Hiking with your dog is a perfect way for you and your pet to stay physically fit while enjoying the outdoors. For your pup, sniffing and exploring a new environment provides mental stimulation, as well as a deepening experience to bond with the owner. But where are the best dog-friendly hiking trails around New Orleans?
If you are sticking close to home, you can always bring your four-legged, furry friend to Couturie Forest, the nature preserve inside City Park, the Audubon Park loop, or the Mississippi River Trail on top of the levee for an easy walk, as long as you keep your dog on a leash. However, if you're ready to embark on an adventure hike with your beloved pet and enjoy nature together, you could start at one of our six state parks within an eighty-mile radius of New Orleans that have designated trails which permit dogs.
Top Dog-Friendly Hiking Trails Near NOLA
1. St. Bernard State Park
Located approximately 18 miles southeast of New Orleans and open daily, it provides a relaxing, family-friendly atmosphere amidst Louisiana's natural beauty. Located on the Mississippi River, the park's nature trail is ideal for you and your dog to experience the contrast of the woodlands versus the wetlands in St. Bernard. The cost of entrance for a daily pass is $2 per adult and $1 for children age 15 years or under. Dogs are allowed, on leash. (504) 682-2101.
2. Bayou Segnette State Park
Located in Westwego and approximately 15 miles from downtown New Orleans, it features access to two types of wetlands, swamp, and marsh. Bayou Segnette Park is a beautiful, serene recreational area with abundant wildlife that also offers comfortable cabins especially on the water to rent for your family and furry pet. Standard entrance fee is $3 per person, while seniors and children under the age of 3 are free. Since wildlife is plentiful, dogs must be on leash when walking around the park. (504)736-7140.
3. Fontainebleau State Park
Located on the northshore of Lake Pontchartrain, approximately 40 miles from downtown New Orleans, it is a part of the "Rails to Trails'' program, which provides routes for cycling, hiking, and in-line skating. Considered a wildlife paradise with beautiful live oak trees, Fountainbleau State Park offers 4.8 miles of hiking and a 1.25 mile nature trail. Dogs are allowed but must be on leash. The cost is $3 per person and free for seniors as well as children under the age of 3. This 2,800-acre park is a favorite of nature-lovers while providing signs and guides to help you identify the plant life and wildlife, including more than 400 different bird and animal species that live in and around Fontainebleau. (985) 624-4443 or (888) 677-3668 toll free.
4. Fairview-Riverside State Park
Located two miles east of Madisonville, Fairview-Riverside Park encompasses 99 acres of natural beauty, which is set along the banks of Tchefuncte River and is only about an hour drive from New Orleans. The park and campground offers a quarter-mile accessible nature trail for you and your leashed dog to explore together. Although the fishing boardwalk is currently not open, you and your pet can wander around the park by the Otis House for a relaxing walk alongside the river. The entrance fee is $3 per person and free for seniors as well as children under the age of 3. (888) 677-3247.
5. Grand Isle State Park
Located on a barrier island off the coast of Louisiana about 103 miles from New Orleans, Grand Isle State Park features clean beaches, amazing sunsets and the launching point for deep-sea, salt-water fishing. Although pets are not allowed on the beach, dogs are welcomed on the 2.5 mile nature trail at Grand Isle State Park. Despite the restriction of pets on the beach, you and your furry friend can enjoy the beauty of the lagoons and the Gulf shore while visiting the park. The entrance fee is $3 per person and free for seniors, as well as children under the age of 3. (985)787-2559.
6. Bogue Chitto State Park
Located off Louisiana State Highway 25, south of Franklinton in Washington Parish, this state park may be more than an hour away, but the diversity of natural habitats and the rolling landscape is well worth the drive. Explore the 7-mile nature trail with your dog on a leash. Potty bags are provided along the trail. Take a relaxing walk with your dog along the boardwalks and admire the sandstone creations on the beach. The cost is $3 per person and free for seniors as well as children under the age of 3. (985) 839-5707.
7. Wetland Trace Boardwalk
Just a short 30-minute trip from New Orleans tucked away in the town of Jean Lafitte is a local favorite trail called the Wetland Trace Nature Boardwalk. Located adjacent to the Lafitte-Barataria Museum, this one-mile raised boardwalk loops through the swamp where you can hike deep into the moss-covered cypress and wetlands. Trails include covered pavilions, benches and scenic overlooks for viewing Louisiana wildlife and native plant life. The cost is free. Dogs are welcomed and required to be on leash on the main wooden trail. For more information, contact Jill Darda at (504) 689-2208.
8. Atchalafaya
Another long-distance hiking adventure for you and your fur companion is located directly off the I-10 Interstate in Breaux Bridge. Just about one hour and 45 minutes from New Orleans, you can stop at the Atchalafaya Welcome Center, grab a detailed map, gain free access to the 12 hiking trails, and explore the Atchafalaya Basin, the world's largest freshwater swamp wilderness. Dogs are required to be on leash. For more information, contact Brandy Landry, Tourism Supervisor, at (337) 228-1094.
New Orleans Dog-Friendly Hiking Trails
Whether you are new to hiking or an experienced outdoor enthusiast, you will appreciate your canine companionship when you hit the trails. So, the next time you go hiking with your furry best friend, be sure to check out our state's countless options of year-round exploration. What a "pawsome" paradise for you and your dog.
