---
id: "2454"
name: Creole Nature Trail
distance: "207"
duration: One to two days for a self-guided tour
description: Known as Louisiana's Outback, the Creole Nature Trail meanders through marshes, prairies, and along the Gulf of Mexico. As you loop through Calcasieu and Cameron parishes in Southwest Louisiana, view alligators and birds up close and in the wild, along with colorful wildflowers and rare cheniers shaped by salty winds.
path:
  - eklwDbq|xPH?zB@rBCP?~AAb@Av@?^?F?VGb@IL?f@CXATCR?fCATAdB?~@?fC?J?tF?xFCdGIjVHl[C`HC|@@jb@EfHDdFAhUFt]CpW@bRApDC~J?v]A`B?^Q`C]|Bi@zBq@rD}AdCaBdDuC~AsBrIqLvBwCjBoB~BoBtC{ArCeA~DeAfCa@~CS`BCdXCjCA|e@@xyACrCMvD{@vCmA`DcCvXoWnKuJtBuAnAo@pBm@fB_@hDUhS@xf@ArO@|HFxCFxBTtBj@~CvAbHlDvAh@zA`@hCRjAB`GK|B?rc@QtGE|BQfCg@pCgAtq@_d@lB{AhBkBpE{G|BeCvB}AbEkChi@{]~UwOjAm@~Am@pA]dBUtAK`C@tMa@zEMhh@yAdEQfHm@hQ}BfKiAbEi@bEc@dE[hHSfEApNOzoACdED~BRbDt@bC~@~OxGdMlFzAh@xB`@rANdEVpKl@`BH`EPn@@t@Cr@Ct@E|G_@h@Aj@Av@@\@ZBZDL?t@LJB??t@Pr@Tf@Rd@Rd@Vb@Xb@X`@\^^^^z@fAXd@Xd@Vf@Th@Tj@Pj@ZhAP`ARbBFl@F`BB|A@zABtFB`D@p@HnAL~@VjAZ~@f@`At@hAvBzC~@vAVf@Th@^fANr@PtAD`A@pCAbCAjE?~@AtHAn@A`LA~C@pAH`BPlAT|@Vv@x@zAj@r@p@j@fAn@nAb@t@Lv@HfAD`B@lF@~IB`E?vMClGA^?`[GpEAjMCrPEzD?tEAd@?dNC^?voAYfE?bB@`BJbBP~AX~A^|Af@xAn@lRjJlh@lWxAr@xAn@zAj@zAh@|Ad@|A`@|GxA~`ArS`kBt`@~YjG`QrD~GxA`TpE|Ab@xAp@b@X`Az@z@fAXd@l@rAPj@b@hB^jBxAfIpGr]tDlSxDlSrGr]^jBh@fBn@bBv@zA~@xA|Yta@`AtA~@xAx@|Ar@~ApQhd@n@bBl@dBf@hBfE`Qr\zsAf@hBj@dBp@bBrWjn@zBlF~@xBf@nAv@hBHNn@lA\j@BBZf@^d@RVFH??FHjAhApA~@tAx@lDnBju@ja@dGdDdGdDdGbDxAr@fAb@PHzAd@~A\~AV`BP`BJ~]jAhHTva@pA`HVpUt@~FRjj@jBbBH`BR~A\|Ad@xAp@rAz@bD|BxF~DnNzJvF|DrAz@vAt@zAh@|A^`BVbEf@nZlDdHx@`BFh@Aj@Ch@Gf@GZGh@Kf@Of@Qd@Ub@Wb@Yb@Y`@]`@]jAiAh@g@tPcPlAeArA{@d@Uf@Sf@Qf@Ovh@_MxY_HxY}G|P_E|P}D|Ac@f@Od@Sd@Ub@Y`@[`@]`@]\a@\a@Zc@Xg@Vg@\u@\gATu@Jq@Hk@Hs@Fq@@_@B}@???cANyNNuOLqOFkHBaC@aA@cBHgJDmGBwCTuZHmJDqBDsBJqBLoBNqBzJopAnBeWNqBJoBFqBnBs`AHyDzAot@fA{i@r@c_@zAqt@VgM?QB_B?qBCqBEoBGqBKqBEa@ImAQoBUmBWmB[mB]kBa@kBc@iBg@gBi@gBm@cB{Mu^mPyc@uFcOo@cBq@aBUa@CEOUs@{@_@]WSm@c@WQe@Ue@Qg@Oi@Ki@G[C[A[A[?uAD}@ByFRsABk@A_GOi@?i@@_CFyW~@c}@|CcBHaBLaBV_BZ}Ab@qMfE}Ad@[F[F[@[@[A]C[GYIYKYQUSSWGKEIM]EOIa@E]C]Ak@?eB??C_^??@oAHw@Ns@Tm@R_@\i@Z[RShCqB^]^a@Zc@Xg@Ti@Pk@Nk@Nm@N}@hEoUVmADMJ[N[x@{AL[L]Lm@Js@~AsLlA}IpBiOp@{E~@_HPkA??fAuG`CyJtBuGHaA_@}BK}APmG^{ClIc`@v@uC~BaHhAiClA_BbGsGdB{BlH{MzBmDbAoBd@uAp@eDNgB^_KR_CtAyKbAkH\}CFaANqKHwKNyFVkDjCuRZoCJcDGcDS_DgCq\]qFo@eNmBmb@ScF[yMIeGCyKEsFs@s[_@wQIqCi@sJWsG]eSIsFs@iWw@_VEoB?wFs@]iBwBgBy@oBSs]IiCU}A{@k@i@{@{A[oAOmB?wMFse@@mSEsCg@kCeAgBw@q@_Ac@gFkA_CiAs@}@m@uAUoAK_C@{JBcEB{QGcFmAq`@MoAYkAe@eAq@{@y@o@cDiBcAw@eAqA]w@]{AOaBsBo`@IeDJcBx@kHRcD@}A@mIBqSGiDe@mG_AsKc@}Cw@sC_AqC_@aBQgCEmFSsG_@qFkBkV}E}p@mAgSuAsTmAwTeAuToA}Uc@kKIqBMaDaAmX_@_Da@gAk@}@w@u@cC{@eAGaJAeAKsA_@cAy@wAyBa@kCEwCE}c@@sFRqJLeI?aDMgNE_COkYAi@??y@CgAAkUKub@SmCAyGEmC?[AM?kDAub@QmLE{GE_HCkCEeAKeASaA[_Aa@}@g@w@m@u@s@w@q@CKO[OQMQaEqFoCuDo@{@cZ}`@m@}@o@y@_KaNai@us@_DkEyAqBMMUYyUu[_BwB_HiJq@y@u@u@{@k@_Ac@eAWeAKgACeAAwPEeAA{AAuDA{CAeAAyZK_RGyYMmm@SkRGefA_@gCA{PGcJEkLCmCCwPEmCCqb@O_A?uIAqBByAJeLxAeBJeABcJE??yVKmAFyAR]Hs@RkAh@qBjA{CjBuBrAgBfAqCdBsVdOa@V??QJg@XcDlBcO`JgF|Ce@Tg@Rg@Ng@Jk@Jg@DM@w@@eN?kCAgg@Cc@?k_@CuA?}KAeA?uE?gAAeA@{CA}@???mA?kC?oC?iL?kCCkL?_A?}E?eQC{G?eMAmH?mCAmC@{DAW?yA?G?qEAgJ?mGAoF?yDAyL?uEAg@?K@mOAgMCaAAsCAoF?{LCm`@CyUAcOCeABU?M?ox@KcJCoCAeAEgAOcAW_Ae@s@e@IEc@_@GISWc@q@Q[M[M[GOCMK]I_@G_@E_@E_@C_@Aa@A_@AaA?aAAaB?sCAqAEm@Cg@Ie@Kg@Ka@Kc@_@{@O[e@q@IMUW_@]c@[MIOK_@Se@O_@KUGUEQASC[EYAq@Cwc@Acw@CchAEyyA?A?