2021-02-18 16:47:12
Louisiana is home to more than two dozen State Parks and State Historic Sites, each unique in their own way and offering countless ways to experience a different side of Louisiana. Backcountry Exploring Chicot State Park Louisiana’s largest park features miles of trails and limitless boating opportunities. It is also home of the Louisiana State Arboretum, a beechmagnolia forest covering 300 acres that includes numerous indigenous plant species. 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, broad canyons and designated bike trails make this a top spot for mountain bikers and hikers alike. Palmetto Island State Park This park, full of shaggy trees found throughout the swamps, is untouched 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. Canoeing and Kayaking Fairview-Riverside State Park Fairview-Riverside’s close proximity to the Tchefuncte River makes it easy to hop in a canoe or kayak for a relaxing paddle experience. Catch bass, bluegill, redfish and speckled trout from the shoreline or boat. Lake Fausse Pointe State Park Paddle the Atchafalaya Basin for a closer look at the area’s plant and wildlife. Or stroll on a network of boardwalks that will keep your boots dry as you meander through the cypress trees. Park naturalists offer guided tours, and the waterfront cabins are particularly charming. 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 cypress-tupelo swamp, canoeing down the Tickfaw River or casting a line for largemouth bass. Fishing Jimmie Davis State Park This rural getaway on the shores of Caney Creek Reservoir features a unique layout that guarantees you’re never more than a skipping-stone’s throw away from the water. The fattest largemouth bass and redear sunfish in state history were landed here. 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. 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. 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. Horseback Riding Bogue Chitto State Park Bogue Chitto Horse Rentals offers 1-hour or 2-hour guided tours along the park’s winding equestrian trails. Relax with tubing, canoeing, kayaking or fishing from the shoreline of the slow-moving Bogue Chitto River. Chemin-A-Haut State Park Families flock to Chemin-A-Haut for the park’s swimming and wading pools, dozens of picnic sites, rustic footpaths and the 8-mile equestrian trail overlooking Bayou Bartholomew. Looking to get on the water? Paddle over to check out “The Castle”- a towering 1,000-year-old cypress tree. Lake Bistineau State Park Enjoy horseback riding and disc golfing in this enchanting tupelo-cypress forest. Rent flat-bottom 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. Urban Getaways 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. Fontainebleau State Park Fontainebleau, on the outskirts of Mandeville and a short drive from Slidell and Covington, 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. 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. Watersports Cypremort Point State Park A half-mile-long beach runs the length of this south-Louisiana 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. 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 and the International Grand Isle Tarpon Rodeo. 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. Journeys of Historic Proportions Louisiana history is alive in every corner of the state. Historic Structures • Audubon, St. Francisville • E.D. White, Thibodaux • Kent Plantation House, Alexandria • Longfellow-Evangeline, St. Martinville • Rosedown Plantation, St. Francisville • Plaquemine Lock Military History • Centenary, Jackson • Fort Jesup, Many • Fort Pike, New Orleans • Fort St. Jean Baptiste, Natchitoches • Forts Randolph & Buhlow, Pineville • Locust Grove, St. Francisville • Mansfield, Mansfield • Port Hudson, Jackson • Rebel, Marthaville Native American History • Poverty Point World Heritage Site, Pioneer
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