America's largest wetland, spanning a million acres of swamps, lakes, hardwood, and marshlands, the Atchafalaya Basin is one of North America's most diverse and significant ecosystems. Located in Louisiana, the river is a distributary of the Mississippi River, and its diverse surroundings provide critical habitat to thousands of plant and animal species.
Atchafalaya is at least five times larger than any other river basin in the United States. The Atchafalaya National Heritage Area was established in 2006 in recognition of the region's historical and cultural significance. The basin has gone on to serve numerous purposes like flood control, public recreation, and wildlife conservation.
Visitors to the region can partake in a wide range of watersports like boating, fishing, and swimming. There are also numerous swamp tours available that take visitors to different parts of the region, giving them a unique view of the basin's beautiful natural life, with the Atchafalaya Basin Festival also a popular activity at the resort. There are 250 bird species residing around the basin with a diverse collection of wildlife also residing within the resort including Florida panther, black bear, otters, foxes, and bobcats. There are also opportunities for camping nearby for visitors who want to spend two or more days exploring the basin's attractions.
The basin can be accessed easily via Highway 10 Louisiana. There are some curvy roads in the region and a lot of rough roads too, so drivers must be extra attentive and maintain speed limits when driving to the resort especially at night. Few signposts direct you from the highway straight into the resort. However, the roads are generally well maintained, and in this low-lying region, you don't need to worry about mountain roads with steep inclines and switchbacks.
Remember that this is swampland, so flooding can sometimes be an issue. Also, the Atchafalaya Basin is heavily treed, so watch your clearance on some of the low branches. All in all, though, it's a short and relatively easy trip from Baton Rouge to Atchafalaya Basin.
French Man's Wilderness is a campground located deep in the woods at the Atchafalaya basin. The pet-friendly campsite offers 140 spacious, well-maintained sites with full hookups of water, sewer, and electricity all available. Clean showers and modern toilet facilities are provided at the ground as well as a dump station. Laundry facilities and WiFi are also available at the site.
Nearby attractions include two kid's playgrounds, a sports center, and beach access. Numerous family-friendly events are held year-round at the ground, including sporting activities and cook-off competitions. An antique store nearby has some historical artifacts for history-loving campers, and a boat launch for swamp tours is also nearby. Reservations can be made for this site up to six months in advance and can be done online or in person.
Louisiana has a rich bird population, and the basin is no different, with over 250 bird species residing in the region. The diverse landscape of coastal marshlands, prairies, hardwood forests, and swamps give opportunities for some of the best birding in the country.
The basin has one of the largest concentrations of bald eagles in the U.S. Species such as egrets, bluegill and herons also have rich populations. Upland birds like grouse and turkey can be seen roaming the grasslands and duck, geese and other water-based birds can be found at the river.
Cycling the back roads is a great way of exploring the basin and its surroundings. There are numerous brilliant trails in the region that provide excellent biking and cycling opportunities with great views and a lot of birding opportunities. There are signposts and traffic regulations to help bikers and other road and trail users navigate the park easily.
Paddling is a great way to explore the region through the river. There are numerous paddling routes along the river that give paddlers a scenic first-hand view of some of the region's beautiful natural life. It also offers great views for photography. Paddlers are advised to carry life rafts and safety gear when paddling.
Rangers at the basin host daily swamp tours which take visitors on boat rides to restricted areas of the basin and further down the river. These boat rides have become a major activity at the park, with hundreds of visitors taking the ride daily.
The tour also takes you to other attractions and significant parts of the region. It's a perfect way to see more of both the wildlife and the scenery of this fertile region.
The rich landscape at the basin has made the region a sanctuary for wildlife. There are nearly 100 reptile and amphibian species with snakes, frogs and numerous turtle species.
Some mammals at the basin include deer, black bear, bobcats, and rabbits. A few other species can be spotted by paddlers and boaters at the river. Muskrats, ferrets, raccoons, and foxes are also common at the park.
Some of the best fishing opportunities in Louisiana can be found at Atchafalaya basin. Boats are the most common way of accessing the river to search for freshwater fish species. Black, yellow and stripped bass all have rich populations at the river, crappie and catfish are also common. Fishing regulations must be adhered to.
