Story by Daniel Schumacher
Photos courtesy of Kathryn Shea and Grosse Savanne
Before summer settles in in earnest, treat yourself to the trip of a lifetime down southwest Louisiana’s breathtaking Creole Nature Trail. The rambling 180-mile scenic byway weaves its way through wetlands and preserves as it meanders toward the Gulf. Along the way, you’ll have the opportunity to see dozens of local and migrating species of wildlife (from alligators to spoonbills), sample Cajun cuisine from mom-and-pop shops, and amble down beautiful beaches (or throw a line into the surf and see if you can catch your supper). Being such a short drive from New Orleans, Baton Rouge, and Houston, Texas, the Creole Nature Trail is an easy addition to any spring or summer itinerary. Pack a cooler, smear on the sunblock, and grab some bug spray, because you’ll be off on a journey to remember.
THE ADVENTURE BEGINS
Start your trip at the western entrance to the Creole Nature Trail at the Adventure Point. This entertaining and informative rest stop gives visitors a solid overview of what they’ll experience on the trail. Kids can get up close with hands-on exhibits (including an interactive zydeco band) and seasoned Adventure Guides can answer questions about the best places to spot alligators, catch crabs, or view some of the many migrating birds that fly through the region.
The Creole Nature Trail is an All-American Road. The Federal Highway Administration recognizes 37 All-American Roads around the country (out of 184 National Scenic Byways) that are worth a trip in and of themselves for their scenic, natural, historic, recreational, archeological, or cultural significance. Louisiana’s other All-American Road is the Great River Road that runs down the Mississippi River.
Plan for your trek across these picturesque tidal marshes to take about four hours. You could pack a lunch or stop at a variety of locally owned Cajun eateries along the way. Because many areas of the trail are quite remote, it is highly recommended to begin with a full tank of gas.
PEACEFUL REFUGES
On the western side of the trail, the Sabine National Wildlife Refuge is the first stop along the Creole Nature Trail. The refuge offers a 1½-mile accessible boardwalk loop over the area’s saltwater marshes. In the spring and early summer, visitors can expect to see some alligators cruising through the water or sunbathing. They’re usually game to pose for photos, but just don’t feed them. The preserve also offers opportunities for fishing, crabbing, and cast-netting (and supplies are available for purchase a few miles up the road at Brown’s Grocery Store in Hackberry).
If you continue south from the wildlife refuge and hang a right at the Gulf, soon you’ll find the Peveto Woods Sanctuary, a 40-acre bird sanctuary situated in the coastal woodlands on ancient beach ridges called cheniers. Southwest Louisiana is at the confluence of the Central and Mississippi Flyways for migratory birds, so throughout the year, birders are on the lookout for more than 400 different species.
On the eastern stretch of the Creole Nature Trail, the Cameron Prairie National Wildlife Refuge in Bell City is another picturesque stop on the journey. The Pintail Wildlife Drive offers a 3-mile driving route where visitors can get close-up views of long-legged wading birds and other shorebirds. The nearly 10,000-acre refuge is full of marshes that are managed as nurseries for brown shrimp and blue crab and are essential to the thriving migratory bird populations. The nearby Chesson’s Grocery is a terrific stop for hamburgers and boudin (also, notably, its gas station).
ECOTOURISM
Rambling around the trail is easy and fun, but to get even more out of the experience, you can book an ecotour from Grosse Savanne. With just a two-person minimum, you can spend as few as two hours or as long as a whole day out on the water with experienced guides. There are tours geared to a wide variety of interests, from general overviews to sessions that focus on birding and wildlife photography, but if your interests lie elsewhere, you can collaborate with them to design your ideal adventure.
Grosse Savanne’s 50,000 acres of private lands along the Creole Nature Trail include fresh and saltwater marshes, cypress swamps, coastal prairies, pine forest plantations, and agricultural lands and are teeming with local wildlife (from alligators and nutria to white-tailed deer and nesting birds). Novice and seasoned bird-watchers will keep an eye out for roseate spoonbills, glossy and white ibis, several heron species, and double-crested cormorants, to name a few. If boat tours aren’t your thing, Grosse Savanne also offers walking and vehicle tours. Ecotours are just a part of what the company does on its property. It is also known for its lodge, which hosts premium hunting and fishing excursions.
ROAD SNACKS
The most essential Cajun road snacks are boudin and cracklin’s. Boudin—spicy rice-and-pork sausage—is available at many roadside markets as hot and cold links or fried into all sorts of delicious bites. As for cracklin’s, think of them as Cajun spiced pork rinds with a knob of meat attached.
SANDY BEACHES
The Creole Nature Trail also features 26 miles of rustic beaches that are a haven for relaxation. Seashell-collecting is one of the most popular activities at Rutherford and Holly Beaches, but they are also prime for swimming, surf fishing, and picnicking. Those two beaches are separated by the Cameron Ferry, a drive-on ferry that traverses the Calcasieu Ship Channel. The very short voyage is made more lively by the frequent appearances by local dolphin pods. On the eastern side of the channel, visitors will have a terrific opportunity to take a rest and sample some local cuisine at the Anchors Up food truck (known for its po’ boys and Jalapeño Boudin Poppers) and the Cajun casual Lighthouse Bend. The area also features Darla K Food Mart, one of the trail’s few gas stations.
TRIP TIPS
Fill up your gas tank before hitting the trail.
Bring lots of sunscreen.
Don’t forget the bug spray.
Binoculars for bird-watching.
Pack a cooler for Cajun snacks.
For more tips, tricks, and guides to the Creole Nature Trail, visit creolenaturetrail.org.
