The Barataria Preserve outside Marrero offers a taste of Louisiana’s wild wetlands. The preserve’s 20,000 acres include bayous, swamps, marshes, forests, alligators, nutrias, and over 300 species of birds. Boardwalk and dirt trails wind through the preserve and waterways can be explored by canoe or kayak.

New exhibits at the preserve visitor center highlight how the Mississippi River built Louisiana's coastal wetlands, the national importance of those areas, and the relationship between the land and the people who live there. Carved models and interactive displays present the preserve's plants and animals through sound, sight, and interactive challenges to survival (if you were a fish, could you avoid the snapping turtle's bite?).

Park rangers offer guided walks, canoe treks, and birdwatching walks; canoe treks and walks under the full moon show off the preserve by night. The bookstore stocks field guides, children’s books, and a wide range of other publications. Rangers are on duty daily to answer visitor questions and offer special talks and educational programs by reservation, including programs at the preserve’s Environmental Education Center.

For more information, see the Barataria Preserve Frequently Asked Questions page.

For program listings for specific dates, see the schedule of events.

For information on the new exhibits, see news release.

For directions to the Barataria Preserve, see map.

6588 Barataria Boulevard, Marrero (near Crown Point)
504-589-2330 ext. 10
Open daily 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
Closed December 25 and Mardi Gras