Jean Lafitte National Historic Park and Preserve

Can’t really say a bad thing here. The trails are all very well kept and the visitor center is very nice.
Some of the trails are raised and allow you to hike/​walk far back into the middle of the swamp. They are very easy trails and pretty much anyone can manage walking them. No need for training before you go here.
It’s a nice place to go out for a hike and you can see some pretty cool wildlife out here. There’s gators, snakes, frogs, birds of all sorts, etc. I wouldn’t recommend going off the trail going off the trails here due to the high concentration of things that can kill you.
Some of the trails can flood due to heavy rain so you may have a problem there depending on the weather when you go.

I think this is my favorite park in the New Orleans area. Right up there with city park. I’ve probably been here 5 or so times in the past year and I always see at least one really cool thing. We went the past weekend not expecting to see much as it was pretty cold for New Orleans. Well we were WRONG. We saw several small snakes, turtles, red tailed squirell, a family of some sort of red birds (including babies in the best), and the real kicker was the massive swarm you could hear of baby alligators. I’ve lived in Louisiana my whole life and never heard anything like it. It was awesome! Bayou coquille trail is probably my favorite. The only aspect I’m a little iffy about is that close to the swamp there is a little drop off and no barriers on the side in between the water. It can get a little nerve wrecking when you have small children. Also, it’s FREE!

If you’re looking for a hiking spot and also looking to check out the bayou then Jean Lafitte can meet both of those needs.
I came here on a Monday in December with a friend and it was pretty deserted. The walk itself takes you along a wooden path that floats just inches above the water below where I’m told alligators tend to swim although we didn’t see any. We did, however, see some snakes and a group of children (not in the water, but roaming the path with a guide — maybe they were a school group?).
Unfortunately when we came the visitor center was locked up but the foyer was open so we were at least able to snag a map. We wandered along the path for over an hour until we came upon a flooded area which would have required wellingtons to wade through without soaking our socks. Nonetheless it’s a lovely little walk, and if you’re staying in New Orleans and have access to a car I recommend checking it out.

Came here with The Sunshine Kids and had an amazing time! Darrin was our captain and gave us so my much information and taught us about the wildlife and ‘gators. We even were able to hold a 3 year old alligator! Thank you for an unforgettable experience!

We went hiking for about 4 hours around the preserve and we really appreciated the great raised trails through the swamp and marsh areas. Even though the visitor center was closed we were able to get a map there for the trails. Clean bathrooms too! Walk slow otherwise you might miss something!

This was a great easy walk through the Bayou! Loved it. Really beautiful and got to see some crocs. I highly recommend this!

If you want to get up close to snakes, alligators, spiders, lizards, beavers, and other animals for free then this is the place. Wear some good shoes because there is a lot of walking to do. There are only a few spots where you can take a break to sit down.
Also make sure if you get to the park late not to park at the main entrance if you plan on walking the entire preservation. There are two parking lots there. I was at the far end (main entrance) and didn’t pay attention to the time. A ranger told me I had about 20 mins till they locked the main entrance gate at 5pm. I ran close to a mile back-​good workout for me :) —

A small little stop off the path the will keep you cool and get you up to speed on the local history.
A nice courtyard makes it comfortable and clean bathrooms make it an oasis in a dirty part of town.
Staff was sweet, but don’t go too deep on the questions. Mostly topical answers from what I heard.

As someone who goes to City Park a lot this was a nice change of pace. This place is amazing! The trails are really nice and the cypress trees are awesome. Everything is very well maintained because it is a national park. This is a great place to spend an afternoon, you might even spot an alligator.

This place is a lovely escape from the hustle and bustle of the city. The landscape is beautiful and the park is very peaceful. Every time I visit I see snakes, birds and gators. It is a fun little adventure not far from the city.

If you visit NOLA, you HAVE to come here.
Take some time and go to the walking path right behind the visitors center. There is a gorgeous overlook just a ¼ mile away, or you can take the beautiful 4 miles out-​and-​back trail through the marches and by the old cypress trees. It was so peaceful.
What an amazing feeling to walk around the wooden panels. It was like you were floating on top of the marshlands.
They also have informational panels and audio tours if you care to get your education on!
Just take your time, walk a little bit and stay still for a moment– the wildlife will come out!
MUST MUST MUST see in New Orleans!

I have visited several sections of the park and preserve, it is good that these things are set aside for everyone. The Chalmette Battlefield and National Cemetery are two areas I have explored, they are easily assessable by car and not far from the French Quarter. There is an information center in the French Quarter for those who need more info before setting off. I am eager to visit Baritaria, for the wildlife.