{yABuzA@im@RiFAgc@AcA??cD@a@?uF@iC@}F@cYMuTAg^A{CCss@AuRCiYMcs@Ggs@?sD?cp@Bmr@C}`ABqe@CunAAar@Ao_@?mRDkFL_BBW`@{Bt@mBbAaBdAgAzAcA~Am@`AWzAKhDGrTErD?b@?lB?d@?fJAdE@dEA\@|AAd@?d@AjAAz@AAe@?yD?cFC}E?sB?kMBmEReFn@mO|Dm_ABq@Ca@OYYM{BM[E]OQYIm@?{OEuL?oM?sKAaK?{IAuG?aFAcG?sEAsEBeDBSBMHIJGLClBJzDVpCRxAHX@vDRjAHf@Gz@Uj@Od@Cl@?nJA`NAfEGnJMdRCfBIxA[~Aq@dAs@n@s@T_@R[b@_ADQPk@`@sBFuA@uA?sAG_D@yCHcCX{Ad@uAf@gA|@iA|@y@~@i@p@UtA[t@GnAIdLA~c@?v@?xF@vU?pCClFAt@?H?vCA\C\CZEZEj@MXKZMXOp@a@^]vBjBXP\FL?tB@lFAV?hQ?tLArC?pCA~^?~@?bFApCA~^AjZEbA?~E?`\ExA?vB?z@?`AFxUCrGAhH?zB?dM?~Z?pBAlWAlL?dD?lBApWEhHCdE?^AVCRG`@KLCh@GZAnRDhAA
  - "}bytD~t`xP?c@AaD?EIsCEyAI_CKaCScGEi@CcAU}FCs@G_BCu@GsBSgFKoDEiAk@oPKmCGeBKqC?a@?a@Dq@B]Jm@J_@L[L[PYPYRUVSTQXOXOXIZIZEZCZAtEAtE@dAAh@Ch@Gh@OXKVOVQVSRSRWPYNYTi@P}@F]B_@@a@?_@GaDGqBAq@_A}[MeDEoASoFAUKmDOsFAMK_EOiGM_GEaAi@mTYwIYuIIqBoAc_@WwIu@mi@IuI?cF?qBEqBEqBMwIYmWAsB?qBDcFAqBAqB?Q?OCqAScT??SiTIwICwIAyICoT?wIBwIJgM@qBIkTAoB?yC?iATyP@qB@qD?o@?O?]@_ADgMFwIJuIPgMDqBJgCj@}M?S?WDe@B_@?OBm@TcF@o@Ak@Ae@QaDAa@?Q?M?w@?WDuD@eB@c@?]F_B@e@HoADmAPaEF_BHaDFsC?q@F_BLaDDqADkBH}BDoBNeGLcELsDBo@?KDoAfAqXf@qI`@oIb@sIPeENyCR_FHqBFoBR{EfAaRp@wKPiCXeE^oFl@mI@Ur@kLn@qIr@qI\\_ED_@PoBNoBFgAFw@H_BZaFNcCHmAh@iHToBf@}E`AkI~@mIRoBPoBNqBRoBZmB`@iB\\kBVoBVmBvCkW|B{STmBXoBXmB\\mB\\kBb@iBh@gBnBuFPk@Nm@Lm@XmBXmBl@}Et@kGJ_AFo@H_BDo@Ho@Lo@Pi@Vk@n@oARi@Nm@Lm@ZkBrAgItAgIpC_PZmBVmBVmBRoBLqBVaFVaFt@aMHaB@o@@_BBq@Bq@Do@ToCBq@JcFZsKTcHJuDHcCVyIv@qVn@_UrCe}@hA{^\\uJb@qH^_GHqAXyDDg@^_Ff@iFBW@MD[@ODMD]Z_DxA}NDg@P{ALgALuA`@cEPiBFu@BWBS@OXoCPoB@SJ_Av@_JDq@Fa@BMX_DBk@NkA\\oDz@mI|@mI`AmIz@oIdAsKl@iGz@mIdAmI~@{GDc@h@oDJ_AhGgd@Jy@NgA`@uCdA_Ij@{DpBgOjBoMxBeOnBuMlAiI|DoWr@kEpC{O^qBxAeI~CqQN{@Hg@jA}GpAgIVmBTmBRqBTmBZmBtEeXX{A`BsJrAuHnAgHJu@J_@zBaMjGs]b@cCnKkl@vCwO|@qExAeIrAgItAgIxGw_@hAiGzAeIXoBXmBpAkIjD}SpA{HvAeIj@uCPcAD_@D_@D_@FaA@YFu@Bm@Dq@Do@NoB|@oIx@oIt@_IzAeLFc@h@gFh@aFVmBXiBL{@Je@L_AP_BBMh@}EdA