Atchafalaya Basin

Atchafalaya Basin (also known as Atchafalaya Swamp) is America's largest swamp, it covers much of the Acadiana region of Louisiana. It's more than a million acres in area, mostly wetland forests, and includes a number of recreational areas including boat launches and remote camping areas. It is a popular destination for fishermen and for paddlers who want to kayak the myriad channels, islands, and wetlands. The swamp is rich in biodiversity and includes federal and state protected areas.

Understand

I-10 bridge over the Atchafalaya Basin

Most of the swamp is inhospitable and difficult to travel in, unless you have a low-draft boat.

Most people experience the swamp by driving through it on Interstate 10. An 18-mile long elevated bridge crosses the swamp between Baton Rouge and Lafayette. The bridge is named the Louisiana Airborne Bridge to honor soldiers from U.S. Army Airborne units.

Landscape

Huge cypress trees dripping with Spanish lace line miles and miles of waterways criss-crossing the soggy wetlands and dense forests.

Flora and fauna

Egrets on a cypress stump

Sportfishing is popular throughout the basin and some of the largest freshwater fish in the United States are caught in the lakes and rivers of the Atchafalaya Basin. More than 85 species of fish live in the waterways of the basin, including largemouth bass, white crappie, black crappie, bluegill, red-ear sunfish, and channel catfish. Red swamp and white river crayfish are also important for both a sport and commercial harvest.

French fur trappers once made a lucrative business catching mink, otter, beaver and more. Trapping still happens in the Atchafalaya, though on a much smaller scale than it once was. Some of other mammals that inhabit the wetland forests include black bears, white tail deer, gray and fox squirrels, swamp rabbits, gray and red fox, coyote, skunks, opossum, bobcats, and muskrats.

The basin is an important habitat for birds. Almost 200 species have been spotted in the wetland forests including the nation's largest concentration of American woodcock. You'll also see wood ducks, bald eagles, ospreys, swallow-tailed kites, Mississippi kites, and wild turkeys.

Climate

Hot and humid, especially in the summer.

Get in

From I-10:

• exit 121, Atchafalaya Welcome Center, access to the Atchafalaya River Road
• exit 127, Atchafalaya basin boat access ramps, access to Louisiana 975 (although it's a state highway, much of it is gravel surface that often seems to be more pothole than surface, good north-south route between I-10 and US 190)
• exit 135, Ramah, access to Parish Road 3000
• exit 139, Grosse Tete, Tiger Truck Stop (come see the tiger, fill up with gas, and experience the filthiest bathroom in the south!)

Fees and permits

None. State fishing license may be required.

Get around

Airboat, fishing boat, canoe, hiking, car, bike (most areas inaccessible by car).

See

• 1 Atchafalaya National Wildlife Refuge, 61389 Highway 434 Lacombe. Conserves over 15,000 acres of lower Mississippi alluvial bottomland hardwood forest and bald cypress tupelo swamp habitats. Important habitat for the Louisiana black bear (a subspecies of the American black bear) as well as numerous other species. Many bird species nest in the refuge including the bright yellow Prothonotary warbler (Protonotaria citrea), American swallow-tailed kite (Elanoides forficatus), and wood duck (Aix sponsa). 

• 2 Lake Fausse Pointe State Park, 5400 Levee Road, Martinville, ☏ +1 337-229-4764. 6,000 acres on the western side of the swamp, southeast of Lafayette. Cabins on stilts over the water, canoes and kayaks for rent. 

Do

• Swamp tours are a fun, safe way to see the swamps via larger, slow moving boats. Tours are available in towns in and adjacent to the swamp, including Henderson directly on I-10 and Krotz Springs on US 190.

• Airboat tours are a far noisier, faster, and pricier way to see the swamp.

• 1 Atchafalaya Landing and Airboat Tours, 1377 Henderson Levee Rd, Breaux Bridge, ☏ +1 337 2287880. Boat launch with large parking area to accommodate trailers, swamp tours in large slow boats, or speedy airboats, your choice. Turtle Bar on site. 
• 2 McGee's Swamp Tours, 1337 Henderson Levee Rd, Henderson, ☏ +1 337 228 2384. Boat launch with large parking area to accommodate trailers, swamp tours in large slow boats, or speedy airboats, your choice. Store and gift shop on site. Used by the Boy Scouts as launch site for their "Swamp Base" adventure treks. 
• 3 Sherburne Wildlife Management Area, Krotz Springs, ☏ +1 225 7652800. Over 43,000 acres of wetland forest includes land owned by the state of Louisiana, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Mostly used as a public hunting area. Includes 3 public boat launches, 2 camping facilities, and a shooting range. 

Sleep

Lodging

Major hotels are in the nearby cities of Baton Rouge or Lafayette.

Camping

Cabins and RV campgrounds are located along the Atchafalaya River, south of I-10.

Backcountry

Backcountry camp sites are numerous in this area, some accessible by hiking trails, most accessible only by canoe or fishing boat. There are also cabins built on stilts over the water that can be rented on a nightly or weekly basis.

Stay safe

Swamps can be unforgiving terrain and are best explored with a knowledgable guide if you are an inexperienced outdoorsman. A few tips to keep in mind:

• Carry a cell phone, but don't rely on it. Many of the backcountry camps are out of reach of cell towers and have no electricity sources for recharging. Printed maps are always safer and more reliable.
• If you are hiking or paddling to a remote camp, check if potable water is available. If not, bring your own or pack filters or have another treatment solution.
• Use Leave No Trace practices. Pack in what you need, pack out any trash.
• Be aware of wildlife risks. Alligators live in the waters, bears live on the land, snakes live everywhere.
• Tell someone where you plan to go and when you will be back.
• Trails and campsites are often privately owned. Respect any posted rules
• Always wear a lifejacket. Alligators hate having to dive for their dinner.

Go next

• Baton Rouge
• Lafayette