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Drive the Creole Nature Trail for a taste of the natural beauty of Louisiana’s wetlands. If you’re hoping for wildlife, you’re in luck. Alligators, birds, fish and more await you in the swamps of the American South. Outdoor enthusiasts can trek along trails and wildlife refuges. Beach bums are welcome to stick their toes in the sand, cruise along the Gulf Coast, and learn all about that famous Southern hospitality.
The Creole Nature Trail, which sits in the southeastern corner of Louisiana, is most easily accessed by car. Both of its starting points near Sulphur and Lake Charles are located along Interstate 10, a cross-country highway. To the west of Sulphur, the City of Beaumont, Texas, is situated less than an hour’s drive away. To the east of Lake Charles, the City of Lafayette, Louisiana, is a little over an hour’s distance, with New Orleans about three hours away. And there’s no need to fear snow or mountain roads – the drive to the Creole Nature Trail is a flat journey.
The George Bush Intercontinental/Houston Airport (IAH) is the closest major airport, with a drive time of 2.5 hours to the Creole Nature Trail. The distance spans around 150 miles if you opt to take Interstate 10 east. There are several car rental agencies at the airport.
Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport (MSY) is the second-closest major airport – just under three hours to the tour route. For visitors who want to experience the Big Easy, this is the best route to start or end your trip. If you drive west on Interstate 10, it will span around 190 miles. There are several car rental agencies at the airport.
Luckily, most of the sites you’ll see on this tour are free. At the halfway point, you’ll cross the Calcasieu Ship Channel through the Cameron Ferry crossing. It’s a short and smooth ride where you can hop out of your car, stretch your legs and even spot dolphins. Going west, be prepared to pay a small fee to the ferryman so make sure you have change in the glovebox. Going east, it’s free!
Think of Lake Charles as the base – a city with several hotels and casinos available for accommodations. Visitors can check out the downtown area, and, as the weather warms, you may even come across a local festival.
If you’re willing to add some time to your drive, you can travel an hour east to the City of Lafayette, Louisiana. There, you’ll experience the heart of Cajun Country. Dating back to the 18th century, this college town is the ideal spot for foodies who want an authentic taste of Cajun and Creole cooking. Practice your dance moves to zydeco music, or take in the deep history of the area at local museums and cultural centers.
Drive an hour west, and you can establish a home base in Beaumont, Texas. Here, you can satiate your curiosity about the American oil boom in one of the cities where it all began. And museum buffs will love the plethora of options: the Spindletop-Gladys City Boomtown Museum, the Art Museum of Southeast Texas and many more.
Louisiana offers sunny and humid weather for most of the year, but the best times to experience the Pelican State are in the spring – March through May – and in the fall from September through November.
Not only can the winter get chilly by Southern standards, but it’s also not the opportune season to spot wildlife along the Creole Nature Trail. Animals tend to come out and play in the warmth. You’ll also encounter the Mardi Gras crowds at the Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport if you choose to travel in January or February.
Visitors who come in the summer are in for hot and sticky conditions, so consider yourself warned. Hurricane season is at its worst in Louisiana between August and October, so check the local forecast before venturing out.
The Creole Nature Trail tour will take a long, leisurely afternoon. Plan to set aside five to six hours for the trip. You can speed through it in three hours, but where’s the fun in that? Follow the local speed limit, stop by the recommended spots and do as the locals do: Laissez le bon temps rouler! This translates in Cajun French to, “let the good times roll”.
All aboard the Cameron ferry! Our drive requires us to cross the Calcasieu Shipping Channel. A bridge isn’t really appropriate on this busy commercial waterway, so we’ll enjoy a short ferry ride to make the crossing. It’s free if we are traveling towards the east. If we’re heading westbound – it’s very inexpensive. The ferry is a place where brown pelican encounters are frequent – and you may even see dolphins in the water.
The refuge provides ideal preserved habitat for birdlife and water creatures – including alligators which you have a very good chance of seeing here. Experience the Refuge by the 3-mile Pintail Wildlife Drive and walk the boardwalks for the best up-close views. Just a 2-minute drive north of the Pintail loop is the official visitor center which is well worth a stop, and has its own boardwalk and viewing areas.
Holly Beach, or the “Cajun Riviera,” is a must-see destination. Locals and visitors alike come here to sunbathe and gather shells along the coast. You could call this Louisiana’s beach town. It’s a beloved Cajun vacation spot, and several songs by local musicians mention it in their lyrics.
