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
Barataria Preserve
With more than 26,000 acres of wild Louisiana wetlands, the Barataria Preserve's hardwood forest, swamp, bayous, and marsh offer trails, picnic areas, fishing, hunting (in season and with permits), and wildlife viewing. Visitor center films and exhibits explain the wetlands habitat and current environmental challenges; ranger programs are offered daily. Programs at the environmental education center are available by reservation. Admission to the preserve and to most programs is free.
Physical Address
6588 Barataria Blvd. Marrero, LA70072
Mailing Address
6588 Barataria Blvd. Marrero, LA70072
The Barataria Preserve is located 17 miles south of New Orleans on the west bank of the Mississippi River; Barataria Blvd./Highway 45 runs through the preserve. Note that not all GPS systems find the preserve successfully, so double check your GPS against a map. The Visitor Center is located just off of Highway 45.
Sunday:9:30 AM–4:30 PM
Monday and Tuesday:Closed
Wednesday-Saturday:9:30 AM–4:30 PM
The Barataria Preserve Visitor Center is open year-round; it is closed on federal holidays and Mardi Gras*. While our visitor center is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays, our trails are open seven days a week.
Parking lots at Visitor Center, Bayou Coquille and Pecan Grove are open every day 9:00 am-4:30 pm all year round, including federal holidays.
*Closures for Mardi Gras are determined annually based on site accessibility and safety for visitors and employees. Announcements will be posted accordingly.
The Visitor Center at Barataria Preserve provides exhibits, ranger talks, and information. NPS
A map of the Lower Mississippi River Delta shows current and expected land change NPS
An exhibit inside the visitor center talks about animal life at the preserve. NPS
An exhibit on the preserve's forest ecosystem NPS
The beginning of the Visitor Center Trail at Barataria 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 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 4:30 p.m. nightly. If your vehicle is in a parking lot after 4:30 p.m., it will be locked in. If this happens, call 855-677-5352; a ranger will assist you when one is available.
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.
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.
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.
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.
