Lake Martin
Lake Martin, located in St. Martin Parish, is a wildlife preserve and one of Louisiana’s swamp lands. The swamp lands are home to a few trails as well as many different kinds of animals such as herons, egrets, ibis, bullfrogs, cottonmouths, alligators, and coypu (nutria) rats.
Lake Martin is home to a swampy ecosystem that supports globally significant numbers of species of colonial nesting water birds and native plants. Lake Martin is one of Louisiana’s largest nesting colonies for many species of water birds. Some of these species include the Anhinga, Great Blue Heron, Great Egret, Snowy Egret, Little Blue Heron, Tri-colored Heron, Cattle Egret, Black-crowned Night Heron, White Ibis, and Roseate Spoonbill. Lake Martin is also used as a rookery year round for many species.
Lake Martin is also home to a substantial nesting population of alligators, which can typically be spotted from Rookery Road, which runs right along the edge of the lake.
The preserve is currently owned and managed by the Nature Conservancy, who works to keep the lake clean and ecologically sound. They also maintain a visitor’s center and a boardwalk over the swamp at the South end of the lake.
What to Photograph:
The swamp and wildlife, I would definitely recommend taking one of the swamp tours.
Where it is:
FROM LAFAYETTE, LA:
Take I-10 exit 109 for LA-328 toward Breaux Bridge 0.3 mi
Follow LA-328 S/Rees St, LA-31/S Main St and Lake Martin to Rookery Rd 13 min (6.6 mi)
Turn right onto LA-328 S/Rees St (signs for Breaux Bridge) 1.7 mi
Turn right onto E Bridge St 0.2 mi
Turn left onto LA-31/S Main St 2.7 mi
Turn right onto Lake Martin 1.8 mi
Turn left onto Rookery Rd
FROM BATON ROUGE, LA:
Take I-10 exit 115 for LA-347 toward Henderson/Cecilia 0.3 mi
Continue on LA-347. Take Doyle Melancon Rd and Lake Martin to Rookery Rd in 6 17 min (10.3 mi)
Turn left onto LA-347 (signs for Henderson) 3.4 mi
Turn left onto Andrew Broussard/Doyle Melancon Rd/Par Rd 214 Continue to follow Doyle Melancon Rd 3.0 mi
Turn right onto Clayton Castille Rd 0.9 mi
Turn right onto LA-347 0.2 mi
Turn left onto LA-351 0.7 mi
Turn right onto LA-31 0.3 mi
Turn left onto Lake Martin 1.8 mi
Turn left onto Rookery Rd
Maps:
Interactive Google Map
Use the map + – controls to zoom in and out, click and drag the to move the map, use the Map drop-down to change to “Map”, “Satellite”, “Hybrid”, or “Terrain” views. Drag the little man icon from the upper left corner to a map location for street level view.
Cost:
There is no cost to visit Lake Martin, swamp tours will run about $20 per adult.
Facilities:
Champagne’s Cajun Swamp Tours. The store provides an ATM Machine, drinks,chips, snacks, sandwiches, and the only restroom facilities at Lake Martin, alternate restrooms are miles away. Fishing supplies: live bait, and kayak & canoe rentals are available (life jackets included).
Links:
The Nature Conservancy Cypress Island Preserve
Location Contact Information:
Lake Martin Louisiana Swamp Photo Gallery
Click Here for full page gallery
More Photographic Destinations in Louisiana:
Interactive Google Map
Use the map + – controls to zoom in and out, use the Map drop-down to change to “Map”, “Satellite”, “Hybrid”, or “Terrain” views. Drag the little man icon from the upper left corner to a map location for street level view. Click on a pushpin for more information about the Photographic Destination, then click on the title to go to the location page.
Click Here for Photographic Destinations by State
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Hi Dee, Lake Martin is not very big but there is a lot to see and the longer tour will give you more time to photograph. You will definitely enjoy your trip, it is a fantastic place.
Hi Greg
My name is Dee and I am from Omaha NE
I’m planning a trip to the Lake Martin in Louisiana
this month
I booked a private boat tour with Champagne Swamp
tours for two hours to do landscape and wildlife
photography
I was wondering if you thought a one hour tour would
be sufficient or would I need to do 2 hours, as Lake
Martin looks pretty small
You have a great website full of fantastic information
and I hope to hear from you on this matter
Thanks again
Dee