National Parks in Louisiana

From rich culture to rich swamplands, Louisiana's national parks help visitors understand how the state's terrain has shaped history, music, food and people.

Atchafalaya

National Heritage Area

Atchafalya, pronounced uh-CHA-fuh-lie-uh, is home to America's largest river swamp. Fourteen parishes in south-central Louisiana make up the heritage area. Diverse plants and animals, including alligators, raccoons, bears and 270 species of birds live in the twisting bayous, rivers and trees. Learn more about Atchafalaya >>

Cane River

National Heritage Area, Natchitoches, LA

Visit the Cane River National Heritage Area to experience a combination of cultures. Historically, it served as an intersection for French and Spanish Realms when the town of Natchitoches was an important 18th century trade center. Today, you can tour plantations, churches and homes, which are all testaments to the diverse communities of generations past. Learn more about the Cane River >>

Cane River Creole

National Historical Park, Natchez, LA

Explore the place that shaped Creole history and culture over the past 300 years. Discover historical sites, plantations and more along the river via bicycle. Learn more about Cane River Creole >>

El Camino Real de los Tejas

National Historic Trail, LA and TX

Discover stories of Louisiana and Texas frontier settlement and development along the 1,000-mile Spanish colonial "royal road" that originally extended to Mexico City, Mexico. It served as the primary overland route from the Río Grande to the Red River Valley in Louisiana during the Spanish Colonial Period. Learn more about El Camino Real de los Tejas National Historic Trail >>

Jean Lafitte

National Historical Park & Reserve, New Orleans, LA

Visit a 23,000-acre Louisiana wetland to take bayou boat tours and history walks. At the Prairie Acadian Cultural Center, you can experience Cajun culture through music and cooking demonstrations. Learn more about Jean Lafitte National Historical Park & Reserve >>

New Orleans Jazz

National Historic Park, New Orleans, LA

A trip to New Orleans wouldn't be complete without a little jazz. Visit this national park to see - and hear - where it all began. Attend a jazz concert or ranger performance at the Old U.S. Mint venue. If you can't make it to a performance, live streams are available at www.musicatthemint.org. Learn more about New Orleans Jazz National Historic Park >>

Poverty Point

National Monument, Epps, LA

Marvel at work of ancient engineers who created a trading network that stretched for hundreds of miles across the continent 3,000 years ago. At the monument, you can see arrowheads and earth mounds that helped archeologists piece together the history of this important site. Learn more about Poverty Point National Monument >>