Paddle Bayou Lafourche!

French for “the fork,” Bayou Lafourche meanders 106 miles through southern Louisiana on its way from the Mississippi River at Donaldsonville to meet the Gulf of Mexico. For the last 80 of those miles this historic waterway flows through Lafourche Parish, and when you consider that the bayou has been providing food, fresh water, and transportation to people living along its banks since prehistoric times, it’s little wonder that Bayou Lafourche has been called “the longest main street in the world.” Along this waterway can be heard the stories of the many cultures—from Native Americans to Spanish, French, Acadian and African settlers—who have called southeast Louisiana home. Today, Bayou Lafourche is still drawing travelers seeking to experience the rich history and unforgettable landscapes of South Louisiana, and with two new kayak launches recently opened in Lafourche Parish, getting to grips with the natural history and cultural heritage along Bayou Lafourche has never been easier.

Nicholl’s Bayou Side Park, a serene little launch spot on Louisiana Highway 1 directly across from Nicholls State University, is where you’ll find Geaux Paddle. Operated by Ridge Gonsoulin, Geaux Paddle provides self-service kayak rentals via a simple online reservation process. Simply pay online to receive a code, then unlock a single or tandem kayak or stand-up paddleboard to take a cruise along a scenic stretch of lower Bayou Lafourche. On a recent spring afternoon I paddled beneath historic bridges, passing houses perched along the water, taking in the fragrant scent of cypress trees lining the banks. For a launch so easily accessible, the bayou makes a peaceful watercourse to paddle. But leave time to explore the charms surrounding Thibodaux, too. On the opposite bank of Bayou Lafourche I stopped into the Laurel Valley Village and Sugar Plantation. With more than 50 surviving structures, this 19th and early 20th century sugar plantation complex is the largest remaining in America, and preserves stories of early Cajun settlement, slavery until the Civil War, the Reconstruction era and tenant farmer system. Guided walking tours are available daily, and a visit to the Laurel Valley Store & Museum was a chance to contemplate the difficulty of harvesting sugar cane using the antique tools that are on display there. The shopkeepers encouraged me to come back in fall, when the Laurel Valley Store gears up for iconic local events like the Thibodeauxville Fall Festival by serving homemade gumbo and pecan pies. 

Down in Port Fourchon where Bayou Lafourche ends its journey to the Gulf, the Coastal Wetlands Park Kayak Launch is the perfect put-in point for experiencing the Coastal Wetlands Park Tidal Creek—a protected waterway ideal for kayaking, stand-up paddle boarding, fishing and bird watching. The creek winds through 100 acres of coastal marsh built using dredged material to create new wetlands to support wildlife habitat and sustainable recreation. A one-mile trail, the kayak creek follows a natural tidal flow, making it excellent for beginner paddlers, or for an easy morning or afternoon meander through the coastal marsh. The Coastal Wetlands Park is free and open to the public, dawn until dusk. 

To request your FREE printed copy of Lafourche Parish’s Guide to the Bayou Life, click HERE.