12 Best Places to go Kayaking in New Orleans

New Orleans has some of the most exciting locations to go Kayaking in the country, and they should be on your list of places to visit.Suppose you are looking for an unforgettable outdoor adventure and kayaking in the city’s most scenic locations. You can get the experience by going Kayaking in New Orleans. Get your gear ready and prepare to have a memorable time kayaking in New Orleans.

Here are the best places to go kayaking in New Orleans:

  1. Cane Bayou
  2. New Orleans City Park
  3. Honey Island Swamp
  4. Bayou St. John
  5. Manchac Swamp
  6. Fort Proctor
  7. Bayou Segnette State Park
  8. Bogue Chitto
  9. Bayou Bienvenue
  10. Bayou Sauvage Urban National Wildlife Refuge
  11. Jean Lafitte Historical National Park and Barataria Preserve
  12. Bobby Lynn’s Marina

12 Exciting Places to go Kayaking in New Orleans

1. Cane Bayou

This calm stream is one of the most popular swamp tours in New Orleans, it is on the eastern side of Fontainebleau State Park and flows between the Mandeville-Lacombe area to Lake Pontchartrain.

As a result, It’s a perfect Kayaking spot for beginners due to its lazy currents. This coupled with the fact that it is open all year round, largely in its natural state and its unique marine life makes it one to visit for all kayakers. The beautiful woodland view makes it a spectacular kayaking location and allowing you to get away from the city.

2. New Orleans City Park

The New Orleans City Park is another perfect location for kayaking in Louisiana as it is one of the biggest, most historic and largely visited parks in the United States containing several lagoons and bayous, excellent for kayaking and various watersports. 

One of the many reasons this park is popular the world over is the tall oak trees that surround the water. This coupled with the beautiful botanical gardens makes for a historic sight that any kayaking enthusiast around New Orleans should want to see. The lagoons and bayous around the park are incredibly calm. Also, great for both beginners and experts at Kayaking. A simply breathtaking location, so what are you waiting for? Grab your paddles and make long-lasting memories of Kayaking in City Park New Orleans.

3. Honey Island Swamp

If you’re searching for a wilder kayaking adventure in New Orleans, the best place to find it is at the Honey Island Swamp, so-called because honey bees were originally found along their region’s isle. Also, the marshland swamp is located in the eastern region of the Pearl River, within the Pearl river wildlife management area making it a perfect region to enjoy Louisiana’s wildlife. 

The Honey Island swamp is known for gators, turtles and exotic birds seen around the swampy region. The swamp may be wilder than other New Orleans swamp tours, it remains a purely serene and magnificent kayaking location complete with fantastic forest views making it one of the places in New Orleans you have to visit.

4. Bayou St. John

The Bayou St. John is a perfect and well-known Kayaking location. It is a waterway that runs through the scenic Bayou St. John neighborhood. Probably the most urban location of them all. A rich ecosystem of aquatic plants and animals surrounds this kayaking area, making it an excellent destination for tourists and locals.

The Bayou St. John is the ideal location for beginner and expert kayakers to relax and have a good time as you quietly glide through the bayou’s waters and take in the beautiful sights of the neighborhood and the Fairgrounds close to the region.

5. Manchac Swamp

Another breathtaking swamp tour in New Orleans that you must visit is the Manchac Swamp. It is a vast area surrounded by the thick cypress forest and the regional wetlands. The swampy area is known for its wildlife. There is no way you would peddle through the Manchac Swamp without experiencing the natural sights of various aquatic animals. The Manchac bridge around the region is said to be one of the longest bridges over water and is a sight to see. The Manchac swamp is also supposedly haunted and offers a great adventure to those searching for one. The swamp offers an extraordinary experience you don’t want to miss.

6. Fort Proctor

If you are looking for a real explorative adventure, the Fort Proctor area is the perfect location. Fort Proctor, also known as Beauregard’s Castle, is a fort in Louisiana built in the 1850s to defend New Orleans during the war. It is found within the St. Bernard parish on the shore of Lake Borgne and is only accessible by water.

Kayaking through the Fort Proctor region is an exhilarating experience. You get to see the picturesque sight of the historic fort still standing in place from afar and explore even up close. If you are ready to get out and have a fantastic time in New Orleans, Kayaking through the Fort Proctor is the ideal experience for you.

7. Bayou Segnette State Park

The Bayou Segnette State Park, located less than half an hour away from New Orleans at the Jefferson parish, is a unique location to Go Kayaking with Kids. The bayou is a mix of swamp and marsh, giving it its uniqueness. Abundant birdlife, vast and diverse forest vegetation, floating cabins and generally appealing scenery surround this region.

More importantly, the quiet waters of the Bayou Segnette make for quite a beautiful Kayaking experience. So explore the region with your friends and family or take some much-needed alone time Kayaking at the bayou.

8. Bogue Chitto

Here is another fantastic location within New Orleans. Bogue Chitto, found in the Washington Parish, is a peaceful river surrounded by a well-protected wetland ecosystem. The region is popularly known for tubing but is an exciting Kayaking location. It is a wildlife region with a diverse plant and animal ecosystem. Kayaking on the river will allow you to enjoy the forest-surrounded region. What better way to unwind than to enjoy the wind and sunshine as you glide through the Bogue Chitto River and take in the pure sight of the natural environment.

9. Bayou Bienvenue

Are you in for an awe-filled Kayaking experience? If yes, the Bayou Bienvenue is where you should go.

The Bayou Bienvenue is a stream at the east of the city which runs between Orleans parish and St. Bernard and is accessed through the Bayou Bienvenue marina. The marshy region provides one of the best views of the City skyline. You can also watch birds fishing in the distance as you wade through the calm bayou waters filled with various beautiful aquatic plants. The experience on the stream is nothing but therapeutic.

10. Bayou Sauvage Urban National Wildlife Refuge

The Eastern region of New Orleans is one of the country’s most significant wildlife refuges. The bayou is in this eastern region and is ideal for a getaway from the city. This is because it surrounds you with nature and makes for an excellent kayaking location. It is near Lake Pontchartrain and is a wildlife paradise.

Around the Bayou are various aquatic plants and animals, including various mammals and many fascinating species of birds. The Bayou Sauvage is a unique habitat that makes it a spectacular site for Kayaking, not an experience you want to miss. It makes New Orleans a more exciting city.

11. Jean Lafitte Historical National Park and Barataria Preserve

Located in the south of New Orleans, the Jean Lafitte Historical National Park and Preserve is a vast region with six different sites and a headquarters. The Barataria preserve, one of the sites, is an ideal Kayaking location complete with swamps, an hardwood forest, several species of birds, and various aquatic and land animals.

The large preserve provides a lot to see and experience while Kayaking through it. It is also a very cultural region within the city, portraying the culture of the early settlers of the delta region.

12. Bobby Lynn’s Marina

The marina is located south of New Orleans, on the banks of Bayou Lafourche. The marina has a vast waterway open for kayakers to explore the region and enjoy the gentle wind and sunshine while gliding through the natural surroundings of the marina. 

Despite being a modern marina, kayakers can still have the wildlife experience and have a memorable time at the Bayou. Deep down the bayou is the view of the woodland. Adding to the beauty of the Maria are Species of birds, aquatic animals and plants.

Conclusion

With the fantastic kayaking locations listed above, traveling to New Orleans for a swell time alone with friends or family has never been easier. You are in for an incredible adventure, so head out, get your kayaks ready, get excited and get ready to watch your stress melt away as you glide through New Orleans’ peaceful waters.