in the summer of 2022 from the previous year's Hurricane Ida that blew through southern Louisiana and surrounding areas. The only trail that was not affected by this was the one without a boardwalk, so we enjoyed a hike through beautiful pines that went down to the river. Despite most of the trails being closed and damaged, we still enjoyed ourselves here, and had a good time. In the evening, I enjoyed casting topwater lures in on the cypress knees and trees, and caught & released several big bowfin... A fish that is sort of a cross between a catfish a bass, and a pit bull I suppose. I'm not sure when we will be back through this part of the world, but Tickfaw State Park is definitely a place that I would stay again: off the beaten path but close enough to where you want to be, peaceful and quiet, and the kind of southern serene that helps a SoCal guy like me to slow down and enjoy life a little bit.

I love the trails out here. Sadly, many are closed still due to damage after Ida. But the handful…read moreof open trails are nice. They're mostly shaded. Lots of native plants, beautiful cypress trees, alligators, deer, etc Update: progress is being made on repairing trails!! Hope they reopen soon.

While on vacation, it is part of our responsibility to check out nature in some way, shape, or…read moreform. 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!

Great place for a fun day with friends under the sun! The price is very reasonable : $25/person for…read more2hrs. The instructor was very nice. She even accepted to take some pictures of us. Highly recommend!

Went here for my birthday, great time, solid amenities, a really well thought out experience.read more