Get ready to embark upon this beautiful natural wonders of LA road trip, which will take you on a journey through some of the most breathtakingly gorgeous natural areas in Louisiana. We think you’ll fall in love with the beauty and wonder that is the landscape of this incredible state, and the best way to do this is to, well, get out and enjoy it! How many of the most amazing natural wonders in Louisiana have you already experienced? Let us know.

Google Maps

  1. Honey Island Swamp

Lynford Morton/Flickr The Honey Island Swamp is known as one of the most pristine river swamps in the United States, a 20-mile area of over 70,000 acres. It was named the Honey Island swamps because of a large number of honeybees that were seen on a nearby isle in the swamp. Honey Island Swamp Tours, 41490 Crawford Landing Rd, Slidell, LA 70461, USA

  1. Bayou Sauvage National Wildlife Refuge

TMOH8/TripAdvisor Bayou Sauvage National Wildlife Refuge is known for its beautiful marsh walkways, which include a huge bird rookery. Tens of thousands of birds of all kinds call this area home, including the endangered Louisiana brown pelican. Bayou Sauvage National Wildlife Refuge, New Orleans, LA 70129, USA

  1. Atchafalaya National Wildlife Refuge

Walker S./TripAdvisor This 150-million-acre refuge includes hardwood swamps, bayous, and numerous lakes. It is the natural floodplain of the Atchafalaya River, which is now being managed in a way that makes it one of the only river deltas in Louisiana that is currently creating land faster than it is losing it. Atchafalaya National Wildlife Refuge is nothing short of one of the most amazing natural spectacles in the state, and we can’t get enough. Atchafalaya National Wildlife Refuge, highway 190 & interstate 10, Lottie, LA 70756, USA

  1. Lake Martin

NAMUR5100/TripAdvisor This breathtaking bird rookery on the outskirts of Lafayette known as Lake Martin is an amazing natural retreat that should not be missed. Lake Martin, Louisiana 70517, USA

  1. Sam Houston Jones State Park

PhotoCrawler/TripAdvisor Sam Houston Jones State Park is part of the Central Migratory Flyway, one of the most productive birding regions in Louisiana. Migratory patterns bring nearly 200 species within 30 miles of the park site. Sam Houston Jones State Park Road, Sam Houston Jones State Park road, Louisiana 70611, USA

  1. Lake D’Arbonne State Park

Hola624/TripAdvisor You’ll be charmed by the sweet and relaxed nature of this mixed pine-hardwood forest park known as Lake D’Arbonne State Park that sits on over 600 acres. Lake D’Arbonne State Park, 3628 Evergreen Rd, Farmerville, LA 71241, USA

  1. Black Bayou Lake National Wildlife Refuge

kiley45/TripAdvisor Black Bayou Lake National Wildlife Refuge draws visitors from throughout the area because of the incredible plant and wildlife found here. Black Bayou Lake National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center, 480 Richland Pl, Monroe, LA 71203, USA

  1. Kisatchie National Forest

finchlake2000/Flickr The largest national forest in Louisiana is a place you could explore for years to come, a gorgeous and sprawling natural area that reveals all of the incredible beauty Louisiana has to offer. Kisatchie National Forest, Louisiana 71433, USA

  1. Grand Côte National Wildlife Refuge

U.S. Department of the Interior/Flickr The over 6,000 acres of Grand Côte National Wildlife Refuge were once cleared for agricultural purposes, changing the landscape from Mississippi River bottomland hardwood forest, making it a large shallow marsh habitat populated by numerous shorebird species. Grand Cote National Wildlife Refuge, Marksville, LA 71351, USA

Are you ready to explore all that Louisiana has to offer? And if you want to explore some beautiful hikes in the area, the amazing hiking trails in Louisiana are perfect for exactly that.

Google Maps

Lynford Morton/Flickr

The Honey Island Swamp is known as one of the most pristine river swamps in the United States, a 20-mile area of over 70,000 acres. It was named the Honey Island swamps because of a large number of honeybees that were seen on a nearby isle in the swamp.

Honey Island Swamp Tours, 41490 Crawford Landing Rd, Slidell, LA 70461, USA

TMOH8/TripAdvisor

Bayou Sauvage National Wildlife Refuge is known for its beautiful marsh walkways, which include a huge bird rookery. Tens of thousands of birds of all kinds call this area home, including the endangered Louisiana brown pelican.

