Take This Epic Road Trip To Experience Louisiana’s Great Outdoors

Louisiana is full of natural wonders just waiting to be explored. One of the best ways to experience our great outdoors is by taking an epic road trip to see them! This drive will take a few days, making for a perfect extended weekend getaway. Pack your bags, gas up the car, and get ready to take on one of the most epic trips you’ll ever take without ever leaving the state.

Chemin-A-Haut State Park/Facebook

We’ll start our trip in the northern part of the state, in Bastrop, Louisiana. Chemin-A-Haut State park is a 503-acre state park in Morehouse Parish that’s filled with beautiful scenery. Chemin-A-Haut means "high road" in French, and you’ll understand why they named the park so once you visit - most of the property is situated on a high bluff that overlooks the beautiful Bayou Bartholomew.

Address: 14656 State Park Rd., Bastrop, LA 71220

Jimmie Davis State Park/Facebook

Heading south, our next stop brings us to Jimmie Davis State Park. Nestled up against Caney Lake, this state park is perfect for anyone looking to do some freshwater fishing. In the warmer months, waterskiing and swimming are quite popular. It’s not uncommon to see wildlife like deer, rabbits, ducks, and more during your stay here, so keep your eyes peeled!

Address: 1209 State Park Rd., Chatham, LA 71226

Advertisement

DonnaGSaucier/Trip Advisor

One of two state parks in Louisiana on the shores of the Toledo Bend Reservoir, South Toledo Bend State Park is a bird lover’s paradise. The area has become quite popular with bald eagles, so keep your eyes on the skies during your visit and you’re bound to spot one.

Address: 120 Bald Eagle, Anacoco, LA 71403

Advertisement

Dusty G./All Trails

Louisiana’s only national first is perfect for anyone looking to explore the great outdoors. Spread out over seven parishes and divided up into five ranger districts, it would take you quite a few weeks to explore all of the 604,000 acres in this beautiful forest. There are countless trails throughout Kisatchie, each one varying in difficulty and landscape. You’ll be surprised at the terrain of some of these trails, as most Louisianians are used to fairly flat land.

Related Stories

This Hidden Beach And Aqua Park In Louisiana Is Worth A Road Trip From Any Corner Of The State

This Weekend Road Trip Will Lead You To Some Of Louisiana's Most Beautiful Natural Scenery

Take This Road Trip To The Most Eye-Popping Sunflower Fields In Louisiana

Richard May/Flickr

As we start to dive into Cajun Country, a stop at Chicot State Park is an absolute must. This massive 6,400-acre state park has some truly incredible nature trails that lead you through natural landscapes that will leave you speechless. From Lake Chicot to the bottomland hardwood forest, the scenery is quite spectacular.

Address: 3469 Chicot Park Rd., Ville Platte, LA 70586

JC.Winkler/Flickr

Park of the Cypress Island Nature Preserve, Lake Martin has one of the largest nesting colonies of water birds in Louisiana. Not only will you have the opportunity to see species like great blue herons, egrets, and anhingas, you’ll also find countless alligators, turtles, snakes, and other swamp creatures. If you have the chance, stick around until sunset - the views will mesmerize you!

Address: 1209 Rookery Rd., Breaux Bridge, LA 7051

Tobin/Flickr

This road trip wouldn’t be complete without including the nation’s largest river swamp. The Atchafalaya stretches through eight different parishes and is filled with bayous, marshes, bald cypress swamps, and some of the most beautiful natural areas Louisiana has to offer. There are several tour companies that would love to show you a piece of the one million acre swamp - you can check them out in our previous article here.

Upnorthtransplant1/Trip Advisor

We’ll end our road trip at the tip of the boot, in Grand Isle. Louisiana’s only inhabited barrier island is a delightful little fishing town that’s the perfect conclusion to an epic adventure. If you’d like, you can bring your tent and camp right on the beach! Spend your evening listening to the sounds of the waves crashing on the shore while you gaze up at the stars. Sounds like heaven, right?

How many of these attractions have you visited? Let us know in the comments below, and don’t forget to share photos from your adventures on our Louisiana Nature Lovers Facebook group!