5 Must-Visit Parks in Louisiana

Lake Claiborne is a fisher’s dream come true. It is arguably the best freshwater fishing site in the state, and one of the eight stops on the Louisiana Bass Trail. Lake Claiborne, actually a recreational dam created by the US Army Corps of Engineers, is the most scenic lake in Louisiana. The state park sits at the southern end of the lake and provides a great base for various water activities and a gateway to further discover Northern Louisiana. There are four other state parks within driving distance, as well as the historic town of Homer with its collection of antebellum houses.

Witness nature at its best in the heart of the Atchafalaya basin. The largest swamp in the United States, this is the place where the Atchafalaya River and the Gulf of Mexico meet, and this park is a fantastic introduction to what a swampland is. Three different and very important heritages of Louisiana overlap at Lake Fausse Pointe State Park – Native, French and Spanish – and in the park you can experience these cultures and their effect on the landscape. The vegetation is lush, and the air is buzzing with bugs and loud with birdsong. If you decide to stay overnight, the state park has cabins sitting right on the water’s edge to make wildlife observation easier.