Fall? In Louisiana? Yep! The Pelican State is known for many things, but our fall foliage is not one of them. While we may not have those sweeping mountain views of fall foliage that our northern friends do, we still do experience the leaves changing, the air becoming crisper, and most importantly, all those skeeters fade away. To get those golden hues and bright oranges, your best bet is to wait until the end of October into November, so start planning those road trips now. Here are 11 of the most beautiful places to view fall in Louisiana.
1. Lake Claiborne State Park
The more than 600-acre state park in northern Louisiana is a great place to park it for a day or two and spend some time sleeping under the stars. The 64,000-acre man-made lake is ideal for fishing or kayaking, so bring your rod and reel and see what you can catch for dinner.
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2. South Toledo Bend State Park
Next, we dip south for a bit to explore one of two Louisiana State Parks on the shores of the Toledo Bend Reservoir. Clocking in at roughly 1,000 acres, you can bet you’ll have your days full of exploring the trails, fishing, wildlife viewing, and incredible sunsets.
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3. North Toledo Bend State Park
Well, you can’t mention one without mentioning the other. The northern counterpart to South Toledo Bend State Park, this one is slightly smaller at 900 acres, but jam packed with beautiful views everywhere you look.
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4. Lake D’Arbonne State Park
Up to the rolling hills of Union Parish we go, where we’ll find Lake D’Arbonne State Park. Located in the tiny town of Famerville, this hidden gem is a popular spot for boating and water skiers, but in the fall the landscape changes from greens to yellows and oranges that will make you think you’re in Vermont.
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5. Chemin-A-Haut State Park
An outdoor oasis for equestrians, the trails at Chemin-A-Haut will positively enchant you, whether you have a horse or not. The fall foliage views alongside Bayou Bartholomew are one in a million.
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6. Lake Bruin State Park
Nearly 50 campsites, a boat launch, and three fishing piers await you at this lovely state park in Joseph, Louisiana. The 53-acre park may be tiny in size, but the 3,000-acre lake will give you some of the best fall views around.
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7. Walter B. Jacobs Memorial Nature Park
The trails at this popular Shreveport park are ideal during the fall, when you’ll have the opportunity to see the leaves change. Pack a lunch and enjoy a meal outdoors, and then pop into the nature center where you’ll see their outdoor aviary, a bird lover’s perfect day!
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8. Earl. G. Williamson Park
This 40-acre park is a must-stop for leaf peepers. Tucked away in Oil City, the views of the fall colors against the water are almost too pretty to be real.
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9. Tickfaw State Park
Since Tickfaw State Park is further south than the other destinations on this list, you may want to wait until mid-November to check this one out. The boardwalk trails and foot bridges will take you on quite the adventure, and if you can time your visit right, the changing leaves will give you a new appreciation for nature in Louisiana.
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10. Briarwood
Briarwood Nature Preserve is open for only a few months out of the year, and October and November just happen to be two of them. You’ll see countless native and exotic plants, tons of wildlife, and a friendly and knowledgable staff who will share the history of this special place that was once home to Caroline Dorman.
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Where's your favorite spot to view the fall colors in Louisiana? Did it make the list? Let us know in our Facebook comments!
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