Lots of times, taking time out to be with nature can be incredibly healing. Some people don’t realize just how many amazing hikes there are in and around the city of New Orleans. There are some truly incredible hikes under five miles long that everyone should take, and we’ve created a list to help you find them! Here are six of the best hikes in New Orleans for anyone looking to do a short-and-sweet trek in the great outdoors.

1) Ridge Trail Boardwalk, Bayou Sauvage National Wildlife Refuge
Bayou Sauvage National Wildlife Refuge, New Orleans, LA 70129, USA
Flickr.com / Patrick
In New Orleans east, this trail in the refuge is a great place to get away from it all. It's the perfect mix of peace and scenery that's sure to soothe your soul.
2) Tammany Trace Trail
Tammany Trace Bike Trail, Covington, LA, USA
TrailLink
Truly a bike trail, there are many sections along this trail on the Northshore that are great for a walk as well!
3) North Savanna Trail, Crosby Arboretum
The Crosby Arboretum/Facebook
Just past Slidell, this trail in the Crosby Arboretum will provide you with beauty and serenity you are seeking!
4) Boy Scout Road Boardwalk, Big Branch National Wildlife Refuge, Lacombe
Big Branch Marsh National Wildlife Refuge, Lacombe, LA 70445, USA
Lana G./Yelp
This gorgeous boardwalk is well worth the trip to Big Branch across the lake. Come see why this is some of Louisiana's most breathtaking scenery!
5) Fontainebleau State Park
62883 Hwy 1089, Mandeville, LA 70448, USA
Justin Meissen/Flickr
The trails within Fontainebleau State Park in Louisiana are truly spectacular.
6) Palmetto Trail/Bayou Coquille Trail/Marsh Overlook Trail, Jean Lafitte Barataria Preserve
Barataria Preserve, 6588 Barataria Blvd, Marrero, LA 70072, USA
Ben/Flickr
The trails at the Barataria Preserve are so beautiful and offer some really gorgeous scenery.

How many of these hikes have you already taken? Do you have a favorite? Let us know what it has been like for you. We love to hear your feedback! Which hikes in New Orleans would you call the best? Tell us your thoughts by filling out this form.

OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article.

More to Explore

Best Hikes in New Orleans

Tori Jane | April 25, 2022

What are some of the best scenic hikes in New Orleans?  

New Orleans is a pretty scenic place, wouldn’t you say? As a result, it’s chock-full of all sorts of wonderful and scenic hikes, many of which are short, sweet, and to the point, and some of which are long enough to turn into day hikes! Some of our favorite places for scenic hikes in New Orleans include the Audubon Nature Center, which can be found next to Joe Brown Park and has just recently reopened (12 years after Hurricane Katrina destroyed it). It’s got lots of options for scenic hikes all over, like the boardwalk trails. More experienced hikers will love the more rugged trails. Or head to the Jean Lafitte National Historic Park and Preserve and hit the Barataria Preserve, which is a wonderful historic site with lots to offer hikers. You’ll encounter a stunningly beautiful swamp, lots of trail options with varying degrees of difficulty, and more – but our favorite trail is probably the boardwalk trail! Finally (okay, not FINALLY-finally, but finally for this list), be sure to visit Fontainebleau State Park, where you can hike through some amazing bottomland hardwoods like oak and bald cypress. There’s a lovely marsh overlook with plenty of wildlife viewing to be done.  

What are the best easy hikes in New Orleans?  

We’re glad you asked because easy hikes in New Orleans are probably among our favorite things. Among our favorite easy hikes in New Orleans are gems like the Couturie Forest, which you’ll find within City Park (which, by the way, is larger than New York’s famed Central Park). Meander through old oaks and admire the sycamores. Check out the little lagoons along the way! You could also visit Bayou Sauvage National Wildlife Refuge and do the delightful Ridge Trail and Boardwalk. The area is now just about fully recovered after Hurricane Katrina did quite the number on it, and it’s a bird paradise once more. Do the ¾ mile boardwalk trail overlooking the two marshes! Finally (for this list, anyway), you have to do the French Quarter River Walk, which is just 1.3 miles long and serves as a quintessential must-see while hiking New Orleans.  

Related Articles