Lake Fausse Pointe State Park, deep in Louisiana’s Atchafalaya Basin Swamp, is a secluded place for people who want to disconnect from the distractions of modern life. And the wooded park is also a place where you can experience the wildlife of the Louisiana swamp.
connect with nature at lake fausse pointe state park
Camp host Gary Philpot spends most of his days doing maintenance work on the park trails that wind their way through the cypress forest. The trails are well marked and a mix of gravel and elevated boardwalk that take you through terrain that is occasionally soggy. The secluded hiking trails are popular with birdwatchers. “You get out there and it’s nice,” explains Lake Fausse Pointe State Park manager Shawn Johnson. “A lot of bird watchers come out here,” he adds. “It’s nice and quiet out there and they can hear all the little birds and take their pictures.”
calling the owls
Philpot hangs a small speaker on a tree branch in the camping area and begins playing the hooting, howling and grunting sounds of the barred owl. He says the brown striped owls are curious birds that will, “start hooting and hollering. “It’s pretty cool,” he says. And within five minutes, Philpot spots the first of two large barred owls that land in the treetops. The feathered pair move from tree to tree, grunting and howling in response to the recorded sounds. Philpot says he routinely see the owls when he is working in the more remote areas of Lake Fausse Pointe State Park.
getting off the grid
Due to its remote location, there is no cell service, no internet, and rarely texting at Lake Fausse Pointe State Park. And that eliminates many of the daily distractions that take away from the experience in nature. I met Mitch Bouche from Wisconsin, who says he, “Came down here once by accident and fell in love with the place.” He’s made multiple return trips to the southern Louisiana campground. “It’s back here far enough where you can just enjoy nature and just see some things that you wouldn’t normally see,” Bouche explains.
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kids activities
This is a park where children bring their bicycles and play outside games with friends and family. During my visit, the park staff hosted a birdhouse building and painting event for kids. The children watched as the small wooden bird houses were nailed together, then they grabbed paint brushes and created colorful homes for birds. The children were given the option of bringing their birdhouse home or picking a tree in the state park to hang it. Park management is planning more children’s events in the future.
camping or cabins at Lake fausse pointe state park
Lake Fausse Pointe features 18 cabins along the wooded bayou. The campground with hookups for RVs is nearby. Canoes are also available for rent. During the warmer months, the park has a splash pad for cooling off and outdoor playsets for children.
getting there
Lake Fausse Pointe State Park is located at 5400 Levee Road near St. Martinville, Louisiana. Phone: (337) 229-4764. For more information and reservations, visit the official Louisiana State Parks website. Click here
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