Louisiana: Get a Closeup View of Nature at the Black Bayou National Wildlife Refuge

The forest blends with Black Bayou Lake, creating a scenic experience for visitors.

A PLACE OF CONTRASTS

On a bright, sunny day, the lake looks spectacular and inviting. On a dismal, cloudy day, it lives up to the darkness its name suggests. On either kind of day, it stands out as a hidden gem for anyone who wants a visually rich experience in a natural setting.

Overcast skies give the water a look that lives up to the name of Black Bayou Lake.

OUR TRAVEL COMPANIONS

We made our second visit to Black Bayou Lake because we had visitors from Utah (Dina Draper) and Oregon (Deana Grosse) who wanted to see the raw beauty of the Louisiana wetlands—something you don’t experience in their part of the country.

Dina Draper (left) and Deana Grosse toured the Black Bayou Lake National Wildlife Refuge with Linda and Doug.

WALKING TRAILS

Black Bayou Lake, located at 480 Richland Place, Monroe, La., is a great place for a walking tour. It offers six trails that take you to every corner of the wildlife refuge and allow you to see its diversity of vegetation. They include:

Wildlife Pier (.5 mile)
Arboretum (.25 mile)
Wildlife Challenge (.25 mile)
Edgewater (7 miles, but it includes options for shorter loops)
Nature (1 mile)
Prairie (.3 mile)

Except for the Edgewater and Challenge Trails, all the trails have smooth, flat surfaces and are wheelchair accessible. Most of the trails are short, and they are open daily during daylight hours. Stop at the visitor center when you arrive to get a trail map.

For most visitors, the first choice will be the Nature Trail, which begins in the parking area next to the visitor center. It provides a good view of the swamp next to the lake and connects you to the Wildlife Pier. Without doubt, you will want to do both, especially when you get to the Wildlife Pier and see the fantastic view it offers.

Look for the giant butterflies next to the Conservation Learning Center to find the start of the Arboretum Trail.

The Arboretum Trail starts near the Conservation Learning Center and winds through a manicured grove of 150 native Louisiana species of woody plants and trees with educational labels provided. The Prairie Trail begins at the far end of the visitor center parking lot and provides a loop through a prairie demonstration area.

The Edgewater Trail requires walking on mowed grass, which was too soggy for a comfortable walk on the days we visited the park. Besides providing a serious workout, the trail gives hikers a good view of both Black Bayou Lake and Bayou DeSiard. Bikes are permitted on this trail. Tip: You’ll need to be riding a mountain bike.

OTHER FEATURES

Facilities at Black Bayou Lake include a visitor center, located in a restored 1880s planter’s house. Hours are from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday. It includes exhibits, restrooms and informative staff members. Nearby is the Conservation Learning Center, which contains live animal exhibits and a painted mural that shows a cross section of the lake. The wildlife refuge also includes a boat ramp that provides access to the lake. There’s plenty of parking near the ramp. Canoes and kayaks are available for rent at the visitor center.

Arla wonders if the Wildlife Challenge might involve competing with egrets and other birds to see who can catch the most fish.

ARLA’S SHOCKING MOMENT

Arla: Doug promised that our time at Black Bayou Lake would be calm and peaceful. At first, all went well as we walked the Nature Trail and saw a lot of spectacular scenery. Then, I spotted a sign on the Arboretum Trail with an arrow pointing into the woods on the other side of a grassy meadow. The sign ominously read, “Wildlife Challenge Trail.”

I remembered being warned that we would hike all the trails at the lake, but I hadn’t heard about this trail. I wondered what it could be. Does it involve wrestling alligators or fighting hungry squirrels for acorns? Knowing the instinctive survival skills of wild animals, I worried that somebody could get whipped by wildlife here!”

Black Bayou Spinning Spiders.jpg — Spider-Man

Linda told me not to worry. “It’s only a trail for climbing and doing other things to imitate animals in the wild,” she said. “It’s a place to entertain children.” While listening to Linda, I noticed Doug running toward the first activity with a huge smile and shouting, “Hey, who wants to join me in the Wildlife Challenge?”

LINDA’S TAKEAWAY

Linda: Black Bayou Lake National Wildlife Refuge sounded intimidating to me. Would I face wild animals, angry vultures and swimming creatures with big eyes—alligators? Fortunately, that’s not the nature of Black Bayou Lake. Most of the walking paths we explored were easy, stable boardwalks. It was peaceful, with calm sounds—a gentle breeze blowing over the water and the pleasant chirping of birds. I never tripped on the trails, which is rare for me because I’m an easy target for rocks, roots and fallen trees. I usually don’t seek mentally or physically challenging trails—that’s Doug’s passion.

Linda demonstrates her one-leg stand technique used to earn first place for “Balancing Blues” in the Black Bayou Wildlife Challenge.

While walking on the Arboretum Trail, we discovered the Wildlife Challenge. It’s designed for children, but adults can play if interested. Doug dared me to compete against him in a few activities. I lost hanging from a tree, jumping like a frog and more. I finally accepted a game that used skills from my favorite exercise program—Pilates. Doug challenged me to do the “Balancing Blues” activity. I had to stand on one leg and then bend while holding the other leg behind my back. I easily won this competition due to years of strenuous Pilates.

Doug’s Historical Highlight

While national and state parks have dominated our travel itinerary over the years, Linda and I have visited a few national wildlife refuges. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service manages them. President Theodore Roosevelt created the first national wildlife refuge in 1903 to protect birds on Pelican Island in Florida. Over the course of his presidency, he established 53 refuges.

Deana tries to water the flowers with the old-fashioned hand pump outside the Conservation Learning Center at Black Bayou.

GEE WHIZ FACTS

Black Bayou Lake is the back-up water source for the City of Monroe and is managed under a 99-year lease by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to ensure water quality.
Black Bayou Lake is a 5,300-acre refuge providing habitat for waterfowl, endangered wildlife, neo-tropical migrants, and resident wildlife. It’s located within the city limits of Monroe.
The cypress swamp experienced through the Nature Trail showcases the stereotypical Louisiana swamps and bald cypress groves that shelter a variety of species, including water snakes and a multitude of frogs and turtles.

PARTING SHOTS: WILDFLOWERS AT THE WILDLIFE REFUGE

Arla points out flowers that she wanted us to use in this travel journal.