The Louisiana tourism board has declared 2026 the 'Year of Outdoors'.

It is highlighting the state's waterways for paddle boarding and kayaking or airboat through cypress-tupelo swamps and bayous teeming with wildlife, with the chance to explore Louisiana's natural beauty.

Among the opportunities to explore :

The Bayou Vermilion Paddle Trail and the Atchafalaya Basin, America's largest river swamp, offers excellent scenic canoeing and kayaking.

https://www.explorelouisiana.com/paddle/trail/bayou-vermilion-paddle-trail

https://www.atchafalaya.org/atchafalaya-basin

Grand Isle State Park, in southeast Louisiana, offers prime paddling in the Gulf with excellent birding.

https://www.explorelouisiana.com/paddle/trail/grand-isle-state-park

For boating and fishing enthusiasts, Lake Pontchartrain and Lake Charles are ideal destinations offering near perfect conditions and stunning sunsets.

Scenic trails crisscross Louisiana's State Parks, guiding visitors to natural wonders such as Kisatchie National Forest and Driskill Mountain, Louisiana's highest point (albeit only 535 feet high).

Road trippers have The Creole Nature Trail, with myriad outdoor attractions and activities along its length.

https://www.visitlakecharles.org/creole-nature-trail/

Poverty Point is a series of ancient earthworks and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

https://www.povertypoint.us/

 More information :

https://www.explorelouisiana.com/articles/your-guide-louisiana-outdoor-activities-adventures