• Image of swamp, bayou, and marsh

    Jean Lafitte

    National Historical Park and Preserve Louisiana

Closures & Construction

Barataria Preserve

  • All trails and parking lots on the east side of Highway 45/Barataria Blvd. will be closed Monday, May 20, through Wednesday, May 22, so that park staff and contractors may clean up after the weekend's BioBlitz event. This area includes the Environmental Education Complex and Pecan Grove (see the preserve trail map).
  • Some waterways are currently impassable due to heavy growth of aquatic vegetation. Before you canoe or kayak the preserve, call the visitor center at 504-689-3690 ext. 10 to find out about waterway conditions. Note that the canoe launch at Twin Canals is closed for repairs; check with the rangers at the visitor center for alternative launch sites.

Chalmette Battlefield and National Cemetery

  • Chalmette Monument is currently closed due to safety concerns.

Did You Know?

Young alligator crawls through vegetation.

Alligators have two eyelids! The second inner eyelid is clear and used like goggles while the alligator is under water. These amazing reptiles have been around since before the dinosaurs, and they are designed for life in the water.