We spent 5 days in NOLA and wanted to escape for a short trip to the swamplands and experience the local countryside and animal/​bird life. Getting there took us only a 40 minute drive from our hotel in the French Quarter, to reach the park headquarters. The hike, about 5 miles starting at the visitor’s center, was in and out, and not a loop, Most of it is, with the exception of a few stairs at the end, is wheel chair accessible, all on well maintained boarded sidewalks. We, a group of 8, obtained brochures, and went on our own. The park headquarters seems to be closed on the weekends. I suggest that if you want more info as to the conditions of the trail and park to go to this link:
We did not encounter insects or undue heat, maybe because we were there in Oct, perfect weather. We did see several gators, lots of spectacular spiders, and many varieties of birds. A few lizards, and one snake. At the end of the trail was a short bridge on which you could look down the bayou and actually see in the distance, the City of New Orleans. What a sight to see when you are in the middle of a swamp. The city buildings were hazy but I loved this view. There are benches along the way, but bring your own water and food, if needed.

If you live here, you need to see this. Heck, if you don’t live here and are just visiting you need to see this! The Coquille Trail is my favorite. Once you go over the 2^nd bridge you can look to your right and see the city in the distance! I love that you can feel so removed, yet you are only about 20 miles from the French Quarter.
I remember coming here with my Girl Scout Troop and on school field trips. This is a perfect thing do with children. Keep an eye out for swamp creatures. Alligators, snakes, and turtles are usually spotted. In Spring the Iris bloom, but you have to catch them at the perfect time, as they only bloom for about 6 days.
The visitor center is open 6 days week until 4:30. The Park Rangers will happily answer any questions you may have!

Gators, spiders and snakes oh my! You won’t find Dorthy, the Tin Man or ScareCreaux on this boardwalk but you will find plenty of wild life.
I love nature. I love parks and I especially love National Parks. The fact that we have this place in my back yard makes me especially happy. I have come here about a half a dozen times in the past 5 – 6 months. It was during the winter months mainly so all I really saw was swamp water and a deer during my morning hikes. That was until this last time with my lady friend. We did our usual park at the visitor Center then began the hike along the Palmetto Trail. It’s completely elevated (about a foot off the ground or water) on a boardwalk that extends close to a mile all the way to the Bayou Coquille parking lot. It was on this boardwalk where we seen most of the action. We saw an otter jump off the boardwalk into the water (no it wasn’t a nutria) and at least 6 snakes. I almost stepped on one which had me damn near jump in my girlfriends arms like I was Scooby Doo seeing a ghost for the 1^st time. I nearly yelled «Zoinks» and ran across the air back to our Mystery Machine. I kept my cool though as I had to be all manly in front of the lady. Once we got to the Bayou Coquille trail I was back in my comfort zone. This is a wider mostly gravel trail with the canal on one side and mainly wooded swamp on the other. This trail takes you a half a mile down to another canal where you can follow it for another half mile where the trail ends at a big wooden bridge and platform. Along this trail is where we saw the alligator. He just laid in the shallow water, not really caring that we were there. He closed his eyes and went to sleep despite the fact that I was 3 feet awat from him.
There are other trails as well, a boat launch, and a nice visitors center with air conditioned bathrooms. They have quided tours with park rangers that always seem enthuised when talking about this swamp. Totally worth stopping by although I would avoid the summer months unless you like Hell like temps.

I went on my second walk here yesterday (Sunday). First time, it was still winter. Trees still hadn’t gotten their leaves and there were no creatures around. This time, the foliage was thick and the creatures were out! We saw 6 snakes, 1 otter and a gator.
The park has different entrances. If you park near the visitor’s center, you’ll find yourself walking on a raised walkway made out of deck wood that hovers over the swamp. From there, you can walk across another parking lot and go on a gravel walkway that overlooks more swamp with lookouts and that’s where we saw the gator.
It’s a fun nature walk. Bring the kids. Especially if they love insects and reptiles.