Bayou Sauvage National Wildlife Refuge, New Orleans, LA 70129, USA

Walker S./TripAdvisor

This 150-million-acre refuge includes hardwood swamps, bayous, and numerous lakes. It is the natural floodplain of the Atchafalaya River, which is now being managed in a way that makes it one of the only river deltas in Louisiana that is currently creating land faster than it is losing it. Atchafalaya National Wildlife Refuge is nothing short of one of the most amazing natural spectacles in the state, and we can’t get enough.

Atchafalaya National Wildlife Refuge, highway 190 & interstate 10, Lottie, LA 70756, USA

NAMUR5100/TripAdvisor

This breathtaking bird rookery on the outskirts of Lafayette known as Lake Martin is an amazing natural retreat that should not be missed.

Lake Martin, Louisiana 70517, USA

PhotoCrawler/TripAdvisor

Sam Houston Jones State Park is part of the Central Migratory Flyway, one of the most productive birding regions in Louisiana. Migratory patterns bring nearly 200 species within 30 miles of the park site.

Sam Houston Jones State Park Road, Sam Houston Jones State Park road, Louisiana 70611, USA

Hola624/TripAdvisor

You’ll be charmed by the sweet and relaxed nature of this mixed pine-hardwood forest park known as Lake D’Arbonne State Park that sits on over 600 acres.

Lake D’Arbonne State Park, 3628 Evergreen Rd, Farmerville, LA 71241, USA

kiley45/TripAdvisor

Black Bayou Lake National Wildlife Refuge draws visitors from throughout the area because of the incredible plant and wildlife found here.

Black Bayou Lake National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center, 480 Richland Pl, Monroe, LA 71203, USA

finchlake2000/Flickr

The largest national forest in Louisiana is a place you could explore for years to come, a gorgeous and sprawling natural area that reveals all of the incredible beauty Louisiana has to offer.

Kisatchie National Forest, Louisiana 71433, USA

U.S. Department of the Interior/Flickr

The over 6,000 acres of Grand Côte National Wildlife Refuge were once cleared for agricultural purposes, changing the landscape from Mississippi River bottomland hardwood forest, making it a large shallow marsh habitat populated by numerous shorebird species.

Grand Cote National Wildlife Refuge, Marksville, LA 71351, USA

What are some of your favorite natural wonders of LA? Let us know!

OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article.

The OIYS Visitor Center

Natural Wonders of LA February 08, 2023 Tori Jane

What are the most amazing natural wonders of LA? 

Louisiana is a beautiful state that tends to get all the attention for places like New Orleans and, well, that’s about it. We don’t think this is fair in any way – for example, there is a laundry list of natural wonders of LA that are definitely worthy of a visit, such as:  

Lake Martin – this stunning body of water is positively otherworldly.   The Kisatchie National Forest is the only National Forest in Louisiana and it’s astonishingly beautiful in its uniqueness.   The Breton Wildlife Refuge – okay, maybe this isn’t 100% “natural,” but it’s certainly a natural asset and worthy of a mention.  

The Atchafalaya River Basin might be what everyone thinks about when they think of Louisiana.  

  Learn more about all these amazing natural wonders in LA and then some.  

Which LA wonders should I add to my bucket list? 

So, with so many natural wonders in LA to pick from (the above list is nowhere near exhaustive), which ones are the most bucket list worthy? We think the most iconic LA wonders are ones like:  

Avery Island is an amazingly gorgeous little salt dome known for being the literal birthplace of beloved Tabasco sauce.  

The Honey Island Swamp is stunningly amazing and also probably exactly what you think about when you think of Louisiana’s swamplands.  The Bayou Sauvage National Refuge is another wildlife refuge where nature is free to do what it does without fear of hunting by humans.  

  Learn more about each of these amazing LA wonders, plus a couple more!  

What are some of the most scenic places in LA? 

That being said, what are some other remarkably beautiful places in LA that may not exactly be “wonders” but are still worthy of adoration? Some of our favorites include:  

The Bayous – we’re pretty sure it doesn’t get a whole lot more Louisiana than this.   The French Quarter – yes, it’s famous, but it’s famous for a reason (or ten), and one of those reasons is that it’s a beautiful LA classic.   The Lake Pontchartrain Causeway Bridge is probably the most epic bridge in the universe, but we might be biased.  