}HjAiIn@oEV{Bj@{EP_BFo@Ba@Dy@HoBFaAf@_FVmB\\kBN_AP}AJw@XmCNkBVoB^mCp@{D\\kBbCcNJm@fAuFv@eE|@mFv@{E|@kHNiAVmBrAmJ\\eChE_Z~BgQlAiI`DqSlAiIfAkIfAkIfAmIfAkI|Hwo@PaBX{Bb@_Fh@oFR_BDYN}@rAgJl@}EPoA@OFo@Lw@b@mDhAwHDWL}@bBiLPiAFc@F]rAyJHm@Lu@j@{DFk@Jm@`AyGPaB@MPoBNoBXoCNeAFg@v@gEZmB^{BHq@l@qFlCmW|@mIx@oIz@mI`AoIbAkIn@{EXmBHo@Ho@Fo@Do@Do@Do@HuDF_BHqBTaFLqBPoBh@_FTmBj@_F`AmIl@}ENoAB_@F{@H}A@_A?OGqBa@sIGqB?qBFqBVcGR_EJqBLoBToBZmB\\}Ab@yB~BmLtJ_f@\\cBjBiJZkBVoBNoBHqBBqB@aF?yP@st@@mTAcFCqBGqBi@yPEqBAqBAeF@iM?qBDqBHqBPoBVoBtAgIpCcP\\qBZiBXkBZmB`@}B^{BPw@RsAj@iDvU{uA|Gea@dJsi@hDmSxI}g@ZiBr@eEvBkMnT{pA`@kBf@gBp@cBrK}U"
  - yjttDvob|P_@aA}La[}BcGi@wAeEcKkBuE]}@Sk@Ok@Mm@I_@Gq@E_ACaAB_AD_AJ}@P}@R{@V{@tAmEpC_JbFyOxAsExKy]b@wADOTy@T}@Nu@BEN}@N_AL}@H_AHaAF_AB_ABaA@_A?qBAiM@aCBq@D_AF_AH_AJ_AL_AN}@P}@R{@T{@V{@Xy@Zy@p@aBrHiQZy@V{@T{@R}@N}@J_AH_AFaAB_A?aAAaAE_Aw@yRyGy_B_AqU_Diu@Ci@kC}n@mBid@UwFEqACeACcAAgA?aBCcn@Aqa@?eGNu`A@uBD_Nh@}qA@{B@kA?w@Rul@ByC@kGDyINm[d@i{@LcYJsU@c@FuLFsSFeRBaIJgf@Nua@@qDBuH?K?i@FoO?IBgBHyBFoA@g@JyBNgDXqG@g@FwAB_A?M@s@@iADiFBqBJuIN}JBmAReMFcFDcFLg]BsKZuz@HsIRgMFaFBsE@cA?K@aA@sB?O@_CF}J@eBB_C@q@@qADgK@e@@kB@cCBeF@wBHoRBuIBuIDsIBmBBmC?u@@cB?m@@oDBmFHwT@uAPeu@?cA@gA@yE@qFAuIAiR?qD?wDAaOCiNEaf@?}MGa`@?qB@uIDiTJsQ?a@DeJBaFBcF?qBIuIAqBE_EAs@AeAEkECiCCqAQmLCoBAa@Ao@Aq@IcFAqBAoB?mHAaT?uI?eNAuI?sI?o@E_CAsDEqBGaBMqCiAuPoDki@yBm\qFox@sDep@}C{o@cCqd@sEa|@GsAuBsi@YuIOcF}@o[I}BaCu{@KaFk@ef@CcFGsE]{YCq@Co@Em@Gq@CSIa@Ss@IWISMYO[QYSW]a@_@a@_@]c@[y@m@GKGMGMEMMm@
  - axdwDnu}wP?q@?QAY?k@?w@?o@A]?oE?A?eA?_A?k@Aa@?o@?g@?a@?y@~@?^?n@AzA?r@?fCA~B?pDAhBAxA?j@?nB?dC?`F?pNC^?jF?hEApAAd@?\?v@?f@?nB?lCAZ?rDAhBIpJAfD?h@?hC@jABvFCZ?b@Az@A`EClG?|GArCAxDCvGCxEAtDAv]InEAlJE`CAtGCpA?hDClb@GzVEhXKV?rO?f@?b@?dm@EvPAhB?zA?nU?rk@EbJ?vBAT?lB?nHAdOAhWCdUAhrA[zFEvf@E`DAX?T?~k@G|GC`GCnu@YzCCl@?