Get Outside in St. Martin Parish

Notorious as a Sportsman’s Paradise, St. Martin Parish is the gateway to the Atchafalaya Basin offering unprecedented fishing, hiking, hunting, swamp boat excursion and camping experiences.

Community members share the beloved pastime of fishing, whether it is off a dock at a local park or from a boat in Atchafalaya Basin. Lake, bayou or river fishing is sure to bring a fun-filled day. Take a peaceful boat ride down the Bayou Teche to discover a variety of catfish, bream and largemouth bass.

St. Martin Parish thrives on creating gatherings and festivals to support the thriving communities. Expansive parks with unique features including playgrounds, scenic walking and hiking trails, skate parks, disc golf courses and areas to observe the natural beauty and wildlife are spaciously placed throughout The Parish. All of the parks are family-friendly and offer added amenities including pavilions and sheltered eating areas for making a day of your gathering. 

To appreciate the beauty of the land surrounding St. Martin Parish area to its fullest, an exhilarating boat ride is a remarkable option. Swamp tours are a great opportunity to see the entire swamp, wildlife from the safety of a boat. For small children and families, this is a nice option. Airboat rides bring a bigger breeze to your swamp tour experience, and allow you to reach the deepest parts of the swamp. The best opportunities for photographs are pointed out on one of the many guided photography tours. Capture the beauty of the Louisiana swamps from sunrise to sunset. 

The land welcomes pheasant, bird, quail and hog hunting connoisseurs. Bayou Teche Hunting Preserve offers trained, Elhew English Pointers for sale. Hunters are welcome to bring their own dog along on the trails too. St. Martinville offers the unique experience of hog hunting. Hog hunts are customized to fit individual needs, including bow hunts and gun hunts. Ground blinds and box stands near trails are provided for easy accessibility.

Golf Courses

Le Triomphe Golf & Country Club

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Known as one of the most exclusive private golf and country clubs in the south, Le Triomphe Golf & Country Club was founded in 1986 and offers its members an exceptional round of golf with southern hospitality. The club is one of two in Louisiana to host a sanctioned PGA Tour event.

Wetlands Golf Course

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The 18-hole golf course accommodates golfers at any level with subtle rolling terrain and sprawling fairways.

Oakbourne Country Club

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With a mission to provide members with the highest quality golf programs, facilities and activities, Oakbourne Country Club was founded in 1955 and is one of the oldest private, member owned golf clubs in the area.

Eagle Ridge Golf Club

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Fantastic golf awaits at Eagle Ridge Golf Club outside St. Martinville. The 18-hole public course has been serving golf enthusiasts since 1952.

Hunting

Bayou Teche Hunting Preserve

Experience Chukar hunting with a touch of Cajun Culture at its finest in the Bayou Teche Hunting Preserve in Breaux Bridge. Hunting tours with Guide Mike Guillory and Elhew English Pointers are available, or bring your own dog. Additional hunting expeditions include pheasant, hog and upland game.

Fishing

Freshwater Fishing

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Excellent freshwater fishing exists right in St. Martin Parish. The Bayou Teche traipses through St. Martinville’s century-old mossy oaks, picnic areas and parks, offering a scenic venue while targeting largemouth bass and bream. The seemingly endless other rivers, bayous and lakes are filled with several other species to venice all levels of experience.

Saltwater Fishing

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Anglers from around the world come to St. Martin Parish for a variety of fishing excursions. Inshore charter boat operators can help guests explore the coastal waters for redfish and speckled trout. Expert deep sea charters offer full-day or overnight trips to deeper waters out in the Gulf to target tarpon, black drum, tuna, grouper and amberjack. The Louisiana Charter Boat Association is an excellent place to start for information on guides, accommodations, restaurants and more.

Camping

Poche's RV Park and Fish-N-Camp

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Located just five miles from Breaux Bridge, the park overlooks 93 acres of Louisiana’s finest land. Large concrete slabs for easy accessibility and five different sizes of cabins create your most memorable camping experience. The park offers multiple fishing ponds, live music and a whimsical splash pad for added enjoyment.

Canjun Palms RV Resort

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Capacious RV sites attract campers from near and far. With deluxe back-in, pull through sites and Premium Buddy sites, there’s an option to meet every camper’s needs. All sites are complete with concrete pad and electric, water and sewer hook-up and digital cable access. Covered sites are available for hassle free weather experiences. For a little extra money, other added amenities include a tanning deck around the Zero Entry Pool, hot tub, fishing pond and fast track for Bumper Cars, Laser Tag, VR room, XD Theater and Miniature Golf.

Cajun Heritage R/V Park

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Settled in the center of the largest wetlands swamp in the United States, the Atchafalaya Basin, the park prides itself on sharing its Cajun Heritage. Kayaking, canoeing and camping at the tranquil park will be a family favorite to visit annually.

