Louisiana Travel Guide - 2026
My Louisiana Outdoors
2026-02-18 07:00:07
EXPLORE THE STATE WITH THOSE WHO KNOW IT BEST!
Louisiana is a dream destination for outdoor lovers, whether you’re a mountain biker attacking the trail, an angler casting a line or an amateur photographer looking for that next oh-so-perfect shot.
From lush parks and preserves to coastal wetlands and inland bayous, Louisiana’s diverse landscapes provide endless opportunities to explore. We rounded up three outdoor enthusiasts to share their love of the state’s natural wonders – and let you in on some of their favorite places to hike, bike, paddle, fish and even photograph.
Here are their stories …
NINA ROGERS
MOUNTAIN BIKER
An avid mountain biker, Nina Rogers had quite an adjustment when she moved to Louisiana eight years ago.
“When I came here, everything was flat,” she remembers. “Then I joined BRAMBA (Baton Rouge Area Mountain Bike Association) and discovered we have some very technical trails right here in Baton Rouge.”
She said the group was so welcoming that she started biking with them every week – and eventually joined their board. That led her to partner up with fellow biker Toby Cortez to offer bike training and lead group rides through some of their favorite places.
“I started doing so much training that I thought I should probably get certified,” she says with a laugh, which led her to create Send It Sisters, a mountain bike training program geared especially to women.
“Teaching female bikers requires special skills – it’s not the same as when I trained men – and I love helping these women gain confidence and feel more comfortable in their own skin.”
Nina has shared some of her favorite places to ride and explore throughout this year’s guide, but one of those spots is especially meaningful to her.
“Ruston has this beautiful bike hub up there that is attracting riders from all over the region and beyond.”
Leading to five state-of-the-art flow trails that take riders of all skill levels over different types of terrain – all with awesome views – it’s also the world’s first waterfall mountain-biking hub.
“It really is amazing and I helped design it. It’s something I can look at now and say, wow, I did that!”
KALON JOHNSON
KAYAK TOURNAMENT ANGLER
Looking back on Kalon Johnson’s rise from a little kid with a fishing pole to the world-class kayak tournament angler he is today, you might say he never had another choice.
“My uncles introduced me to fishing at an early age and I just never looked back,” he recalls. “I really enjoy the challenge of figuring out what the fish want. I enjoy the peace, joy and fulfillment that it gives me as well, and I love to share those experiences.”
Being able to inspire and motivate others through his adventures is what led him to start teaching kids how to fish – so maybe they’ll become hooked at a young age, just as he did, back in his hometown of Thibodaux.
Some of his favorite places to fish these days are Caddo Lake near Shreveport, an internationally protected wetland famous for having one of the largest flooded cypress forests in the U.S., and Bayou Lacombe in Lacombe, which offers a haven of other wildlife surrounding its fish-rich waters.
When in more southern points like Houma, he doesn’t miss Pointe-aux-Chenes, a marsh peppered with ponds, bayous and canals, and Bay Cocodrie, home to a fishing, shrimping and crabbing village on waters opening into the Gulf.
When he’s not out fishing, Kalon says he loves to boil seafood (probably not a surprise) and smoke meats, along with planting and growing vegetables and fruit.
“Doing these things in the comfort of my backyard with family is an escape for me.”
BEN PIERCE
OUTDOOR PHOTOGRAPHER
As someone who grew up in Louisiana, outdoor photographer Ben Pierce makes it clear that “Louisiana is – and always will be – my home state. I moved here right before I started kindergarten and went through all my schooling here.”
That led him to a degree in landscape architecture from Louisiana State University, where he learned to connect people to the “built world” through the natural environment. After a brief stint in the mountains of North Carolina post-graduation, he was pulled back to Louisiana, where he uses his love of photography to shine a spotlight on the state’s outdoor beauty and valuable natural resources.
Although not a photographer by profession (he leads a Lafayette-based nonprofit called Louisiana Swamp Base that fosters appreciation of the state’s swamps through immersive and educational experiences) his skills behind the lens certainly help support his work.
“You could say that I use my photography for both eco-tourism promotion and to achieve my own personal mission of changing opinions and breaking the many myths about swamps.”
He considers himself one of the lucky few people who was able to find a career where the places he loves most dearly are also the ones he gets to call his “office.”
“Any day on the water is a good day, so I cherish every chance I get to explore our swamps and wetlands,” Pierce says.
“When I’m not on the water, which is rare, I enjoy going for a drive, taking the back roads and visiting the small communities of our state. There’s a special charm about these out-of-the-way locations.”
Look for Nina, Kalon and Ben’s favorite places to play in the “My Louisiana Outdoors” best bets they share throughout this year’s guide!
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