~A?fECdDCdA@ng@SdFAdAAnLAjPAJA|E@~@?p@?v@Ax@@~@@l@CdE?vJAdF?tC?vAAjD?N?xECzJC??R?EyMA_A?iAAsEEkQ?i@AQEQKKKGKCS?kCBmMFMAKEMKGMCQAOAuGAqB?aBCcF@{BE_CCsLAo@AyD?e@AaC@q@Ak@A{@CgK?mCAq@?w@AuBAwCEiTAgCAcB?uCCwD?qB@{@A[?gAAy@?qB?cBCgM?i@Au@CoTAoFCeMAcE?[Ai@?_AAeF@iCAo@?eAA}C@k@A}@?m@CsJ?{AAsF?{@?E?wCAmFA_B?uFAiCC}L?_@AcN?gC?yAC{BA_HEeVAaB@g@?g@C_EAkN?uFCsEAeIAiHAaDAsOAq@?U?o@A}OAW@W?aB@_@@OBKJKLCv@?tE@`SFnA?nJB@iAAaEEcKG{SGsI?SGqXC_FC_R?u@?w@Cw^Gqf@Cq[EsYCyO
  - ofpwDvhvwPpAAjDCbDGxBIhDC~DCR?bAA~@A|FEtAAZAVOzA?F?V?@?f@?n@?b@?n@?xE?nEA~G?tLBzLAbB?bA?zBA|AChCA^A^A^?b@AhD?pD@nFAh@?fC?f@AbB?pA?V?v@?dA@vAB`@@hABl@?h@A`BD`@Ab@?bF@dA?`@?V?r@?Z?B?z@?h@?x@?hA?d@?vA?|@?xAA|B?f@?Z?zB?TAdA?xA?bA?dA?fCBpBA|@?lACt@AL?fA@zCCbCCZ?J?|@Aj@Al@Ah@?d@Af@?xCEfCAL?xA?J?j@?N?ZAzEAnB?nAA|C?v@AjA?Z?x@?B?lDAfGCxEA~MAnGAnUCbOCrEAhJAlJA^?x@AvOCdBCpBC`B@rC?pF?pE@~RHpAA??qA@Kee@?cC?{BKgYCu_@Kc^A}GEcGCyDA_EI{TA_DGoQa@o|A@m@D{@Fu@Jo@Jg@Ps@J_@JYHYHIDKDIBEDCDEB?HCFIBI?A@IAKACAA?GDKFU@G@W\cADODMDOBMLs@NwADw@BkAAO@Q?iB?o@Cq]A}Y?c@?wJAcB?q@?c[A{f@AsC?m]?M?mA?C?uL?yG?kCBsa@@iRDwAPyBDc@Le@Pc@Pc@Ra@b@o@V[Z[ZWNK\UNG`@U^Qb@Md@Ix@KjAIlACfWC~GA~j@I``ACh`@???i`@?a`AB_k@H_H@gWBmABkAHy@Je@Hc@L_@Pa@TOF]TOJ[V[ZWZc@n@S`@Qb@Qb@Md@Eb@QxBEvAAhRCra@?jC?xG?tL?B?lA?L?l]@rC@zf@?b[?p@@bB?vJ?b@@|YBp]?n@?hBAP@NCjAEv@OvAMr@CLENELEN]bAKLENGPCDCBCAI?IBGDA@EDKBQB]FIBci@?yRAe\?iL?mH?y@@oB?ck@@gK?aG@wC?gB?mH@{A@cR?u_@@w@?u@@Q?{@?qCBiC@kE@uWAaEBkA?yBA{DDmBBgA@aPAwK@}O@yYJ_a@NmRH{HBwJLeG?aAA}@?wKLmAAgCAiAAyF?cC?sC@kJHO?
organization:
  - url: https://www.visitlakecharles.org/creolenaturetrail_org/
    name: Creole Nature Trail
websites:
  - url: https://byways.explorelouisiana.com/byway/creole-nature-trail-all-american-road
    name: Louisiana Byways
  - url: https://nsbfoundation.com/nb/creole-nature-trail-all-american-road/
