CREOLE NATURE TRAIL

The Creole Nature Trail All-American Road runs north-south through an immense, very flat swamp region, covered by the Sabine National Wildlife Refuge. This 200-kilometer road winds its way through the marshes of the Southwest, allowing you to get up close and personal with their inhabitants: alligators, turtles, blue crabs, egrets, moorhens, ducks, wild geese and those strangeroseate spoonbills, large pink birds that scour the mud with their long beaks ending in a "spoon". The signposted stages have parking areas, such as the Marsh Trail (2.5 kilometers long, 6 kilometers south of the information center) or Walking Trail, small hiking trails built along the canal and crossing the marshes: these are real observation points. You can walk to admire the flora and fauna, spot alligators slumbering in the water (especially between April and October) or observe the hundreds of species of birds that swarm here. You can also go crabbing or fish fishing (with a permit for fish). The Sabine National Wildlife Refuge information center is about 20 kilometers south of Hackberry, the "crab capital of the world", where you'll find breeding centers for blue crabs, which are also fond of ditches. Just to the south, you come to Holly Beach, billed as the Cajun Riviera. More of a no-man's-land on weekdays, it's on weekends that its grey sands come alive. All the locals come here to party, dance, play music and swim in the surf of the Gulf of Mexico. A Birds Sanctuary is located 15 kilometers west of Holly Beach on Hwy-82. Located in a coastal oak grove, it's a peaceful place where thousands of birds congregate. These birds first stay here for a while in spring, then cross Louisiana in October on their way to the Caribbean, Mexico, Central and South America. But you won't want to miss the flocks of great gray pelicans, closely followed by their fellow gulls. You can then take the ferry to Cameron and continue on the Creole Trail east of Calcasieu Lake. If you only have time to do half the trail, we recommend that you walk this side of the trail, as it's more interesting. There are many more stops and observation points on this side of the lake. The marshes are riddled with bayous covered with water hyacinths and water lilies in bloom in summer, and you'll come across crayfish and fish fishermen. You'll easily spot alligators and those shy turtles that sun themselves on anything that emerges from the water. Don't hesitate to venture out onto the side roads, which are ideal for spotting animals rather than other tourists! Take Little Chenier Road or Chenier Perdue Road (in Creole), for example, to get a little deeper into nature.

Tips. Remember to bring mosquito repellent and boots for areas where the trails are not clear. If it's summer, leave early in the morning, because in the afternoon you'll hardly dare leave your air-conditioned car! Beware of impassable paths (although there are very few of these) and dead-ends - don't get lost, the marsh is immense.