Catfish Heaven Aqua Farm & RV Park

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A visit to Catfish Heaven Aqua Farm & RV Park will have you leaving with smiles, memories and promises to return again. The easily accessible park offers wide RV spaces, an outdoor pool, playground and pavilion for entertaining and sharing meals.

Lake Fausse Pointe State Park

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Over 6,000 acres in the Atchafalaya Basin offers ample camping experiences for all, including those who like to “rough it”, glamping and lakefront cabins. Additional amenities include a visitor center with a boat dock for rentals.

Hiking

Cypress Island Preserve

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A peaceful 2.5 mile hike through the natural cypress-tupelo swamp and bottomland hardwood forest offers amazing bird watching, including Great Blue Heron and Black-Crowned Night Heron. Look out for the many reptiles and amphibians and alligators of all sizes.

Acadiana Park Nature Station

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The 2.5 mile nature trail in Lafayette is surrounded by nature and woods, encouraging hikers to embrace and conserve the native animals, plants and habitats.

Backpacking Trails

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Grab your water bottle and backpack and explore one of the unique trails. Trail features include boardwalks that weave through the Cypress trees, wildlife sightings, ATV trails and hiking challenges with small elevations.

Parks

Evangeline Oak Park

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Since the late nineteenth century, the ancient oak tree on the Bayou Teche has served as the focal point and most visited spot in St. Martinville. Take a stroll through the park and learn more about the area. The famous tree is named in honor of the heroine of the poem Evangeline, written by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow.

Cypress Island Preserve

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For a momentous outdoor experience, Cypress Island Preserve offers year round observations of the area’s unique wildlife, including Great Egrets, Cattle Egrets, Roseate Spoonbills and Snowy Egrets making their nests in the trees. Thousands of visitors come from all over the world to experience the preserve. All are welcome to hike the 2.5 mile walking trail from fall to spring.

Lake Fausse Pointe State Park

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The vast park spans over 6,000 acres in the Atchafalaya Basin, with surrounding land previously lived on by the Chitimacha Indians. The park promises exceptional boating, fishing and canoeing opportunities. Campgrounds and lakefront cabins are available for camping enthusiasts seeking to spend multiple days exploring the area. A friendly visitor center offers rentals for boating. Three spacious hiking trails and a canoe trail bring you closer to the area’s natural beauty.

Magnolia Park Disc Golf Course

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As St. Martinville’s first disc golf course, the well-groomed 18-hole course offers hours of entertainment and a greater appreciation for nature with walking trails.

Adam Carlson City Park

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Adding more baseball and fields to St. Martinville, Adam Carlson City Park provides a fun option for large events with an equipped room, BBQ facilities and playground.

Magnolia City Park

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Outdoor family recreation, including volleyball and baseball, are included in Magnolia City Park’s amenities. The park provides accessibility to a skate park, playground and reception room. The spectacular view from the park overlooks Bayou Teche gives a greater appreciation to nature.

Prehistoric Park

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As Louisiana's only park dedicated to the magnificent dinosaurs, Prehistoric Park offers over 12 acres of exploration and learning in a natural setting. Walkways meander through the park, for optimal viewing of realistic-looking fiberglass and steel dinosaur models.

Parc Hardy

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Parc Hardy, settled in Breaux Bridge, offers all of the amenities to the community for sports ranging from baseball to softball to all youth sports. The park provides scenic walking trails and playgrounds for an afternoon of playtime.

Swamp Tours

Atchafalaya Basin Landing

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One of the premier swamp tour companies found in Louisiana is the Atchafalaya Basin Landing. Visitors come from around the world to experience the majestic beauty of the regional nature and wildlife aboard their airboats.

McGee's Louisiana Swamp & Airboat Tours

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Attracting guests from around the world, the mystifying Atchafalaya Swamp is best experienced from a swamp tour and airboat ride providing an ultimate educational and entertaining experience. Tours unique to McGee’s Louisiana Swamp & Airboat Tours include guided photography tours, swamp tours and airboat rides. A more adventurous ride is through the self-guided canoe rentals.

Champagne's Swamp Tours

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Book your next swamp tour on Lake Martin with Champagne’s Swamp Tours. Look out for native alligators on rocks and peeking up from the water’s edge. Cruise under 500-year-old moss covered cypress while seeking out elite birds of the Lafayette area, including The Great Blue Heron, Pileated Woodpeckers and Cormorants. Private bird watching boat tours are available upon request.

Cajun Country Swamp Tours

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Owned by Walter “Butch” Guchereau, Cajun Country Swamp Tours evolved from a deep appreciation for Cajun country, where Butch would hunt and fish with his dad while learning about the land and wildlife surrounding him. The special area in Breaux Bridge is home to alligators, various waterfowl and fish, and may be observed on one of the many swamp tours offered.