    name: National Scenic Byway Association
attractions:
  - url: https://www.brimstonemuseum.org/
    name: Brimstone Historical Museum and Tourist Information Center
  - url: https://www.openstreetmap.org/node/477682980
    name: Cameron Ferry East Landing
  - url: https://www.openstreetmap.org/node/115031016
    name: Cameron Ferry West Landing
  - url: https://www.fws.gov/refuge/cameron-prairie
    name: Cameron Prairie National Wildlife Refuge
  - url: https://www.fws.gov/refuge/lacassine
    name: Lacassine National Wildlife Refuge
  - url: https://www.visitlakecharles.org
    name: Lake Charles
  - url: https://www.visitlakecharles.org/listing/peveto-woods-sanctuary/149315/
    name: Peveto Woods Sanctuary
  - url: https://www.visitlakecharles.org/listing/pintail-wildlife-drive/151358/
    name: Pintail Wildlife Drive
  - url: https://www.wlf.louisiana.gov/page/rockefeller-wildlife-refuge
    name: Rockefeller Wildlife Refuge
  - url: https://www.fws.gov/refuge/sabine
    name: Sabine National Wildlife Refuge
  - url: https://www.lastateparks.com/parks-preserves/sam-houston-jones-state-park
    name: Sam Houston Jones State Park
  - url: https://www.sulphur.org/category/?categoryid=4
    name: Sulphur
designations:
  - All-American Road
states:
  - LA
ll:
  - -93.376339
  - 30.215071
bounds:
  - - -93.89836341655088
    - 29.716658599194233
  - - -92.817777
    - 30.301203580751448
books: "978-1426219054"

---

Known as Louisiana's Outback, the Creole Nature Trail meanders through marshes, prairies, and along the Gulf of Mexico. As you loop through Calcasieu and Cameron parishes in Southwest Louisiana, view alligators and birds up close and in the wild, along with colorful wildflowers and rare cheniers shaped by salty winds.
