The tranquil waterways of the Northshore have always been part of the region’s appeal. For centuries, summertime crowds have arrived seeking relief from Louisiana’s sweltering summer. They’d find it in the lakeside breezes sweeping in from Lake Pontchartrain, in the seafood bounties unloaded at the Tchefuncte River waterfront in Madisonville, and in the healing artesian waters of legendary Abita Springs.
Visitors drawn to the Northshore this August by the amazing cuisine deals offered by the Tammany Taste of Summer’s restaurant showcase will find the region’s waterside resort culture alive and well, bringing plenty of opportunities to cool off in between meals.
Paddling Experiences
Summertime is the right time to get to grips with Northshore’s waterways—say, while spending an afternoon paddling through the heart of Covington on the Bogue Falaya River. A longtime local favorite, this scenic river is slow flowing and shallow, with plenty of swimming holes and sandbars to explore. This is a great option for beginners and families, or anyone in search of a leisurely afternoon on the water. Canoe & Trail Adventures, located behind The Chimes in downtown Covington, offers kayaks, paddleboards, and canoe rentals for two to five hours long.
Want to take things to the next level? Set out to explore one of the Gulf South’s largest wetland ecosystems—Lake Pontchartrain and its surrounding bayous, accessible from both Fontainebleau State Park and Fairview-Riverside State Park. Bayou Adventures self-service kiosk located inside Fontainebleau offers kayak rentals at the Cane Bayou launch, which points paddlers in the right direction for a popular 3.2-mile out-and-back Cane Bayou paddle trail. Flowing from the bayou into Lake Pontchartrain, the journey takes paddlers through pine flatwood habitats and marshes, where wildlife sightings are common.
Other rental outfitters include Brooks’ Bike Shop, Massey’s Outfitters, and Foggy Waters Marina. The Visit the Northshore website features an extensive roundup of launch sites throughout St. Tammany parish, providing paddlers with access to bayous Bonfouca, Liberty, and Lacombe; and the Tchefuncte, Abita, and Pearl Rivers.
For guided experiences, look to the Honey Island Swamp, where Honey Island Kayak Tours leads a voyage beneath the cypress and tupelo canopies, complete with a local’s insight into topics like wetland loss, conservation, and the natural history of the area. Canoe & Trail Adventures also has a tour option of the Cane Bayou, led by certified Louisiana Master Naturalist guides—and occasionally offered at night.
Swamp Tours in Northshore
Swamp Tours
Venture deep into the area’s rich and storied swamplands, guided by locals who know the wildlife and its lore better than anyone in the world. The Honey Island Swamp, rich in lore and ecological wonder, is a near 70,000-acre system considered one of the country’s most pristine swamp ecosystems. Guided experiences from Cajun Encounters Tours and Dr. Wagner’s Honey Island Swamp Tour take visitors deep into its primitive cypress forests, regaling them with fascinating insights into the intricate ecosystem and its mythology.
Fishing Charters
It’s no coincidence that so many of the Northshore’s best restaurants are famous for their seafood—with the wealth of lakes, rivers, bayous, and marshes, and the glittering Gulf just over the horizon. No need to go offshore, though: fishermen here regularly report limit catches of trophy trout, redfish, flounder, bass, bluegill, and more. This bounty fosters a knowledgeable community of experienced fishing professionals, many offering their services to visitors through charter experiences. Visitors can leave all the trouble and decision-making to the pros, arriving in the morning onto a ready-to-roll boat stocked with poles, tackle, and snacks too. Some popular guides include Dudley Vandenboore (founder of Deadly Dudley lures), Captain Mike Gallo, and Kenny Kreeger of Lake Pontchartrain Charters.
Find a comprehensive list of charter options at visitthenorthshore.com/things-to-do/water-recreation/fishing-charters-tours.
Sunset Cruisin' in St. Tammany
Sunset Cruises
Set yourself up to witness Mother Nature’s glorious daily light show from deck on Captain Mike Jones’s Tchefuncte River Cruise. Capt. Mike’s 24-foot pontoon boat comfortably accommodates six, offering comfortable seating and a front row seat to the River’s tableau of natural beauty.
Out on Lake Pontchartrain, Captain Rick Delaune casts off each evening, guiding his 42-foot Hunter Passage sailing yacht, named Windward Passage, out onto the expansive lake. Uninterrupted skyviews guaranteed all evening long.
More ways to get out on the water this summer are at visitthenorthshore.com.