  Learn more about these scenic places in Louisiana!   

The OIYS Visitor Center

Natural Wonders of LA

February 08, 2023

Tori Jane

What are the most amazing natural wonders of LA? 

Louisiana is a beautiful state that tends to get all the attention for places like New Orleans and, well, that’s about it. We don’t think this is fair in any way – for example, there is a laundry list of natural wonders of LA that are definitely worthy of a visit, such as:  

Lake Martin – this stunning body of water is positively otherworldly.   The Kisatchie National Forest is the only National Forest in Louisiana and it’s astonishingly beautiful in its uniqueness.   The Breton Wildlife Refuge – okay, maybe this isn’t 100% “natural,” but it’s certainly a natural asset and worthy of a mention.  

The Atchafalaya River Basin might be what everyone thinks about when they think of Louisiana.  

  Learn more about all these amazing natural wonders in LA and then some.  

Which LA wonders should I add to my bucket list? 

So, with so many natural wonders in LA to pick from (the above list is nowhere near exhaustive), which ones are the most bucket list worthy? We think the most iconic LA wonders are ones like:  

Avery Island is an amazingly gorgeous little salt dome known for being the literal birthplace of beloved Tabasco sauce.  

The Honey Island Swamp is stunningly amazing and also probably exactly what you think about when you think of Louisiana’s swamplands.  The Bayou Sauvage National Refuge is another wildlife refuge where nature is free to do what it does without fear of hunting by humans.  

  Learn more about each of these amazing LA wonders, plus a couple more!  

What are some of the most scenic places in LA? 

That being said, what are some other remarkably beautiful places in LA that may not exactly be “wonders” but are still worthy of adoration? Some of our favorites include:  

The Bayous – we’re pretty sure it doesn’t get a whole lot more Louisiana than this.   The French Quarter – yes, it’s famous, but it’s famous for a reason (or ten), and one of those reasons is that it’s a beautiful LA classic.   The Lake Pontchartrain Causeway Bridge is probably the most epic bridge in the universe, but we might be biased.  

  Learn more about these scenic places in Louisiana!   

The OIYS Visitor Center

The OIYS Visitor Center

Louisiana is a beautiful state that tends to get all the attention for places like New Orleans and, well, that’s about it. We don’t think this is fair in any way – for example, there is a laundry list of natural wonders of LA that are definitely worthy of a visit, such as:  

  • Lake Martin – this stunning body of water is positively otherworldly.

  • The Kisatchie National Forest is the only National Forest in Louisiana and it’s astonishingly beautiful in its uniqueness.

  • The Breton Wildlife Refuge – okay, maybe this isn’t 100% “natural,” but it’s certainly a natural asset and worthy of a mention.

  • The Atchafalaya River Basin might be what everyone thinks about when they think of Louisiana.

 

Learn more about all these amazing natural wonders in LA and then some.  

  • Which LA wonders should I add to my bucket list?

So, with so many natural wonders in LA to pick from (the above list is nowhere near exhaustive), which ones are the most bucket list worthy? We think the most iconic LA wonders are ones like:  

  • Avery Island is an amazingly gorgeous little salt dome known for being the literal birthplace of beloved Tabasco sauce.

  • The Honey Island Swamp is stunningly amazing and also probably exactly what you think about when you think of Louisiana’s swamplands.

  • The Bayou Sauvage National Refuge is another wildlife refuge where nature is free to do what it does without fear of hunting by humans.

Learn more about each of these amazing LA wonders, plus a couple more!  

  • What are some of the most scenic places in LA?

That being said, what are some other remarkably beautiful places in LA that may not exactly be “wonders” but are still worthy of adoration? Some of our favorites include:  

  • The Bayous – we’re pretty sure it doesn’t get a whole lot more Louisiana than this.
  • The French Quarter – yes, it’s famous, but it’s famous for a reason (or ten), and one of those reasons is that it’s a beautiful LA classic.
  • The Lake Pontchartrain Causeway Bridge is probably the most epic bridge in the universe, but we might be biased.

Learn more about these scenic places in Louisiana!