Acadiana Park Trails

The Acadiana Park and Nature Station is a peaceful wooded oasis in the the middle of an bustling urban area. Their mission is to help humans to come to know and understand nature, and hopefully instill a sense of responsibility to conserve natural habitats. They do this through a series of trails and events held in the park. As you wander through the woods and along the river with your canine companion, you’re sure to feel an appreciation for the outdoors and greenery enveloping you.

From the parks main entrance, you’ll find the Nature Station Visitor Parking, a campground office, the Nature Station Museum, and the Nature Station Trailhead. This will connect you to the 2.5 miles of short, loop trails on the main property, surrounded by the Dan Deballion Canal and Francois Coulee. The trails are mostly dirt pathways, aside from some boardwalks. Across the canal is 3.5 more miles of hiking trails. The Acadiana Park currently does not have a bridge across the canal, so you’ll need to drive to the North Property Parking, on Shadow Bluff Drive. This is where you’ll find slightly longer trails, including the 2.18 mile Moonseed Loop Trail.

The Acadiana Park Trails attract all kinds of nature enthusiasts and their dogs. To learn more about the local flora and fauna, you can even take a guided tour with one of the parks naturalists for a small fee, or attend one of their programs. The woods are lush with vegetation, and teeming with wildlife. Your pupper can take in the smells while you take in some knowledge. To get a glimpse of the nocturnal wildlife, like armadillos and flying-squirrels, join one of the evening hikes. They are held on the last saturday of every month.

Leashed dogs are welcome to join their humans on these trails, as long as they follow proper petiquette. You’ll need to bring drinking water, doggy waste bags and pack out whatever you packed in. After some time exploring the Acadiana Park Nature Trails, you and your dog are sure to feel closer to nature.