A short 30 minute drive east from New Orleans lies Bayou Sauvage National Wildlife Refuge. It is located along US-90. As stated in their brochure; “Bayou Sauvage National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1990. The refuge is located entirely within the corporate limits of New Orleans, Louisiana, and encompasses approximately 25,000 acres, which include the Brazilier Island tract acquired in 2009. Bayou Sauvage is the largest urban refuge in the country, and is one of the last remaining marsh areas adjacent to Lakes Ponchartrain and Borgne.”
We hopped in the car with our dog and rode out past New Orleans East to the entrance to the walking trails. The entrance is on the left hand side, or “lake side” when coming from New Orleans. This is where you find the entrance to the Ridge Trail. Here lies a parking lot with information handouts on the refuge and public restrooms. There are also picnic tables at the entrance to the trail. We started on the ridge trail, which is a wooden, elevated 2/3 mile walkway over the marshes. There are benches along the way. There are several over look spots, and great bird watching. The trail is a loop and will take you back to the parking lot or you can continue onto the Maxent Levee trail.
We decided to walk part of the Maxent Levee trail. It is 3 miles long each way. We turned around around the first mile, as our dog was getting a bit worn out from all the excitement. If you do decide to do the entire 6 miles, don’t forget to bring water and snacks. Also, the trail is gravel, so if you have your dog, keep in mind their feet may get a bit sore when walking on the gravel. You can also walk through the land below the levee, but beware of fire ants, etc. We hope to return soon and complete the trail.
It’s a perfect escape for nature lovers to see the Louisiana landscape. We saw many a bird and really enjoyed the peaceful surroundings.
Fees
Free
Tips
Dog Friendly. The park allows leashed dogs. We were the only people on the trail during the time we were out there and allowed our dog to run ahead with his harness on.
Picnic
There are picnic tables at the entrance to the Ridge Trail. If continuing on to the Maxent Levee trail, bring a backpack with water and snacks.
Links
http://www.fws.gov/bayousauvage/index.html
