News Release
Subscribe
 |
What is RSS
|
Contact: Jenna Rockett, 504-382-4918
Release Date: April 1, 2025
Contact: Jenna Rockett, jenna_rockett@nps.gov, 504-382-4918
Discover Wild Louisiana at Barataria Preserve’s Spring in the Swamp
MARRERO, LA: Join Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve’s Barataria Unit for this year’s Spring in the Swamp, Thursday April 3 through Saturday April 5! It is the perfect time to visit the wetlands of the Barataria Preserve: spring wildflowers are in bloom, frogs are calling, migratory birds are returning from their travels, and alligators are looking for romance. Join National Park Service rangers and volunteers for three days of free fun for nature lovers and families. The preserve, one of six sites of Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve, is located at 6588 Barataria Boulevard in Marrero, near Crown Point. More information about the park is available at 504-689-3690 or at www.nps.gov/jela.
Activities include:
- Hands-on activity stations – Catch, identify, and release small water critters through dip netting. Explore our interactive displays and exhibits. Experience migratory bird happenings at the Preserve and find out why they are important. Learn about Louisiana shorebirds and subsidence from the experts.
- Ranger guided walk at 2:00 p.m.; meet at the Barataria Visitor Center.
- Park rangers and preserve volunteers will be on the trails to point out sights of interest and answer questions.
- Don’t miss the Junior Ranger Zone at the Visitor Center to do some crafts and earn a Junior Ranger badge.
The Barataria Preserve, located 17 miles south of New Orleans, is comprised of over 26,000 acres of Louisiana wetlands, including bottomland hardwood forest, cypress swamp, freshwater and intermediate (between freshwater and brackish) marshes, bayous and canals. The Preserve includes a network of boardwalks, hiking and canoe trails that allow visitors to access the park’s wild places and observe native plants, alligators, snakes and over 200 species of birds. Admission to the Center and programs is free. The Preserve Visitor Center is open Wednesday-Sunday 9:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. (closed on federal holidays). Parking lots are open for trail and picnic area access daily 9:00 a.m.- 4:30 p.m. Each year, over 450,000 visitors enjoy the Preserve’s trails, canoe waterways and programs that inspire stewardship of the natural and cultural resources of southern Louisiana and the many challenges they face. www.nps.gov
About the National Park Service: More than 20,000 National Park Service employees care for America’s 400+ national parks and work with communities across the nation to help preserve local history and create close-to-home recreational opportunities. Learn more at www.nps.gov.
Last updated: April 4, 2025