Creole Nature Trail

The Creole Nature Trail is 180 miles of road and spurs in lower Louisiana. As you drive the trail you'll find wetlands and marshes teeming with life. Lots and lots of birds, alligators, nutria, minks, foxes and rabbits. Lots of insects - and assorted other life.

The bird life is more varied during the Spring and Fall. During the heat of the summer you will still find many different kinds of birds that may or may not cooperate by making an appearance near you. I didn't get much cooperation.

Oh well...

Whether you are birding or just taking in the sites there are loads of things to see and do along the trail. Most people were crabbing. Some were fishing. The trail wasn't very busy. Probably because of the recent storms and the heat. It was very hot.

I only spent a few hours on the trail, stopping at two of the several walking paths along the road and spurs. I spent most of my time in the Sabine Wildlife Refugee.






This eastern cottontail was close to the sign and the reason he is looking back is because a gator is not too far behind him in the water.




Some parts of the walkways will be paved but a lot of them look like this - You meander with the water.



While sitting on the planks.








When you see this sign be warned - alligators do walk the trails as well. Mostly to sun themselves and cross between bodies of waters. Also, June is when Alligators have young. Both males and females are protective of their clutches (and young).



Guestimate the number of inches between snout and eyes - Whatever inches you get is close to the length in feet of the gator. (7 inches = 7 feet for example)






This happy little alligator smiled on command. He was probably thinking I looked tasty and was having his own secret smile.




You're not supposed to get closer than 30 feet of an alligator but sometimes you round a corner and run into one. Try to stay at least 30 feet away - more is better. Never - ever- leave the trail. It's their home and they will kill you.

Even the cute ones.




Especially the cute ones.




They hide fairly well even out of the water.





There were a lot of these. (Red-winged Blackbird)




A lot of these.




A lot of these.




Some flowers.










Thanks!