Big Branch Marsh National Wildlife Refuge

One of my absolutely favorite nature preserves in the area, it’s split into 3, separate areas (maybe 4, actually, but excessive deer flies thwarted my investigation into #4.) #1; The Southeastern Louisiana Wildlife Refuges Headquarters (aka the «Bayou Lacombe Center,) is on Hwy 434 south of I-​12. Open 7am-​4pm Mon-​Fri. Beautiful and/​or historic grounds. Friendly, helpful staff. Nice visitor’s center/​gift shop. Some really great festivals held here, like Wild Things (in Oct.,) a camellia bloom (in Feb.) Also have work/​play days, which offer people the chance to go out canoeing for free, after they help pick up the place a bit. More manicured than natural, but they do a wonderful job of keeping it up.
#2; Lake Road is exactly that – down the end of Lake Rd. in Lacombe. I’ve only been out there a couple of times. No shade, but sometimes lovely views. Birds and flowers in the marshes, for sure. Expansive views of the sky. Fishing is popular there. (Note; Possible #4 is in this area, but like I said – crazy with deer flies, regardless.)
#3; Boy Scout Boardwalk (Google «Boy Scout Rd., Lacombe, LA» to find it.) This is my favorite part. The boardwalk and gravel trail are handy, and typically navigable even after a heavy rain. Scores of birds of various kinds, including the endangered red-​cockaded woodpecker. I’ve also seen snakes, frogs, raccoons, anoles, nutria, etc. The main lily ponds (white water lilies,) are a delight in any season, and the pine savannas offer shade on a hot day. The marshes offer expansive views. SO many flowers and insects. Morning is my favorite time to be here, but I’ve seen some lovely sunsets, as well. Now suffering from advanced arthritis in my back, I’m thankful for the benches (but I bring a travel stool nonetheless, as sometimes they’re spaced a little far for me.) Sometimes buggy, but that’s nature for you – bring your bug spray. Ran into a Fish & Wildlife employee out here one day – he was very friendly and helpful. Check this place out – you won’t be sorry!

It seems much of the refuge is not assessable without a boat. There is 18,000 acres fresh marsh cypress swamp, and savannah pine flatwood. There is a boardwalk in the Boy Scout Road area. There is an area with trees marked with Red Cockaded Woodpecker holes. I can’t believe they are serious the endangered status, or they wouldn’t have a parking lot by the stand of trees and they would be trapping the cowbirds, to keep them from parasitizing the nests. There is variety of flora and fauna. Some of the roads flood

True story. I found a dead body in the lake down Lake Road once. Ok, ok it wasn’t the whole body. It was just a ribcage. As I was driving down it caught my eye and I passed it without processing what it was. Upon backing up and looking at it again I was pretty freaked out. Of course the cops were called and an investigation began. Yep. I was involved in a big crime. I’m only pulling your chain a little bit… as it turns out it was the ribcage of a wild pig. But it sure did look like it was human.
At the end of Lake Road is lovely Lake Pontchartrain. People like to come out here and fish and to birdwatch and sometimes just to relax. You can see the city of New Orleans on a clear day or night and that’s pretty freaking cool. It’s really picturesque.
I’ve also watched some pretty awesome sunsets here. Just the other night in fact I saw one of the best sunsets I’ve ever had the pleasure of laying my eyes on.
This place is just great. It’s definitely worth an hour or two of your time. You’ll probably see me there!
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The Big Branch National Wildlife Refuge is broken in to several distinctly different sections. This section is split in two by Lake Road which runs from US 190, all the way to Lake Pontchartrain.
This section offers several unique things you are unlikely to find anywhere else. Here are a few:
1. Lake Road — The beginning of lake road is somewhat boring. As you approach what appears to be the end of the road, things get far more impressive. What was once a two lane concrete roadway, becomes a road through the middle of the swamp built entirely of rocks. The road is flat enough where even a car can handle it, but I recommend a truck because, well, trucks are cool. The other reason to take a truck is that during high tide, the road does have a tendency to retain some water. Since the road is rocks, you won’t get stuck, but a car may suck some water into its intake. That can ruin your day.
2. Marsh — Lake Road runs right in the middle of the marsh. If you’re like me and think the marsh is cool, you will enjoy the view. Normally you would need a boat to get such a close up look at the marsh, but thanks to Lake Road, you get a front row seat from the comfort of your truck.
3. Wildlife — The most frequent animal sightings involve various species of birds including egrets, Blue Herons, Brown Pelicans and ducks. My favorites are the pelicans and ducks, but for different reasons. The pelicans are an obvious choice since they are the state bird and all, but there are other reasons.
Those giant birds swoop across the water mere inches from the lake then land ever so gently on the wooden pilings remaining from an old dock. They also bully the smaller seagulls by threatening to land on top of them which causes the seagulls to flee in fear. Anyone who has been on the receiving end of a seagull bomb knows they are awful birds and deserve the bullying doled out by the pelicans.
The ducks are probably my true favorite though. The main reason is that for the past several months the ducks I have seen are baby ducks. While I used to see them as a large group, they have branched out on their own and each baby duck has his own territory. I love pulling over on the side of the road and just watching them paddle around.
4. Sunsets/​Stars — This is probably the premier location on the Northshore to watch the sunset. It is also one of the few places not tainted by light pollution which allows a perfect unobstructed view of the stars.
5. The View — At the end of Lake Road you will find one of the most spectacular views in the area. If it is a clear day, or night, you can actually see the skyline of New Orleans. It is as if nature decided to juxtapose two of my favorite views just for me. Despite having seen that view many times, I am still taken aback at the perfectness of it. If you get the chance to see it, you will understand what I am so unsuccessfully trying to convey. It’s truly beautiful.
I really do love it out there and I hope that it never changes.