Things to do Near Lake Fausse Pointe State Park
Lake Fausse Pointe State Park is located in the middle of the Atchafalaya Basin, the largest river swamp in the U.S. that is as wild as it is scenic. The park is also where you’ll find a wealth of outdoor fun, with fishing, boating, hiking and camping opportunities galore.
Lake Fausse Pointe State Park is located in the middle of the Atchafalaya Basin, the largest river swamp in the U.S. that is as wild as it is scenic. The park is also where you’ll find a wealth of outdoor fun, with fishing, boating, hiking and camping opportunities galore.
This is Cajun Country, the name given to the area where the Acadians (French-Canadian exiles) arrived in south Louisiana in the mid-1700s. Also, the land where American Indians, Spanish explorers and French trappers have called home, Lake Fausse Pointe State Park sits in the middle of not only a geographically diverse region but a culturally diverse one.
Start your journey into the swamp at — where else? — the onsite boat launch. The labyrinth of waterways opens up to explorers, who can rent flat-bottom boats, kayaks and canoes from the park’s visitors center. This allows guests to see the landscape as it was thousands of years ago, though you won’t have to worry about getting lost; the seven-mile water trail makes it easy for visitors to get back to where they began.
Boardwalks wind through Lake Fausse Pointe State Park. Stay dry on these elevated walkways, admiring the flora and fauna in and around the park’s namesake lake and neighboring Lake Dauterive. Cypress trees erupt from the water in these swamps, and the abundant birdlife provides a soundtrack that tells you that you are indeed deep in a type of wilderness found nowhere else. Definitely bring your camera.
Overnight guests have plenty of options. Backcountry campsites, canoe campsites (water accessible only), RV campsites and deluxe cabins are all available.
Nearby Attractions
Part of Lake Fausse Pointe State Park’s charm is its remoteness, though, conveniently, the city of New Iberia is just 20 miles away. In town, you’ll find no shortage of dining options, many of them specializing in down-home Cajun comfort food. Duffy’s Diner, R & M’s Boiling Point and Victor’s Cafeteria are just a few to try out.
New Iberia’s historical downtown, which is intersected by the beautiful Bayou Teche, is surrounded by beautiful old homes. The most famous of them is actually open for tours. Called Shadows on the Teche, it’s a house museum dedicated to telling the story of the Weeks family, which once owned an expansive sugar plantation that survived for generations. See what south Louisiana wealth looked like during the early 1800s at this celebrated local landmark.
Depending on the time of year you visit Lake Fausse Pointe State Park, you may happen upon a festival. The five-day Louisiana Sugar Cane Festival honors the history of Louisiana’s biggest cash crop with a parade and plenty of family-friendly activities. El Festival Español de Nueva Iberia honors the city’s Spanish heritage with a Running of the Bulls-style 5K, a reenactment of the Spanish arrival on Bayou Teche and many arts- and dance-related fun. The World Championship Gumbo Cookoff, held in downtown New Iberia, is one of Louisiana’s dozens of food festivals. It honors the state’s official dish with cooking competitions, live music and activities for younger visitors.
Pick up some souvenirs before heading out of town. Conrad Rice Mill, the maker of KONRIKO brand rice, has a gift shop with some truly tasty finds that you’ll want to take back home to give to family and friends. Cane River Pecan Company, with a beautiful shop downtown, carries gift boxes and gift bags filled with pecans made all kinds of ways. Flavored with Louisiana spices, glazed in honey, dipped in chocolate, embedded in cookies and pralines — these Louisiana treats are perfect for a long ride or flight home.
Another neighboring town, St. Martinville, offers many attractions for visitors on the move. Longfellow-Evangeline State Historic Site is filled with stories of the various cultures that came into contact in this stretch of the Bayou Teche — Creoles, Indians, Africans and Europeans — and the centerpiece of the site, the circa 1850 house Maison Olivier, is filled with stories of the region’s rich past.
Other St. Martinville attractions include the Acadian Memorial (honoring the deep history of Cajun families in the region); Evangeline Oak Park (a green space with a massive ancient live oak tree, said to be the most-visited site in St. Martinville); and Josephine’s Creole Restaurant, where you’ll find fresh local dishes served up daily.