Louisiana’s state parks offer exceptional outdoor recreation, from fishing and paddling to hiking and biking. Travelers visit for access to nature and affordable activities and amenities.
At a Glance:
- Louisiana is home to 21 state parks that offer forests, swamps, lakes and coastal landscapes.
- Visitors can enjoy hiking, biking, paddling, fishing, disc golf, horseback riding and other outdoor activities at state parks throughout the state.
- Louisiana state parks offer amenities for families, couples and solo travelers, including water playgrounds, campgrounds and cabins.
Why Visit Louisiana State Parks
Each park has opportunities to get outside and explore, whether you’re traveling with rambunctious kiddos or taking a solo vacation.
Families will find playgrounds, splash parks, kid-friendly trails and camping options perfect for spring break or summer vacations. Palmetto Island State Park offers RV camping, cabins that sleep up to eight and a water playground. Lake D’Arbonne State Park features a swimming pool (open Memorial Day through Labor Day; check the Louisiana State Parks website and Facebook for updates), plus cabins, lodges and an event pavilion for family gatherings.
Solo travelers can find respite on quiet hiking treks, calm waters for fishing or kayaking, and peaceful green spaces. Chicot State Park is an introvert’s paradise, with a 20-mile hiking trail, excellent fishing and a beautiful arboretum next door. Adrenaline junkies should opt for Bogue Chitto State Park, home to 14 miles of immaculate bike routes and the enchanting Fricke’s Cave.
Want to bring along that special someone? Couples can choose from romantic cabins, secluded RV campgrounds and primitive campsites for a weekend getaway. Fairview-Riverside State Park is a solid choice for nature lovers and anglers, offering scenic nature trails and easy access to the Tchefuncte River. At Lake Claiborne State Park, a sandy beach provides space for swimming, fishing and relaxing, and two disc golf courses provide both beginner-friendly and advanced options.
Grand Isle State Park
Chemin-A-Haut State Park
Fontainebleau State Park
Top Activities Across Our State Parks
Biking
If you’ve got the need for speed, spend your state park getaway on two wheels. In Franklinton, Bogue Chitto State Park offers 14 miles of well-maintained mountain biking trails for riders of all skill levels. North Toledo Bend State Park’s 12-mile trek is shared by cyclists and hikers, and Jimmie Davis State Park in Chatham serves as a convenient home base with easy access to the rolling North Louisiana hills.
Paddling & Pleasure Boating
Whether you’re seeking a calm early-morning paddle or want to spend the whole day on the water, Louisiana’s state parks make it simple. Families head to Chemin-A-Haut State Park for kayak rentals and relaxing bayous. Fontainebleau State Park is just about surrounded by water and offers single and tandem kayak rentals. At Lake Bistineau State Park, cypress and tupelo trees drape across the water, offering an enchanting trip down the 11-mile canoe trail. Lake Bruin State Park draws pleasure boaters with 3,000 acres of water surface, along with a year-round launch. And Grand Isle State Park offers a launching point for deep-sea fishing adventures.
Camping
From wooded tent sites to cozy cabins, all kinds of campers will find an ideal place to unwind for the night. Lake Fausse Pointe State Park sits right on a water wilderness, with premium and improved campsites, canoe-in and backcountry campsites, and a primitive camping area. Poverty Point Reservoir State Park is a favorite for birders, thanks to its prime location along the Mississippi Flyway. Sam Houston Jones State Park is home to a gorgeous longleaf forest, comfortable premium campsites and scenic hiking paths. At Grand Isle State Park, visitors can camp in a beach tent, right off the warm Gulf waters, and wake up with sand between their toes.
Reserve a cabin, lodge or campsite.
Hiking
Hitting the trails is one of the best ways to see our state parks up close. Tickfaw State Park features a few, including the half-mile, accessible Gum Cypress Trail and the 3-mile River Trail. At Fontainebleau State Park, you can wander the shores of Lake Pontchartrain with a 4.8-mile hiking path and a 1.25-mile nature trail. Lake Bistineau State Park blends history and scenery on the Willis Homestead Trail and adds family-friendly options with the Discovery Circle. Sam Houston Jones State Park’s five hiking routes range from short loops to longer wooded paths — a calm, easy way to explore the park’s forest and wildlife.
