Old Barataria Trail is a 4.3 mile heavily trafficked loop trail located near Barataria, Louisiana that features beautiful wild flowers and is good for all skill levels. The trail offers a number of activity options and is accessible year-round.
This trail has lots of wildlife. Users have noted that the trail surface is often flooded, muddy, and/or overgrown and that you will likely need to bring the app or downloaded map because there are few trail markers. Although level, this trail does not meet enough of the guidelines to be marked as wheelchair or stroller friendly because of the uneven and slippery sections. Trail goers using mobility equipment or strollers may be able to complete portions of this trail in the right conditions with all-terrain equipment. Please read user reviews and contact the National Historic Park and Preserve before attempting with equipment.
January 30, 2021Trail was swamped. But very pretty
January 24, 2021A number of trails are closed. Was only able to hike the Barataria Visitor Center trail, and the Bayou Coquille and Marsh Overlook trails. The Bayou Coquille and Overlook trail were beautiful! Tons of animals including gators and egrets to see. Easy to walk on the boardwalk but still is right in the middle of the swamp. Peaceful sounds and nice changes in scenery.
January 3, 2021Very overgrown and muddy, LOTS of standing water throughout. Went left (NW) at the start, and wound up discovering that you can’t complete the trail as marked: you can get to the crossroads in the top-left corner of the map shown, but from there two trails are overgrown and one is outright closed - the only way is back. Also saw some fresh hog tracks out there in the mud, so be wary.
December 17, 2020This trail still needs maintenance - it’s quite over grown. It’s not well marked but would have been easy enough to figure out had it not been partially flooded (it rained yesterday and several times in the past week). We had to turn around before halfway because the flooding made it unnavigable. Will try again once it dries up.
March 20, 2020This trail needs serious maintenance. Luckily there was cell service and I had the map downloaded, but it was still difficult to navigate. There are very few trail markers and many parts of the trail are overgrown. You can find yourself in a field of palmettos and lose your way quickly. Be sure to look up for tall trees to use as markers as much of the trail is overgrown and not marked. Saw many downed markers on the trail as well. It was so bad at one point that I turned around and did different secretions of the trail.
March 16, 2020Trail markers are few and far between. Trail itself is visible here and there. Definitely need map or trail app to find your way back as we did.
March 6, 2020Alot of tracks, garder snakes and dragon flies, however bring boots. Muddy for first part then nothing but swamp during the loop. Also very overgrown on loop where you can hardly see trail.
October 9, 2019Entered a loop section of this trail from the northern most trailhead located 1/4 mile east of Barataria Pkwy. We hiked 2.5 miles SE to the parking lot. We were bushwhacking vegetation the first .6 mile section which wasn’t fun, which included areas of soft, moist, squishy ground, muddy. At one point my Vasque hiking shoes suctioned and I darn near stepped completely out of them. We ducked numerous spiderwebs across the trail. Lots of bugs, a few squirrels, and one deer. NO snakes. The main part of the loop was closed so it was a straight shot the final 2 miles.
October 3, 2019July 22, 2019Great trail for spotting wildlife. Pay attention to the time of year and the flood stage of the Mississippi River; parts of this trail may flood when the river is high (as it has been for the entirety of 2019 through July). Fall and early winter are the best times to go.
December 16, 2018Do not attempt without tall, waterproof boots and clothing. Trail is abandoned and now a creek. Bulk of trail already sealed off by NPS.
April 3, 2018Started from the Visitor Center (currently open Wed - Sun) and took the Palmetto Trail to the Bayou Coquille / Marsh Overlook Trail. The giant blue irises were in bloom! Saw several snakes, many small anoles, a turtle, and an alligator. The alligator was along the Kenta Canal on the Marsh Overlook portion of the trail. The total distance out to the overlook & back was about 4 miles.
March 5, 2018Really cool swamp trail but a section was closed, preventing walking it as a loop, and another section was also completely flooded and impassable. I talked to a ranger that said it is actually a pond year round so unless you are prepared and geared up to wade 100-400 meters don’t be surprised if you have to turn back instead of completing it as a loop. I did see a gator, deer, squirrels, and a couple pretty big snakes along the trail. Pretty decent wildlife viewing.
February 3, 2018January 3, 2018this is very nice.
December 14, 2017I went in December, a tough time to see gators, but the armadillos, amazing birds, and cool vegetation made it all worth the trip!
August 23, 2017Love this place. Great for birding.
July 24, 2017Great little trial. Went with 3 9/10 year olds and they had a blast. Packs lots water and big spray...
March 19, 2017Easy going walk through the swamp. Short trail with wild life to see, alligators, turtles, birds. This is a lightly trafficked enjoyable trail.
February 7, 2017Excellent place to walk! Beautiful natural swampscape and wildlife; birds, lizards, frogs, snakes, and Alligators. Trail is mostly shady and moderately busy.
November 1, 2016best Louisiana swamp trail I've been on ! saw 3 gators but heard like 4 baby gators. definitely pack bugs spray. skinny walkway and bees everywhere but absolutely beautiful.
