Immerse yourself in nature at the Black Bayou Lake National Wildlife Refuge. This majestic 4,500-acre expanse of lake, swamp, bottomland hardwoods, mixed pine and hardwood uplands is a wildlife habitat with all manner of plant species and everything from small alligators and turtles to coyote, deer and a wide variety of fowl. Delight in the beauty of herons, egrets, orioles and red-winged blackbirds from the wildlife pier or bird blind. Walk on a nature trail that meanders through a forested wetland. Marvel at the quiet beauty of the 1,600-acre lake from the quiet of your rented canoe with stately cypress and tupelo trees towering overhead. The Visitors' Center, a restored 1880s Acadian house, offers interactive exhibits and a nature shop. Behind the center is a covered amphitheater for educational programs. Visit the conservation learning center with its mural of the lake and live animal exhibits of native fish and reptiles. Other features include an arboretum with labeled Louisiana native tree and woody shrub species, a photo blind, boat launch, canoeing, year-round fishing, and seasonal hunting opportunities.
Related Content
![](https://discover-monroe.imgix.net/images/outdoors/KI-17-scaled-in.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=min&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=240&q=80&w=320&s=37ca8b6730ff8df2fecbcd879074f6a2 320w, https://discover-monroe.imgix.net/images/outdoors/KI-17-scaled-in.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=min&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=405&q=80&w=540&s=9e9d53cdcde87d2d1f0ab8d433e96edc 540w, https://discover-monroe.imgix.net/images/outdoors/KI-17-scaled-in.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=min&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=576&q=80&w=768&s=cfab3ff7eaf0308e178322a2645c61a2 768w, https://discover-monroe.imgix.net/images/outdoors/KI-17-scaled-in.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=min&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=768&q=80&w=1024&s=a9ac517f1ed435db6be00392c4948856 1024w, https://discover-monroe.imgix.net/images/outdoors/KI-17-scaled-in.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=min&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=900&q=80&w=1200&s=282df95c2127fd91151c89c4b775eb1c 1200w, https://discover-monroe.imgix.net/images/outdoors/KI-17-scaled-in.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=min&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=1080&q=80&w=1440&s=314d348663f8afecc09ddad5fb60cf87 1440w, https://discover-monroe.imgix.net/images/outdoors/KI-17-scaled-in.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=min&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=1440&q=80&w=1920&s=82aad80fe82ffbb71416712846293d8f 1920w)
Kayaking in Monroe-West Monroe
With so many ways to get on the water, this is your ultimate guide to kayaking in Monroe-West Monroe!
![](https://discover-monroe.imgix.net/images/bird-edit.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=min&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=240&q=80&w=320&s=e74283887bbf5b501d564cc6a76e6376 320w, https://discover-monroe.imgix.net/images/bird-edit.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=min&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=405&q=80&w=540&s=2d04f31ddab5bedd600f080ca5df41f9 540w, https://discover-monroe.imgix.net/images/bird-edit.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=min&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=576&q=80&w=768&s=b3089f888d09384a1ce75d9ecacd4337 768w, https://discover-monroe.imgix.net/images/bird-edit.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=min&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=768&q=80&w=1024&s=825d21c6e3438d3c932f895a46e156c2 1024w, https://discover-monroe.imgix.net/images/bird-edit.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=min&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=900&q=80&w=1200&s=425c4ef146e0d4cf7fbb6a79207ac30b 1200w, https://discover-monroe.imgix.net/images/bird-edit.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=min&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=1080&q=80&w=1440&s=c29c683c66a6c6a3713c10981ae24512 1440w, https://discover-monroe.imgix.net/images/bird-edit.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=min&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=1440&q=80&w=1920&s=37f9a417f893b0911dde80361ff32efb 1878w)
The Best Spots to Go Birding in Monroe-West Monroe
Have you ever heard the term “birding?” It is defined as observing or identifying wild bird species in their natural habitats, and it is a very popular hobby around the world. Here…
![](https://discover-monroe.imgix.net/images/KI-18.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=min&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=240&q=80&w=320&s=ed903f9147335805e473b89fa64107fb 320w, https://discover-monroe.imgix.net/images/KI-18.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=min&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=405&q=80&w=540&s=ba9c3efff45f8f4d4c74f3a3fbd08200 540w, https://discover-monroe.imgix.net/images/KI-18.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=min&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=576&q=80&w=768&s=bb16bbb632f977b8ebe3bef98e138549 768w, https://discover-monroe.imgix.net/images/KI-18.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=min&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=768&q=80&w=1024&s=2bddddc34d89ff6284644f28de6bbe43 1024w, https://discover-monroe.imgix.net/images/KI-18.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=min&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=900&q=80&w=1200&s=2c63b1eb8d675dfd0316ae729992e5ae 1200w, https://discover-monroe.imgix.net/images/KI-18.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=min&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=1080&q=80&w=1440&s=d5d8714d6fe1680ab230eab3ece25d31 1440w, https://discover-monroe.imgix.net/images/KI-18.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=min&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=1440&q=80&w=1920&s=4170d5ee4ae2f76a0637fbd05e4760d4 1920w)
Outside the Lines Original: Black Bayou Lake National Wildlife Refuge
In the summer of 1997, volunteers got together to turn an old 1880’s planter’s home into a visitor’s center for what was to become the Black Bayou Lake National Wildlife Refuge. After…
![](https://discover-monroe.imgix.net/images/KI-11.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=min&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=240&q=80&w=320&s=8322afcad5e3d018ec5561d8569f32d3 320w, https://discover-monroe.imgix.net/images/KI-11.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=min&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=405&q=80&w=540&s=500c36639aa6d78e1f20c5ab8498ff1f 540w, https://discover-monroe.imgix.net/images/KI-11.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=min&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=576&q=80&w=768&s=a1902690adfc11ec13dabb6a70ad0ecf 768w, https://discover-monroe.imgix.net/images/KI-11.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=min&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=768&q=80&w=1024&s=bc368ea5a1e44ab1f9aebab8b3be985f 1024w, https://discover-monroe.imgix.net/images/KI-11.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=min&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=900&q=80&w=1200&s=2826fdbe9a178c32b9dd1fe7c719e0cf 1200w, https://discover-monroe.imgix.net/images/KI-11.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=min&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=1080&q=80&w=1440&s=da8d405d0c72aeb8ecc6fe29d0f56e55 1440w, https://discover-monroe.imgix.net/images/KI-11.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=min&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=1440&q=80&w=1920&s=5e47055a9cc355d5f16bba6e9e63caba 1920w)
Get Moving Outside the Lines
Spring is in full bloom here in Monroe-West Monroe, and we have some beautiful spots for you and your family to enjoy moving in the outdoors together!