Other Things to Do at Louisiana State Parks
Several parks offer horseback riding, ATV trails, fishing, tubing and birding, so visitors can tailor their day to the outdoor experience they’re after.
State Park Locations
List of Louisiana State Parks
Bayou Segnette State Park
Bayou Segnette State Park, just 12 miles west of New Orleans in Westwego, is best known for its wave pool, but it’s also home to fantastic fishing (both saltwater and freshwater) and a gorgeous 2.8-mile nature trail.
Bogue Chitto State Park
While Bogue Chitto State Park in Franklinton is most famous for its summertime tubing, other highlights include horseback riding, mountain biking and freshwater fishing. You could spend the whole day exploring the park, particularly Fricke’s Cave, a gorge with delicate sandstone spires and exquisite rock formations.
Chemin-A-Haut State Park
Families flock to Chemin-A-Haut State Park in Bastrop for its kid-friendly activities. We recommend splashing at the swimming pool, climbing on one of two playgrounds and savoring a picnic lunch at one of 35 family sites with grills and tables.
Chicot State Park
You’ll get a two-for-one deal at Chicot State Park in Ville Platte, which is also home to the Louisiana State Arboretum. Choose from a 20-mile hiking trail or an 8-mile canoe trail, then explore the arboretum’s forest, a habitat for indigenous plant species, plus whitetail deer, wild turkeys, raccoons and more.
Cypremort Point State Park
At Cypremort Point State Park, water sports are the main attraction. The waterway offers opportunities for swimming, kitesurfing, windsurfing and pleasure boating. Keen-eyed visitors might spot muskrats, alligators, deer and even Louisiana black bears lurking in the marsh.
Fairview-Riverside State Park
Fairview-Riverside State Park in Madisonville delivers easy access to the Tchefuncte River, which houses bass, bluegill, redfish and speckled trout. It’s the perfect place for a day spent exploring the nature trail, fishing from the shore and touring the adjacent Otis House, a stately summer home built in the 1880s.
Fontainebleau State Park
Fontainebleau State Park in Mandeville is a favorite for New Orleans residents and visitors, with gorgeous views of Lake Pontchartrain, Bayou Cane and Bayou Castine. Stroll the beach at sunset, walk or bike along the Tammany Trace, or bring the kiddos to the inclusive playground, which provides multi-sensory play for children of all ages and abilities.
Grand Isle State Park
Did you know you can swim in the Gulf in Louisiana? Just bring your swimsuit to Grand Isle State Park, located at the northeastern end of Grand Isle, a quaint coastal fishing village. While this state park is most frequented by anglers, it’s also enjoyed almost year-round by swimmers, birders and boaters.
Jimmie Davis State Park
It’s easy to spend the entire day fishing at Jimmie Davis State Park in Chatham, thanks to the park’s two boat launches and fishing pier. But don’t forget about the sandy beach for sunbathing and the water playground for the little explorers.
Lake Bistineau State Park
It feels like the options for outdoor recreation are endless at Lake Bistineau State Park in Doyline. Choose from bass fishing or paddling on Lake Bistineau, hiking or cycling the myriad trails, horseback riding along the 6-mile equestrian trail or disc golfing the course near the group camp.
Lake Bruin State Park
Lake Bruin State Park in St. Joseph is built for play. Enjoy fishing, water skiing and pleasure boating on the 3,000 acres of water surface, or set up a family picnic at the tables and grills in the day-use area.
Lake Claiborne State Park
Located halfway between Shreveport and Monroe, Lake Claiborne State Park in Homer offers fishing, birding, boating, water skiing, hiking and camping. While the most popular activity is swimming at the park’s sandy beach, the disc golf courses are beloved by newbies and skilled players.
Lake D’Arbonne State Park
Nestled in the rolling hills and canyons of North Louisiana, Lake D’Arbonne State Park in Farmerville is one of Louisiana’s most family-friendly parks. You’ll find tennis courts, disc golf courses, a seasonal swimming pool and four hiking trails.
