For Megan Hartman, a professional with Lake Charles/Southwest Louisiana Convention & Visitors Bureau, the most memorable moment along the Creole Nature Trail was a spontaneous meeting on the side of a road. “We were touring along the trail,” the Lake Charles native told The Buzz, “and saw some oyster fishermen unloading their boat. We stopped and asked them for a taste…and they popped open an oyster right there.”
“The taste of that oyster, salty and fresh from the ocean, is something I’ll never forget. But it’s the friendliness and hospitality of our people that make the region so special.”
The Creole Nature Trail All-American Road makes a loop around the western “heel” of Louisiana, a state that’s shaped like a boot. Started as a state scenic byway back in 1975 by local boosters hoping to lure travelers off of Interstate 10, the 180-mile trail was recently named an All-American Road, one of only 40 or so recognized by the U.S. Dept. of Transportation. To earn this designation, a route must qualify as a “destination unto itself,” with one-of-a-kind features that can’t be experienced elsewhere.
Known as Louisiana’s Outback, the region traversed by the Creole Nature Trail is a rustic one of marshes, prairies and white sand beaches. Alligators abound in the marshes and wildflowers bloom from spring through fall, painting the prairies with a kaleidoscope of color. More than 400 bird species, visiting on their annual migrations or living here year round, make this a paradise for birders, recognized as one of the Top 10 birding destinations in the country.
“This region is a crossroads for two of the major migratory flyways,” Megan explains. “For hundreds of thousands of neo-tropical songbirds, this is their first stop on the way north after a flight of thousands of miles across the ocean. Then, on the way south again, they stop here to feed and rest before their journey.”
Cajun culture and more can be experienced as you travel the more than 180-mile Creole Nature Trail All-American Road.
The colorful songbirds particularly favor the oak cheniers that dot the region. A geological feature first named by French explorers and pronounced “shin-ears,” cheniers are unique to Southwest Louisiana. These ridges of remnant beaches, formed by thousands of years of winds and tides, rise above the low-lying marshes…their fertile soil fostering immense live oak trees, creating a micro-climate perfect for the visiting birds.
Peveto Woods refuge is a prime spot to witness this phenomena. Maintained by the Baton Rouge Audubon Society, this chenier habitat right on the coast occupies the convergence of the Mississippi and Central flyways. Paths here lead beneath moss-draped live oaks filled with thousands of warblers, hummingbirds, Monarch butterflies, and other migrants
The route of the Creole Nature Trail All-American Road also passes some 26 miles of secluded ocean beaches, many of them nearly deserted. Rutherford Beach is Megan’s choice for a family outing. “There’s no development,” she says. “You can picnic or grill. The kids like to look for seashells, and the grownups just get to relax.”
One of Megan’s favorite destinations though along the Creole Nature Trail is the easily accessible Pintail Wildlife Drive and Boardwalk in Cameron Prairie NWR. Alligators, turtles and marsh mammals are often seen along the boardwalk.
If looking for “Alligator Central” along the Creole Nature Trail, look no farther than the state-operated Rockefeller Refuge, home of one of the world’s biggest concentrations of North America’s largest reptile. Price Lake Drive, a gravel road, leads deep into the refuge.
“You’re practically guaranteed to see gators in the canals along the road,” Hartman explains. “And it’s a great place for crabbing. All you need is a chicken neck, a piece of string and a net.”
Blue crabs are also common in the canals and bayous and catching a “mess” for a boil-up is a favorite activity for both locals and visitors. Numerous fishing piers, many accessible, are located in the region’s wildlife refuges. “The Pool” at Lacassine NWR is famous for its trophy bass that weigh in at 10 pounds plus.
Handmade signs along local roads will lead you to local folks selling fresh caught shrimp, oysters, fish, and crab, the foundation of the region’s Cajun cuisine. Crawfish is another local delicacy, raised during the off-season in local rice fields. Visitors can also try boudin, a style of sausage that is the local equivalent of fast food.
While the region’s main attractions are natural ones, this part of Louisiana has a rich history as well, with tales of Native Americans, French explorers and famous pirates, including Jean Lafitte, said to have buried his treasure on the shores of Lake Charles.
Megan recommends that visitors begin their journey along the Creole Nature Trail at the new Adventure Point center. The free attraction, located near Exit 20 off I-10, has interactive exhibits on the history, culture, wildlife and ecology of the area as well as info on where to find local cuisine, Zydeco music and Cajun dancing. There you can pick up information on the Creole Nature Trail and the Boudin Trail, discover local history and museums, and find outfitters ready to take you deep into the swamps at Adventure Point.
The beauty of The Creole Nature Trail All-American Road, evident in Megan’s enthusiasm, is exploring the different facets of what created its ecological and biological diversity crisscrossed with stories of pirates, privateers and local natives moving their wares over this vast land hundreds of years ago. The Creole Nature Trail still retains this mystery and offers an undeniable escape, both educational and dynamic to the adventurous RVer.