New Orleans is a lively city full of exciting places to visit, like the famous French Quarter, jazz clubs, and delicious restaurants. It’s also known for its fascinating history. But if you want to take a break from the busy streets and enjoy nature, New Orleans has some wonderful trails and nature walks too.
I spent nearly one month checking out the trails, boardwalks, and parks in and around New Orleans. Even though the land is flat, which makes it different from the hiking most people are used to, there are still some really pretty trails to explore. These trails are perfect for people who love birdwatching and spotting wildlife. In this post, I’ll share my favorite nature walks and hikes around New Orleans.
1. Audubon Park
- Length: 1.9-mile loop
- Difficulty: Easy
- Day-use fee: None
- Pets: On-leash
Audubon Park is in the Garden District of New Orleans and is filled with tall, beautiful oak trees, wide grassy areas, colorful gardens, and a calm lagoon. The park has a 1.9-mile paved path for walking and biking, perfect for getting some exercise and enjoying the outdoors. There are also smaller dirt paths that you can explore, which weave through the park’s peaceful surroundings.
One cool thing about Audubon Park is that while you walk, you can see lots of historic and elegant homes and estates nearby.
2. French Quarter Loop
- Length: About 1.5 miles
- Difficulty: Easy
- Day-use fee: None
- Pets: On-leash
The French Quarter Loop is a leisurely walk through the heart of New Orleans’ most historic and vibrant neighborhood. The loop takes you past famous landmarks like Jackson Square, the lively Bourbon Street, and the beautiful St. Louis Cathedral. You’ll also see colorful Creole townhouses, unique shops, and plenty of street performers.
It’s a great way to explore the city’s rich history, unique architecture, and lively culture, all while getting some exercise. Don’t forget to stop by a café for beignets and coffee!
3. Couturie Forest
- Length: 1.1-mile loop
- Difficulty: Easy
- Entrance fee: None
- Pets: On-leash
Couturie Forest is a 60-acre escape inside City Park. Even though it’s not the biggest trail, it’s a great place to visit if you want to get away from the city’s noise. In this peaceful forest, you can spot wildlife, enjoy a picnic by the river, or walk along the smaller paths that branch off from the main loop.
4. Besthoff Sculpture Garden
- Length: N/A
- Difficulty: Easy
- Entrance fee: None (donations accepted)
- Pets: No
The 11-acre Besthoff Sculpture Garden features over 90 pieces of art by modern and contemporary artists. It’s often considered one of the top sculpture gardens in the world. If you want to take a break from the French Quarter, spend an afternoon here walking along the paved paths while admiring the amazing sculptures and artwork on display.
5. City Park Botanical Gardens
- Length: N/A
- Difficulty: Easy
- Entrance fee: $10
- Pets: No
If you love being around plants and nature, don’t miss the New Orleans Botanical Garden in City Park. Spread across 10 acres, the garden showcases over 2,000 plants from all over the world, and there’s always something beautiful to see, no matter the season.
The gardens also feature the Enrique Alferez Sculpture Garden, which celebrates the work of Enrique Alferez, a New Orleans artist who created sculptures from the 1930s to the late 1990s.
For more information, you can visit City Park’s New Orleans Botanical Gardens website.
6. Mississippi River Trail
- Length: Varies (part of a longer trail system)
- Difficulty: Easy
- Day-use fee: None
- Pets: On-leash
The Mississippi River Trail is a scenic path that runs alongside the mighty Mississippi River, offering beautiful views and a peaceful escape from the busy city. In New Orleans, sections of the trail are perfect for walking, biking, or jogging. You can enjoy the sight of boats traveling the river, as well as the breeze and open space along the riverbanks.
The trail is part of a much longer route that extends along the river, but the New Orleans section is ideal for a relaxing stroll with plenty of opportunities to take in the sights and sounds of the river.
7. Bayou Sauvage NWR Ridge Trail
- Length: ¾ mile boardwalk loop and 6-mile out-and-back levee trail
- Difficulty: Easy
- Day-use fee: None
- Pets: On-leash
Bayou Sauvage National Wildlife Refuge is perfect for bird lovers! With over 350 species of native and migratory birds, this 23,000-acre refuge is home to many types of habitats, like hardwood forests and marshes. Bring your binoculars to spot some birds! Although the area was heavily damaged by Hurricane Katrina in 2005, the plants are still growing back, making it an interesting place to hike outside the city.
The ¾-mile boardwalk loop has signs that teach you about the native trees and ecosystem. After the boardwalk, you can continue down the 6-mile levee trail, which is a great place to see more birds and wildlife.
8. Barataria Preserve at Jean Lafitte National Park
- Length: 8 miles of trail
- Difficulty: Easy
- Day-use fee: None
- Pets: No
The Barataria Preserve is part of the Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve, located just south of New Orleans. It offers some of the best hiking in the area, with plenty of chances to spot wildlife like alligators, armadillos, and birds.
There are about 8 miles of trails, including long boardwalks that take you through swamps and marshes.
If it’s your first visit, start at the Visitor’s Center and follow a combination of trails: the Visitor’s Center Trail, Palmetto Trail, Bayou Coquille Trail, and Marsh Overlook. This makes for a scenic and educational 4-mile out-and-back hike.
9. Boy Scout Road at Big Branch Marsh Wildlife Refuge
- Length: 5 miles out-and-back
- Difficulty: Easy
- Day-use fee: None
- Pets: On-leash
Located north of New Orleans in the Big Branch Marsh Wildlife Refuge, the Boy Scout Road trail is a 5-mile out-and-back hike that lets you explore different Louisiana ecosystems. Along the way, you can see a variety of wildlife, including birds, alligators, otters, and deer, as well as habitats like pine savannas and marsh wetlands.
The trail starts as a wooden boardwalk and then becomes a gravel road. It’s well-maintained and open to cyclists too!
10. Tickfaw State Park
- Length: 4.5 miles of trail
- Difficulty: Easy
- Day-use fee: $3 per person
- Pets: On-leash
If you’re looking to explore nature outside of New Orleans, Tickfaw State Park is a fantastic spot for outdoor fun! About an hour northwest of the city, the park features four different ecosystems you can see along 4.5 miles of boardwalks and trails. You’ll pass through cypress and tupelo swamps, bottomland hardwood forests, mixed pine/hardwood forests, and even walk along the Tickfaw River.
After enjoying the trails, you can rent a canoe to paddle on the river, or stay overnight by camping or renting one of the park’s fully-equipped cabins.
