Mark Sanders 2017-01-16 16:13:29
Pedestrian bridge at South Toledo Bend State Park Louisiana is home to 22 State Parks and countless ways to enjoy every one of them. Bob Rodgers Memorial Disc Golf Course at Sam Houston Jones State Park Bayou Segnette State Park This New Orleans area park, well known for its wave pool and playground, is an awesome destination for families. Hikers enjoy views of the cypress-tupelo swamp on foot, and overnighters choose from scenic RV spots or tent sites. Bogue Chitto State Park The slow moving Bogue Chitto River is perfect for a day of tubing, canoeing or kayaking, horseback riding through the swamps or fishing from the shoreline. Chemin-A-Haut State Park Families flock to Chemin-A-Haut for the park’s swimming and wading pools, 35 picnic sites and rustic footpaths and horse trails overlooking Bayou Bartholomew. Chicot State Park Louisiana’s largest park features miles of trails and boating opportunities. It is also home of the Louisiana State Arboretum, a beech-magnolia forest covering 300 acres that includes many indigenous plant species. Cypremort Point State Park A half-mile-long beach runs the length of this Cajun Country getaway, offering opportunities for swimming, kitesurfing, windsurfing, fishing and just plain hanging out. The marshes near the beach give hikers and campers a chance to spot deer, red foxes and even black bears. Fairview-Riverside State Park Fairview-Riverside’s close proximity to the Tchefuncte River makes it easy to catch bass, bluegill, redfish and speckled trout from the shoreline or boat, or tour the historic 1880s-era Otis House. Fontainebleau State Park Fontainebleau sits on the grounds of a former sugar plantation—the mill is still partly intact and open to visitors. Check out the expansive pier on Lake Pontchartrain, a sandy beach, water playground and a portion of the 31-mile-long Tammany Trace bike trail. Grand Isle State Park Grand Isle is Louisiana’s premier spot for weekend warriors looking to dip their toes in warm Gulf of Mexico waters. Beach camping is popular, as are the Grand Isle Migratory Bird Festival in April and the International Grand Isle Tarpon Rodeo in July. Fishing at Chicot State Park Lake Bruin State Park Fontainebleau State Park Hodges Gardens State Park This park combines unspoiled forests alongside formal gardens, with a backdrop of natural rock formations and a spectacular waterfall. Fifteen miles of equestrian trails and campsites complement the fishing and boating opportunities. Jimmie Davis State Park This charming park on the shores of Caney Creek Reservoir features a unique layout that guarantees you’re never more than a skippingstone’s throw away from the water. The fattest largemouth bass and redear sunfish in state history (as of 2016) were landed here. Lake Bistineau State Park Enjoy horseback riding and disc golfing in this enchanting tupelo-cypress forest. Rent flatbottom boats, canoes and kayaks and paddle out to Sandy Island or Snake Island, or stay closer to camp and relax by one of the swimming pools. Cabins, meeting facilities and duck hunting opportunities are just a few more reasons to visit this park. Lake Bruin State Park Lake Bruin, a haven for watersports fanatics and anglers alike, is teeming with largemouth bass and sac-à-lait (crappie). No boat? No problem. They’re available for rent. The park also features a boat launch, boat shed, bathhouse and three large fishing piers. Lake Claiborne State Park Dive deep into the crystalline waters of this natural beauty, where fishing and waterskiing are held in equally high regard. The park offers guided tours, and you can learn about this unique ecosystem at the on-site nature center. Lake D’Arbonne State Park Fishing, disc golfing and tennis are just a few of the draws to this north Louisiana park. The dense forest, rolling hills, canyons and designated bike trails make this a top spot for mountain bikers. Lake Fausse Pointe State Park Experience the wild side of the Atchafalaya Basin on a network of boardwalks that will keep your boots dry as you meander through healthy stands of cypress trees. Park naturalists offer guided tours, and the waterfront cabins are particularly charming. North and South Toledo Bend State Parks Toledo Bend Reservoir resembles a freshwater ocean, large enough that there are two State Parks on its banks. In addition to fishing, hiking and biking trails wind throughout the parks, with hills that are perfect for sunset photography. South Toledo Bend State Park Poverty Point Reservoir State Park Wave Pool at Bayou Segnette State Park North Toledo Bend State Park Palmetto Island State Park This park, full of shaggy, tropical trees found throughout the swamps, is unspoiled south Louisiana at its most picturesque. You’ll find a water playground and cabins that give overnight guests a front-row seat to a symphony of the swamp’s wildlife. Poverty Point Reservoir State Park Poverty Point Reservoir sits along the Mississippi Flyway, one of the continental U.S.’s main migratory bird routes. One of the state’s shyest friends, the Louisiana black bear, has been spotted here. St. Bernard State Park This is the perfect day trip or overnight excursion from New Orleans, with picnic tables, barbecue grills, and a water playground and swimming pool for the kids. Short hiking trails crisscross the park, and RV campsites are available for overnight guests. Sam Houston Jones State Park This park is a safe haven for a variety of wildlife, including more than 200 species of migratory birds. Tree-filled lagoons and mixed pine and hardwood forests await both avid and casual hikers, and disc golfers will love the challenges of the park’s 18-hole course. Tickfaw State Park Tickfaw is famous for its scenic namesake river and the prolific wildlife that surrounds it. Get oriented at the nature center before exploring the cypresstupelo swamp, canoeing down the Tickfaw River or casting a line for largemouth bass.
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State Parks
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