The Sabine National Wildlife Refuge is the dominant protected environment on the western side of our drive. The two favorite experiences to enjoy here are both short-ish walks. The more famous is the Blue Goose Trail, an easy 1-mile hike that takes us to pretty Calcasieu Lake where once again, wildlife viewing is often rewarding. The Sabine Wetland Walkway heads off in the opposite direction. This one is also a flat and gentle boardwalk along a 1.4 mile loop. Be sure to stop in at the observation for excellent marshland viewing.
One other activity that is noteworthy is fishing for blue crabs. It’s a fun activity – but you will want to purchase a licence. If that sounds too hard – not to worry, many local restaurants make it easy and serve up delicious crab dishes.
The Blue Goose Trail is an easy one-mile hike through a songbird habitat, so take advantage of the prime bird watching. And it’s even better for alligator watching. An observation deck with a telescope gives you the vantage point to take in the refuge and nearby Calcasieu Lake.
The Wetland Walkway is an easy 1.4-mile trail that’s a great place to spot those sneaky alligators. Take a moment to enjoy the picturesque Louisiana wetlands from your perch at the observation tower.
Lake Charles is the largest city along the Creole Nature Trail tour. Dating back centuries, it’s tied to legends of infamous French pirate Jean Lafitte, and even holds the Louisiana Pirate Festival in his honor.
But outside of buccaneer tales, the city also offers plenty of opportunities to try your luck, with a thriving gambling business. Stop by casinos galore. If that’s not your speed, you can indulge in the symphony orchestra or a trip to the theatre. One of the city’s museums – the Imperial Calcasieu Museum – is home to an oak tree that’s more than 400 years old.
The Southwest Louisiana National Wildlife Refuge Complex Visitors Center is a go-to spot for nature enthusiasts. Enjoy the wide-open views on the observation deck, and see if you can find some slithering friends among the flora. During the fall and winter, you can spot geese and ducks of all sorts. But during the summer, there’s no shortage of birds either. Then, you’ll find shorebirds and marsh birds.
Louisiana is one of the best U.S. states for eating. The art of cooking is ingrained in Louisiana culture, so loosen your belt and devour everything you can. You’ll hear all about Cajun food and culture – and expect seafood and spice.
One classic is étouffée. That’s a shellfish stew, usually with shrimp or crawfish. It’s thick like a gravy, and served over rice. Louisiana is also the birthplace of Cajun boudin: a type of sausage stuffed with rice and pork. You can eat this on a bun or a stick. One custom is to roll it up like a meatball, then bread it and deep fry it. Pop into grocery stores and gas stations to find the good stuff.
Make sure to try gumbo, a beloved state food. It’s another stew served over rice, and can have shrimp, chicken, sausage – or all three. And you’re traveling along the Gulf Coast, so take advantage of the access to fresh shellfish. You can’t go wrong with raw oysters, shucked out of the shell. Don’t forget the sides of lemon and cocktail sauce!
Extra Layers: It can sometimes feel a little cooler with the breeze coming directly off the water – bring that extra layer just in case.
Footwear: Bring a pair of shoes for hiking and another set of water shoes or sandals for the beach. The hikes along the Creole Nature Trail aren’t intense, so sneakers are a fine choice.
Raingear: You can never be too prepared! Thunderstorms and rain showers are quite common along the Gulf Coast, so pack a rain jacket, just in case you get some precipitation along the tour.
Beach Supplies: Don’t forget your swimsuit, towel and a beach chair. Seashell lovers, bring a tote for your treasures.
Sun Protection: Sunblock is key under the Louisiana sunshine and heat. Sunglasses are always important to remember.
Bug Repellant: Bugs can be a real nuisance in the wetlands. Don’t feel like you have to cut your time short while out hiking and wildlife watching – use bug spray to repel those nasty biters.
Daypack: You may want a comfortable daypack or small backpack to carry binoculars, bug spray, camera attachments etc.
Water Bottles: There’s a long drive ahead of you, with plenty of opportunities to stop and take in the natural beauty of the Louisiana wetlands. But as you trek out into rural areas, you’ll find fewer chances to stop for water at area gas stations. Stock up for the duration of the tour ahead of time.
Picnic and Snacks: Bring a cooler filled with a picnic lunch, ice and snacks to enjoy at a scenic lunch stop along the drive as you’ll pass limited restaurants.
Portable Phone Charger and Cable: If you’re taking pictures with your phone, running out of batteries may result in missed opportunities. A DC car charger is best, so that you can charge your phone while driving.
Plastic Bag: We always carry plastic bags with us, so we have a place to put our car trash, as well as to collect any trailside trash. If we all pick up a few pieces of trash, we’ll leave it better than we found it.
