Explore Louisiana’s Flora and Fauna With These 3 Outdoor Adventures

Louisiana is packed with outdoor adventures that everyone will love. Whether you’re looking for a relaxing fishing trip, a kayak tour of the swamps, or a walk along a gorgeous garden trail, this state has something for you. Keep reading to learn about some of the best outdoor adventures in the region.

Pack & Paddle

With Pack & Paddle, you can explore the swamps and bayous of Louisiana on your own or with an experienced guide. Pack & Paddle’s scheduled tours will take your group through miles of untouched natural landscapes. Its tours travel through Lake Martin, Bayou Teche, Lake Fausse Pointe State Park, and Chicot State Park. Fishing trips in brackish marshes are available, and there are specialized kayaks for kids.

The trail guides have plenty of knowledge about the local flora and fauna, so you can soak in the details during your time in nature and learn more about the ecology of the area. During Pack & Paddle’s popular eagle-watching kayak trips, people often see bald eagles and many other species. Stop in Pack & Paddle’s store to learn more about the perfect hiking trails and get outfitted with the right gear.

The Atchafalaya Basin

The Atchafalaya Basin is ideal for outdoor explorers and animal watchers. This massive, 860,000-acre nature area includes swamps, lakes, and prairies, and it covered a large part of Southern Louisiana. Atchafalaya Basin is the historic home of the original Cajun tribe that lived in virtual isolation until the 1920s.

You can find more than 300 bird species, 90 fish species, crawfish, crab, shrimp, bullfrogs, alligators, and many other animals in the basin. You could spend years exploring the last great river-basin swamp and never stop discovering new and exciting things. If you’re not familiar with the area, you can hire a guide or participate in a tour of the area so you don’t miss out on anything.

Lake Martin

For excellent fishing, boating, and swimming, take a trip to Lake Martin on your next weekend off. The area, part of the Cypress Island Preserve, is full of cypress swamps and hardwood forests.

This lake has a wide variety of animal and plant life, and its romantic sunsets are perfect for couples who want to enjoy some time alone together. Lake Martin is also ideal for bird watchers. You can see great blue herons, black-crowned night herons, white ibises, egrets, roseate spoonbills, and more. If you bring your dog, avoid disturbing the wildlife by keeping it on the trails, although it’s best to leave your pets at home due to the heat and alligators.

At Rookery Road, there are plenty of alligators, and visitors can take photos from a safe distance. You can go hiking on the shores of the lake or relax and have a picnic. Lake Martin’s visitor’s center is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday through Wednesday, so stop in to learn more about the trails and types of fauna to look out for.

There are plenty of outdoor activities in Louisiana. Try these out when you get the chance, and you’ll love what you discover in the middle of Mother Nature.

Image via Pixabay | CC 0 | Cropped from original

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