There are so many scenic hiking trails in Louisiana, you could spend an entire lifetime traversing them all. From the high peaks of Driskill Mountain to the sandy shores found along the Creole Nature Trail, there’s a view for every occasion. If you’re on the hunt for a short and sweet hiking trail with some incredible waterfront views along the way, then this is the trail for you.

Lake Martin is a scenic little lake in Breaux Bridge that’s part of the Cypress Island Nature Preserve.
Ryan Ballard/All Trails
While it is indeed a lake, it does give off more of your typical swamp vibes, especially since it’s home to a huge population of wildlife, which we’ll get to in a minute.
The Lake Martin Levee Trail is a loop trail that will take you all around the lake.
Jeremy & Lacy Stucky/All Trails
The trail clocks in at about five miles and takes most people about two hours to complete.
Michael Collins/All Trails
Of course, you'll have some stunning views along the way, and you'll want to stop and take it in.

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The trail is a mixture of boardwalks, gravel, and a little stretch of dirt road, but for the most part, this trail is easy enough for all age groups.
Julie McCall/All Trails
The nature preserve is home to so much wildlife, you're almost guaranteed to see something along your hike.
Amanda Richter/All Trails
The lake is home to one of Louisiana's largest nesting colonies for birds, so keep your eyes peeled for egrets, herons, anhingas, and more.
Tyler Hebert/All Trails
Pictured above is an anhinga. Due to their low metabolic rates and how quickly they lose body heat, you’ll often see these birds with their wings spread open. This allows them to soak up some sun to dry off and get back some of that body heat since their feathers are less water-resistant than other aquatic birds.
Turtles, gators, and birds are a few of the most commonly seen swamp critters, but you never know what you'll see!
Amanda Richter/All Trails
You may even catch a glimpse of some of the rarer sightings like white-tailed deer, rabbits, or nutria.

There’s more than one way to experience Lake Martin, and you probably noticed Champagne’s Swamp Tour when you arrived at the trail. These folks know the swamps better than most, and they offer several different swamp tours that will take you to parts of Louisiana’s wetlands that you wouldn’t be able to see on foot. Check them out!

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Lake Martin, Louisiana, Louisiana 70517, USA