Louisiana Rivers
Louisiana's waterways range from slow-moving bayous threading through cypress swamps to spring-fed streams in the Florida parishes. ## Bayou Teche
A 135-mile bayou winding through St. Landry, St. Martin, Iberia, and St. Mary parishes. Once a channel of the Mississippi River, the Teche is now one of Louisiana's most popular paddling destinations. The Bayou Teche Paddle Trail is a designated National Water Trail with mapped access points and mileage markers between Port Barre and Morgan City.
USGS Gauge: Bayou Teche at Arnaudville, LA
Atchafalaya Basin
The largest river swamp in North America, covering roughly 700,000 acres. The Atchafalaya River carries about 30% of the combined flow of the Mississippi and Red Rivers. Paddling ranges from open river sections to intricate backwater bayous. The basin is best explored with local knowledge due to shifting channels and seasonal water level changes.
USGS Gauges: Atchafalaya River at Simmesport, LA; Atchafalaya River at Morgan City, LA
Bogue Chitto
A sandy-bottomed stream flowing from Mississippi into Louisiana's Washington and St. Tammany parishes. Popular for tubing and paddling, with clear water and sandbar camping opportunities. The Bogue Chitto National Wildlife Refuge protects portions of the lower river.
USGS Gauge: Bogue Chitto River near Bush, LA
Bayou Bartholomew
One of the longest bayous in the world at over 300 miles, originating in Arkansas and flowing through Morehouse Parish in northeast Louisiana. The upper Louisiana section features a mix of cypress swamp and bottomland hardwood forest.
USGS Gauge: Bayou Bartholomew near Portland, AR (upstream gauge useful for Louisiana trip planning)
Paddling Route: Bastrop area day trips through bottomland hardwoods.
Tensas River
A meandering river in northeast Louisiana flowing through the Tensas River National Wildlife Refuge. The river passes through some of the most extensive bottomland hardwood forest remaining in the Mississippi Alluvial Valley.
USGS Gauge: Tensas River near Tendal, LA
Paddling Route: Tensas River put-in to Tendal — approximately 20 miles through refuge lands.
Bayou D'Arbonne
Flows through Union and Lincoln parishes in north Louisiana, feeding into Lake D'Arbonne. The bayou features a mix of cypress-tupelo swamp and pine uplands, with several access points for day trips.
USGS Gauge: Bayou D'Arbonne near Farmerville, LA
Paddling Route: Farmerville area day trips into Lake D'Arbonne.
Saline Bayou
A designated Louisiana Scenic River flowing through Natchitoches and Winn parishes. Saline Bayou is one of the few free-flowing bayous in north Louisiana, with minimal development along its banks.
USGS Gauge: Saline Bayou near Lucky, LA
The Louisiana section is wide and generally slow-moving, with sandbars and access points maintained by local paddling clubs.
USGS Gauge: Ouachita River at Monroe, LA
Pearl River
Forms the border between Louisiana and Mississippi in the Florida parishes. The lower Pearl features extensive cypress-tupelo swamp and is popular for paddling through the Pearl River Wildlife Management Area.
USGS Gauge: Pearl River near Bogalusa, LA
Always check live USGS gauge data before launching.
- Best seasons: Fall and spring offer the most comfortable paddling conditions. Summer trips require heat and humidity preparation.
- Access: Many Louisiana waterways have limited public access points. Confirm launch and take-out locations before committing to a route.
- Wildlife: Expect alligators, water moccasins, and abundant birdlife throughout Louisiana waterways. Maintain respectful distance.