Lake Fausse Pointe State Park
Set within the Atchafalaya Basin, Lake Fausse Pointe offers an easy way to see South Louisiana’s wetlands up close on elevated boardwalks and calm waterways. Fish from your canoe, kayak or flat-bottom fishing boat, then feast on your catch at grill sites beneath the trees.
North Toledo Bend State Park
You’ll want to bring your own boat or rent one at North Toledo Bend State Park, located on the banks of one of the top bass fisheries in the country. Take a dip in the seasonal pool, hike the trails or play one of two 18-hole championship disc golf courses.
Palmetto Island State Park
Palmetto Island State Park near Abbeville showcases South Louisiana’s swamp environment, with palmettos and cypress trees framing the Vermilion River. Paddle narrow channels by canoe or kayak, walk the short Cypress Trail or splash around at the water playground.
Poverty Point Reservoir State Park
Discover a reservoir surrounded by wide, flat Mississippi Delta bottomlands at Poverty Point Reservoir State Park in Delhi. Families and weekend adventurers can fish, boat, spot birds along the Bayou Macon trail and simply enjoy time outdoors together.
St. Bernard State Park
Just a few miles southeast of New Orleans is the beautiful St. Bernard State Park in Braithwaite. Find short hiking trails, picnic tables and barbecue grills, a water playground and a large covered pavilion.
Sam Houston Jones State Park
Take your time exploring wooded trails, watching for birds and enjoying peaceful lagoons across more than 1,000 acres of protected land at Sam Houston Jones State Park in Lake Charles. Two boat launches make it easy to boat, fish or paddle on the Calcasieu River.
South Toledo Bend State Park
The sister park of North Toledo Bend, South Toledo Bend State Park in Anacoco offers its own distinct experience. Visitors can look forward to boating, birding, fishing, hiking and biking, plus an off-highway vehicle trail.
Tickfaw State Park
A mix of river access, shaded trails and hands-on exhibits makes Tickfaw State Park in Springfield a favorite for visitors looking to explore Louisiana’s swamp and forest landscapes. Enjoy a nature center, boardwalk, hiking trails, canoe launches and fishing spots along the Tickfaw River.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Louisiana state parks are there?
There are 21 Louisiana state parks, each offering its own history, topography and activities. From Lake Claiborne State Park in the north to Grand Isle State Park on the Gulf coast, Louisiana’s state parks offer a look at the many landscapes that make the state unlike any other. For a full list of Louisiana state parks, visit the Louisiana State Parks website.
Can I rent a boat at a Louisiana state park?
Yes, many Louisiana state parks rent kayaks, canoes and flat-bottom fishing boats. While prices vary by state park and boat type, kayaks are typically $7 per hour or $35 per day, canoes are usually $7 per hour and $25 per day, and flat-bottom fishing boats run $5 per hour and $20 per day. For a full list of Louisiana state parks that rent boats, visit the Louisiana State Parks website, and always call in advance to confirm availability.
Can I camp at a Louisiana state park?
Yes, many Louisiana state parks permit camping. Visitors can choose from premium campsites — including pull-through sites — with water and electrical hookups, as well as improved campsites with the same amenities. For a more basic stay, many parks offer unimproved campsites with no hookups, as well as primitive camping areas for a more back-to-nature experience. Select parks also feature canoe-in campsites, accessible only by water, and backcountry campsites for those looking for a truly remote experience.
Is there Wi-Fi at Louisiana state parks?
Yes, some Louisiana state parks offer wireless internet access, including Bayou Segnette State Park, Chemin-A-Haut State Park, Fairview-Riverside State Park, Fontainebleau State Park, Palmetto Island State Park, Poverty Point Reservoir State Park, South Toledo Bend State Park and Tickfaw State Park. For a list of parks experiencing wireless internet signal issues, visit the Louisiana State Parks website.
Do seniors get discounts at Louisiana state parks?
Yes, seniors receive discounts — and even free admission — at Louisiana state parks. Be sure to bring your driver’s license for age verification.