4 Jaw-Dropping Louisiana Swamps You Have to Visit

Louisiana swamps are famous around the world for their beauty and unique ecologically rich wetlands.

Alligators, turtles, egrets, black bears and numerous other animals call Louisiana's swamps home, as well as our incredible Cypress and Tupelo trees.

Louisiana is host to over 3 million acres of wetlands, making it one of the most swamp-rich regions in the United States.

Are all swamps created equal? Well, pretty much yes, but there are a few standouts that just seem to have to something a little extra to offer to sightseers.

Let's take a look at 4 of Louisiana's most beautiful swamps...

YouTube Via Louisiana CPRA

Louisiana's Most Beautiful Swamps

The gang over at onlyinyourstate.com put together a list of Louisiana's 6 most beautiful swamps, so let's take a look at a few.

1. Maurepas Swamp Wildlife Management Area

Located in parts of Ascension, Livingston, St. John the Baptist, St. James and Tangipahoa Parishes, the Maurepas swamp covers 112,615-acres.

You'll find bald eagles, deer, alligators and much more living in the beautiful Maurepas Swamp.

The Maurepas Swamp is said to be haunted by the ghost of voodoo priestess Julia Brown, where legend says that if you listen closely at night you can hear her singing "One day I'm gonna die, and I'm gonna take all of you with me.”

2. Lake Martin Cypress Island Nature Preserve

Lake Martin, located in St. Martin Parish, is part of the Cypress Island Nature Preserve.

Covering over 9,500 acres, Lake Martin Cypress Island Nature Preserve is known for its Cypress and Tupelo trees as well as being home over 200 different species of birds.

From onlyinyourstate.com -

"You can take a swamp boat tour or rent a kayak to explore the lake on your own, but if you'd prefer to stay on land then check out the hiking trail that'll take you around the perimeter of the lake."

3. Atchafalaya Swamp and Basin

Hands down the most famous swamp in Louisiana, the Atchafalaya Basin is the largest swamp and wetlands area in the State covering a staggering almost 1 million acres.

Not only is the Atchafalaya the largest swamp area in Louisiana, but it's the largest in the United States.

Located in south central Louisiana, the Atchafalaya is a combination of wetlands and river delta area where the Atchafalaya River and the Gulf of Mexico converge.

The Basin is home to the largest population of bald eagles in the South-Central United States.

From onlyinyourstate.com -

"This important ecosystem is the home for roughly 65 different species of reptiles and amphibians, more than 250 species of birds, and also nutria, fox, beaver, otters, and even the Louisiana black bear."

4. Honey Island Swamp

Probably the second most famous Louisiana swamp is the Honey Island Swamp.

Located in St. Tammany Parish, Honey Island Swamp is widely considered to be one of the most pristine, unaltered swampland habitats in Louisiana and the United States.

A sprawling 70,000 acres, the Honey Island Swamp is home to alligators, alligator snapping turtles, black bears, bobcats, raccoons, brown pelicans, large mouth bass, and of course the Honey Island Swamp Monster.