Barataria Preserve

Pardon Our Progress

Hurricane Ida in 2021 damaged some of the Barataria Preserve trails. Beginning on February 2, 2026, the Visitor Center and most trails in the Preserve will be closed to accommodate the demolition and construction to fix the damage. Work is expected to take two years. All visitor services are temporarily relocated to the Louisiana Wetland Education Center and trails. Rangers will be present on the Wetland Trace trails from 10 am - 2pm on Wednesdays and Thursdays to assist visitors and lead a guided walk at 1 pm. The Wetland Trace Boardwalk trail is located just six miles away at 4917 City Park Drive, Jean Lafitte, LA 70067 and open daily. The Passport cancellation stamp and park brochures will be available at the Town of Lafitte's Louisiana Wetlands Educational Center. NOTE: The Louisiana Wetlands Education Center charges an admission fee. Admission includes entry into both the Louisiana Wetlands Educational Center and Barataria Museum. Adults: $10. Seniors, people ages 13-17, Louisiana Residents (with ID), Military (with ID): $5. Children under 12 (with parent): FREE.

The Twin Canals parking lot, trail, and canoe launch will remain open for visitor access. Please note this is a day-use area only. There are no restroom facilities available. Camping and overnight stays are prohibited. For current trail status and updates, continue to check our Current Conditions webpage and social media sites. To learn more about our Hurricane Ida and other current projects in the Preserve, visit our Park Projects webpage. Thank you for your patience as we work to rebuild our park.

Trail Conditions

Alligator peers out of water. — As you stroll the Barataria Preserve trails, look for snakes, turtles, and alligators swimming through waterways or sunning themselves on logs and bayou banks.
NPS

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.
Pets are only allowed in parking areas; 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 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.

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.

There's also information about the preserve at the Barataria Preserve Frequently Asked Questions page.

Special programs:

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 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.

Jean Lafitte's six sites are scattered across south Louisiana. Each is unique in its focus. Learn more about the park's sites.

A wooden boardwalk with an alligator safety sign.

Be prepared like a park ranger. Read through our list of safety tips before your park visit.

Gather some foundational information for your planning process.

A junior ranger book, patch, and badge perched at the base of a tree.

Take the learning to the next level and join our junior ranger krewe! Learn more about the program and how to become a junior ranger.

A boy looks at his hands covered in dark mud and smiles.

Teachers can learn about our education material, field trips, Every Kid Outdoors program, and more at our park.

Brown rabbit on ground looking at camera

Get information on the hunting program and permits at the Barataria Preserve.

A law enforcement ranger helps a kid with a fishing pole next to a bayou.

Learn about the laws and policies that affect the park.

A young woman points to a test tube. Two kids look at the test tube. Small white board on ground.

Plan a field trip to a Jean Lafitte site and engage your kids in our scout programs.

Outside on a sunny day a young girl smiles behind a mesh mask with felt face features on it.

Real and virtual fun: Junior Ranger, scout programs, Every Kid Outdoors, online videos, and more!

Visit our keyboard shortcuts docs for details

Duration:: 10 minutes, 33 seconds

Jean Lafitte National Historical Park & Preserve is pleased to partner with A Studio in the Woods to recognize the power of art to address the planet’s environmental concerns. This video features park ecologist Dr. Julie Whitbeck and A Studio in the Woods artist in residence Sidiki Conde. Mr. Conde is a world-renowned musician from Guinea, West Africa and in this video, he performs with New Orleans musicians Dr. Michael White, Mitchell Player, Gregory Stafford, and Detroit Brooks.

Barataria Preserve