Following the Creole Nature Trail
“DO NOT FEED OR APPROACH THE ALLIGATORS.”
I’d already seen several of these signs since entering the Pintail Wildlife Drive and Boardwalk. It was an overcast day in southwest Louisiana. Migratory waterfowl were out en masse — green-winged teals, snow geese, gadwalls and northern shovelers paddled around marshes that straddled both sides of the 3-mile driving loop. I wanted to get out of the car and walk out to a small wooden photo blind to take pictures of the birds; the posted warnings deterred me.
So on I rambled, slowly, windows down, camera ready on my lap. More than halfway through, annoyance crept in. Would I actually see any dang alligators?
A minute later I spied bony bumps and long snout in the water — eyes beading as my car came to an abrupt halt. Finally! The sun peeked out from the clouds. Further along, I spotted another, then another, then another bigger still, this one crouched protectively in tall reeds near a half dozen baby gators. I did not feed or approach any of them.
The Pintail Wildlife Drive was one of many highlights during an impromptu jaunt along the Creole Nature Trail, a 180-mile scenic byway that starts in the west in Sulphur and ends east of Lake Charles (or vice versa). The U-shaped trail stretches south to the Gulf Coast and back up to Interstate 10, with various spur detours along the way.
I drove east to west on my way home from Lake Charles to Houston, after an unlucky night at the casinos. I started about 10 a.m., stopping at nearly every point of interest on the helpful map I picked up from the Lake Charles Visitor Center en route to the trail. (There’s a Creole Nature Trail app, too, with informational audio and video corresponding via GPS to your current location; signage is bountiful, as well). It was a lovely four hours, spanning wildlife refuges, beaches, lakes and small towns. Here are some things to know if you’re interested in experiencing the trail yourself.
What to bring
A camera, especially in winter months, for bird spotting. Binoculars, if you’re really hardcore. Insect repellent, too.
Comfortable shoes, ideally athletic. Many stops have walking trails or boardwalks. The 1.6-mile Wetland Walkway in the Sabine National Wildlife Refuge, for example, has an observation tower about halfway through.
A full tank of gas, drinks and snacks; gas stations are few and far between.
$1 in cash to pay for the vehicle ferry between Cameron and Holly Beach, if you decide to follow the trail along the coast.
A fishing pole, if you’re an angler — there are plenty of designated recreation areas to wet your line alongside the locals. Be sure to get a license beforehand: wlf.louisiana.gov/ fishing/fishing.
Other suggestions
If you start the trail in Sulphur, stop by the Creole Nature Trail Adventure Point, 2704 Ruth just off I-10 (creolenaturetrail.org). It has educational and interactive displays for kids, and staff can help offer tips or answer questions.
If you want to get out on the water, Gross Savanne (grossesavanne-ecotours.com) offers ecology-minded tours that range from two hours to a full day. You can also rent a kayak from Lake Area Adventures in Lake Charles ($40 for a full day).
If weather permits, take a dip in the Gulf or search for shells on Holly Beach — which was decimated by Hurricane Rita in 2005 and is now home to beach houses raised three or four levels off the ground.
Some of the attractions — such as Lacassine Pool — are open only certain times during the year. The physical trail brochure offers route tips and explains such things, which I found helpful.