I would have never guessed that just a 30 minute drive (or less) from downtown New Orleans would put me literally in the middle of a swamp. However, Jean Lafitte National Historic Park & Preserve (JLNHP&P) will take you out of the «big city» and introduce you to a whole new world. To be totally correct, the park has been for eons, as it’s the city that’s the new kid on the block.
JLHNP&P actually consists of six separate sites:
1. Acadian Cultural Center — located in Lafayette, LA
2. Barataria Preserve — located in Marrero, LA and will be the focus of this review
3. Chalmette Battlefield & Chalmette National Cemetery — located in Chalmette, LA
4. French Quarter Visitor Center — Located on Decatur St. in the FQ
5. Prairie Acadian Cultural Center — located in Eunice, LA
6. Wetlands Acadian Cultural CENTER — Located in Thibodaux, LA
My one and only experience here was a spur of the moment decision as were were driving to Lafitte on a day of exploration with our little one. We parked at the visitor center and went inside to see the indoor exhibit. There were two very nice female park rangers that were very helpful in answering my many questions.
We weren’t dressed for hiking, so we put our boy in his stroller and walked the visitor center trail, which is only ¼ mile each way. However, within just a few hundred yards, all signs of civilization were gone and you truly felt like you were immersed in the middle of a swamp. There was all kinds of wildlife visible, including a large bullfrog and a grass snake that made it onto the boardwalk.
We plan on going back very soon before it gets too hot for our little one. Hopefully, we can explore the Palmetto trail and possibly the Bayou Coquillle & Marsh Overlook trails. Perhaps the blue irises will be in bloom on our next trip.
This park really has something for everyone, so I encourage you to get out there and explore.

The Barataria Unit of Jean Lafitte Park is something that every resident should visit. It’s also a great place to take visitors of they want a close up view of the swamp.
Located in world famous Marrero, this park features numerous hiking trails of all different varieties.
Some of the trails are not improved, meaning it’s basically a dirt trail trough the swamp and woods. Others, like the Palmetto Trail, are either paved or boardwalk the entire length of the trail.
I will focus my review on the Palmetto Trail as that’s the one I have the most experience with. The first part of the trail is paved. As you hike there are boardwalk areas that jut off of the main trail. These spots focus on some part of the ecosystem. Some allow you a look at old Indian mounds where others are the actual swamp.
Towards he midpoint this trail becomes a boardwalk that follows along the bayou. This is my favorite part of the trail because you get the experience that is similar to canoeing down the bayou.
The best part about this trail is that you are almost guaranteed a chance to site wildlife. On my most recent visit I saw alligators, giant spiders, giant grasshoppers, turtles, skinks and many different birds.
I truly love this park and think it’s one of the best of its kind. If you haven’t already, you just get here soon.

So I have a little bit of a different experience with this park because I grew up just outside of it. I could walk to the park from the house I grew up in and we were there several times a week when we lived there. I pretty much lived in this park as a kid because my dad was a Park Ranger here for 6 years before we were relocated. I have a very big soft spot for Jean Lafitte! I also visit it every time I am back in NOLA.
Jean Lafitte is what a beautiful bayou looks like. You are surrounded by age old trees, 12 foot alligators, nutria, egrets, frogs, and hundreds of more animals. There are some great walking paths that start right at the visitor’s center that take you out to see the swamps and are very easy to do as well. All of the walking paths are very well maintained and easy to navigate, even with wheelchairs or walkers.
The visitor’s center is very nice as well. There is a great exhibit of what the bayou looks like, as well as having a lot of artifacts on display to learn about. There is a movie that plays all day that gives you a good view of Jean Lafitte as well. The bathrooms here are also very well cleaned, which is always a plus in my book!
I would recommend not going in the summer though because it gets REALLY hot, muggy, and even worse buggy. The rest of the year is great and you will love it there. It is a neat adventure to go on.
If you are in New Orleans, try to make time to go out to the West Bank and visit this really cool National Park.

Destination: New Orleans
Gators: yes
Swamp Tour by boat: maybe
Walking Tour: YES!
The first time I visited New Orleans the Cajun Pride Swamp Tour was a must. The guided tour, information, sitings and feedings were cool and all but this time my friend decided to take us on a walking tour. When I first heard about this I was a little worried but there’s really nothing to be afraid of besides the snakes and lizards you may cross paths with.
The Barataria Preserve is a great way to take a clean, safe walking tour of the area. If you like, you can use your cell phone to listen to recordings as you walk along the trail. The trail is well maintained and surrounded by everything nature– with the exception of a few water and Gatorade bottles. (Shame on you litter bugs!) We walked along a straight path that eventually lead to two other paths in different directions. As we converged further into the swap the gator siting became more frequent. On our walk we saw 6 gators (one was less than 3 feet away from us right below the wooden path, 2 snakes (one that was a foot away and scared the heebee-​jeebees out of me), a turtle, several salamanders and lizards, spiders, something that burrows in the ground and many bright colored birds.
My friend said Barataria can get pretty humid and like someone else mentioned sometimes there are huge yellow bugs that swarm. I would wear cool, comfortable clothing– long pants and shirts if possible if you are afraid of bugs. I would visit Barataria again just for the hike and scenery. TIP: Gators have poor peripheral vision. So if you are being chased by a gator, run in a zig-​zag.