8 Top Places To Visit In Louisiana In The Fall
Louisiana is a southeastern state in America on the Gulf of Mexico. The unique destination is beautiful year-round, but fall is a perfect time to explore with gorgeous foliage, comfortable temperatures, and fewer crowds than the summer months. The state is famous for its Creole cuisine, but its scenery and wildlife are also great reasons to explore this slice of American paradise. Here are some of the top places to visit in Louisiana during autumn.
Lake Claiborne State Park
Lake Claiborne State Park is a must-visit destination in Louisiana during the fall. It has gorgeous colorful foliage and an array of outdoor activities to enjoy. Fishing is a popular fall pastime in the park, with many freshwater fish living in the waters, including largemouth bass, bluegill sunfish, striped bass, and white perch. The lake spans 6,400 acres, making it ideal for boating, kayaking, and waterskiing (in early fall). Stay for a weekend in the fall by booking a campsite or cozy two-bedroom cabin in the park that sleeps up to eight guests.
South Toledo Bend State Park
Another fall destination for outdoor enthusiasts in Louisana is South Toledo Bend State Park. Toledo Bend Reservoir is one of the best bass lakes in the United States, so this is a top-rated activity for visitors who enjoy fishing. Besides fishing in the park, fall is a great time for hiking, birding, cycling, and camping. Bring a pair of binoculars and spend time at dawn on the hiking trails looking for signs of the elusive bald eagle. Travelers who aren’t camping overnight can pack a lunch for a day trip to the park and hang out at the picnic tables near the Visitor Center.
Chemin-A-Haut State Park
State parks are the place to be in Louisiana in fall, with Chemin-A-Haut State Park also ranking high on the list of top spots to visit. This unique park is on a bluff overlooking Bayou Batholomew and provides scenic views of the area (and seasonal colors) that are perfect for capturing photos. The park covers over 500 acres and is geared towards families with children. There are two playgrounds for kids to enjoy, plus a picnic area with 35 family sites featuring tables and grills. The swimming pool in the park closes on Labor Day, but visitors can check out Big Slough Lake on the edge of the park for water fun and fishing.
University Lakes In Baton Rouge
The University Lakes system in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, spans 360 acres and is an impressive natural area worth visiting in any season. In fall, it is especially picturesque, with vibrant red and orange trees lining the shore. The University Lakes Project is currently underway in Louisiana to bring positive changes and improvements to the lake and surrounding areas. Upgrades and enhancements include installing a new May Street Bridge, increasing the park’s area, enhancing lake health, improving pedestrian access, and improving wetland edge enhancements. The improvement project is valued at $65 million dollars and is sure to mean a memorable experience for future visitors to University Lakes.
Lake D’Arbonne State Park
Spend time at Lake D'Arbonne State Park in Louisiana this fall to stroll through towering pine forests and rolling hills and see beautiful lake views. There are five fishing piers in this 655-acre park, providing plenty of space for visitors to enjoy the solitude and vastness of nature. Lake D’Arbonne is a massive body of water spanning 15,250 acres. It’s the focal point of the park, with most of the activities to do here (fishing, canoeing, kayaking, and pleasure boating) revolving around this freshwater lake. For visitors who aren’t interested in spending time on the water, there are exciting hiking trails, like Cyrpus Bend Trail, to explore.
Lake Bruin State Park
Two hours southeast of Lake D’Arbonne State Park is another park that centers around a massive lake – Lake Bruin State Park. Named for Lake Bruin, which has a surface area of more than 3,000 acres, the park provides access to the lake for fishing and watersports. While swimming might not be desirable during fall, there are picnic tables and barbecue grills in the park’s day-use area for families and couples to enjoy. Bring a blanket and cozy up by the warm grill while cooking a delicious meal among nature and good company.
Cypress Island Preserve
The Cypress Island Preserve at Lake Martin is a biodiverse swamp ecosystem that is fascinating and picturesque. During autumn, Louisiana experiences comfortable temperatures (gradually lowering from the mid-80s to the 70s by the end of October), making it the ideal time to appreciate the great outdoors without the humidity. Wildlife spotting is the top-rated activity in this preserve, so visitors should bring binoculars and a camera. Besides alligators, there is a chance to see many birds, including the great blue heron, great egret, black-crowned night heron, white ibis, and roseate spoonbill.
Jimmie Davis State Park
This Louisana state park is on a peninsula in Caney Lake. The park offers two boat launches for getting out on the water and a fishing pier for the adventurer hoping to reel in a catch. During autumn, fishing and cycling are two of the top pastimes to enjoy in the park. The mixed pine and hardwood forest provides colorful leaves, making a great backdrop for hiking the Jimmie Davis Camp Path, a 3.4-mile out-and-back trail. It is a quiet route, and visitors will unlikely encounter many other hikers.
Autumn In The Pelican State
Louisana has many nicknames (the Pelican State, the Bayou State, the Creole State, and the Sugar State, to name a few), but all of them are given affectionately because of something fabulous that the state offers visitors and residents. Whether it’s delicious food, epic scenery, or wildlife viewing opportunities, there are plenty of reasons to fall in love with Louisana this season.
