Cypress Island Preserve

First time to visit the south and was so in awe at the beauty of the preserve, I went on a small trail hike there early in the morning and enjoyed seeing all the different birds that are using the place as a habitat, sadly didn't see any gators which was expected since it was in the upper 30s.

GPS brought us to Rookery road which is closed but just a few feet down. The road is the visitor center and a parking lot with washrooms. The boardwalk is very close to the visitor center but is currently broken and needing repairs as of December 2024. The trail to the left is very wide with swamp on both sides. Nice photos on a sunny day. We also visited the east side of Lake Martin where the swamp tours are, where you can see the actual lake, boats, fishing and birds. We drove from one side of the lake to the other but you can walk the entire trail if you have time. It's over 5 mi.

Its off the beaten path however a good place to take a stroll if you are in the area. Picnic and restroom facilities available. Clean and well kept. The main trail on wooden platform is damaged. There is a pth and takes you around the lake. I am not sure when they will repair but definitely the experience will be very different.

Very nice staff and a very neat, out of the way place. Bathrooms available as well as covered picnic tables.

One of the best time we had in Louisiana! This place is true magic, incredibly beautiful! The visit was really great, our guide (from Cajun swamp tours) was very nice, interesting and funny. We saw loads of different animals, incredible landscapes. A must-see, we will never forget the time we had here.

We stopped briefly to get more information about Lake Martin and the trails. The center is a bit challenging to find and if you pass it heading north on LA353, you will go quite the distance before you can turn around to try again! Get good directions on where to actually take the trail. The boardwalk is mostly closed and is in terrible repair - boards are rotted through and very dangerous. There is no blocking/warning sign of the condition. We hope to visit again sometime in spring summer when the birds and water have returned!

Unbothered nature- beautiful wide path- the levy loop is wide and smooth enough for a stroller or wagon.

Absolutely loved our driving tour around Jungle Gardens aided by the recommended app. Gorgeous place filled with botanical experiments and lovely planned gardens and spaces. Learning about the McIlhenny family and their environmental efforts really made this tour!