Swamps & wildlife · Louisiana

Swamps & Barataria day trip

Swamps & Barataria

A day in the cypress swamps and bayous south of New Orleans: an early alligator walk on the one open trail in the Barataria Preserve, a guided swamp boat tour, a bayou-side lunch at Crown Point, the boardwalk and new wetlands center in Jean Lafitte, and fresh shrimp from the Westwego lot on the way home.

Time: 8–9 hour day
Driving: About 1½ hours of driving in all, on the West Bank south of New Orleans
Best time: All year; best March–May and October–November
Updated: October 14, 2026 at 12:57 AM Pacific

$4 USD

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Cypress trunks and dozens of knobby cypress knees rising from a swamp floor carpeted in bright green duckweed in the Barataria Preserve — Jim Bahn · CC BY 2.0. June 2021 photograph in the Barataria Preserve; resized and displayed with crop.

Suggested times, not bookings

Your day at a glance

8:00 amLeave the French Quarter
8:30 amTwin Canals Trail, Barataria Preserve
9:40 amJean Lafitte Swamp Tours
12:00 pmRestaurant des Familles, Crown Point
1:30 pmLouisiana Wetlands Educational Center & Wetland Trace
3:45 pmWestwego Shrimp Lot
4:30 pmReturn to the French Quarter

Highlights

Worth the trip

Alligators in the canals along the Barataria Preserve's Twin Canals Trail
A guided boat tour into moss-draped cypress swamp next to the national park preserve
The Wetland Trace boardwalk through a cypress swamp to the bayou in Jean Lafitte

What’s in the guide

Detailed stop guidance, rules, practical pitfalls, a route map, Google Maps, Waze and Apple Maps links and weather alternatives. Read it online any time, or keep it offline in the Greg’s Guides app for iPhone and iPad. See an example guide →

Plan for the conditions

Expected seasonal weather

In March through May, south Louisiana warms from the 70s into the upper 80s°F, with frequent afternoon thunderstorms. In October and November, highs fall into the 60s and 70s°F and rain is less frequent, though early fall can still bring tropical storms. Summer is hot and humid, with highs in the low 90s°F and a heat index that can reach 110°F. Hurricane season runs June through November. Winter is mild, but alligators are less active on cold days. These are seasonal expectations, not a forecast for your travel date; check the NWS forecast.

Admission and parking are separate. Check current conditions before departure.

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