Barataria Preserve

As you stroll the Barataria Preserve trails, look for snakes, turtles, and alligators swimming through waterways or sunning themselves on logs and bayou banks.

 

WHAT'S HAPPENING

Up to date trail and Visitor Center access can be found on the Current Conditions page.

General trail and waterway information is available at the Barataria Preserve trail maps web page.

TEMPORARILY CANCELLED Wetlands Walk - 10:00 a.m.. every Wednesday through Sunday. Join a ranger for a guided walk on a boardwalk trail through wild Louisiana swamp and marsh. Stop at the visitor center to find out which trail today's walk will explore. No walk on federal holidays when the preserve visitor center is closed. Free.

Join a citizen science project as part of a group or on your own. Follow the link to find out how you can contribute to research and management at the park.


Important information:

• Never approach, harass, or feed alligators. Remember that they are wild animals and can move very quickly. You can find more information about safety and outdoor activities at the preserve at the safety page.
• Canoeing and kayaking are possible in some Barataria Preserve waterways thanks to a project that cleared aquatic vegetation. Call the visitor center at 504-689-3690 ext 10 to find out which waterways are currently accessible..
• Pets are only allowed in parking areas and on the deck at the visitor center; pets in these areas must be on a leash and a human must be on the other end of the leash. Do not leave pets unattended in vehicles; pets in vehicles must have a human in the vehicle with them. Please clean up after your pet. Although service animals assisting people with visual, hearing, or mobility impairments are welcome everywhere, note that the presence of wildlife may mean that service animals may not be comfortable on preserve trails.
• Parking lot gates are locked at 5:00 p.m. nightly. If your vehicle is in a parking lot after 5:00 p.m., it will be locked in. If this happens, call 855-677-5352; a ranger will assist you when one is available.

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The Barataria Preserve outside Marrero offers a taste of Louisiana's wild wetlands. The preserve's 26,000 acres include bayous, swamps, marshes, and forests. Walk along boardwalks and dirt trails to spot animals including alligators and over 200 species of birds plus an ever-changing array of wildflowers and plants . See the trail map, enjoy a self-guided tour, or explore with a cell phone tour. Exhibits at the preserve visitor center highlight how the Mississippi River built Louisiana's wetlands, the national importance of the area, and the relation between the land and its people. Kids can earn a badge with the Junior Ranger program. An environmental education center is used for field trips and special programs. The visitor center's park store has books, music, children's books, insect repellent, field guides, and more on sale. Admission to the preserve is free. Follow these links for the park's calendar of events, exhibits, and programs; for directions and transportation options (be sure to see important information about using ride share services to reach the preserve); and for accessibility information.

6588 Barataria Boulevard, Marrero (near Crown Point) (If you use a GPS system, doublecheck it with the map since not all systems find the preserve successfully)
504-689-3690 ext. 10

Up to date trail and Visitor Center access can be found on the Current Conditions page.

Links to useful information like maps, public transportation, pets, permits for special uses, etc., are available on the basic information page; there's also information about the preserve at the Barataria Preserve Frequently Asked Questions page.

Special programs:

• Ranger-led programs and field trips for schools and other groups by reservation.
• You are welcome to bring your group and explore the preserve on your own (admission is free). For a fun activity for your self-guided group, try Barataria Bingo! (download the pdf at the link). Curriculum-based materials and other activities suitable for self-guided groups are available at the link. Please call the preserve at 504-689-3690 ext. 25 about your group's plans whether or not you plan to request a ranger program; this will allow us to alert you to possible other large groups visiting the preserve on the same day you are planning to come.
• Girl and Boy Scout programs.
• Summer camps for kids---hope to see you in 2021!

Learn about

• plants and animals in south Louisiana---remember that you can report all bird and animal sightings at the preserve visitor center to help with research and management.
• education offerings, including field trips, free downloadable curriculum materials, and more.
• in May 2013, Jean Lafitte teamed up with National Geographic for BioBlitz 2013 at the Barataria Preserve, a 24-hour blitz of scientific discovery that attempted to inventory as many of the preserve's plants and animals as possible. The BioBlitz page also has links to National Geographic science and nature webpages.
• the Active Trails program and how you can participate.
• research at the Barataria Preserve.
• wetlands restoration projects and management challenges at the preserve, including waterways management and the geocrib and Yankee Pond project.
• more things to do in Jefferson Parish, where the preserve is located.
• the town of Jean Lafitte, right down the road from the preserve.

 

Operating Hours

Operating Schedule Details