Waterfall Hero Hikes: Bayou Cocodrie National Wildlife Refuge

Bayou Cocodrie National Wildlife Refuge is a nearly 15,000 acre National Wildife Refuge in Concordia Parish southwest of Ferriday, Louisiana. It is named for the bayou that flows through it, a designated state scenic river, and it protects critical habitat in the Lower Mississippi River Valley. The Nature Conservancy originally purchased around 11,000 acres in 1988 from Fisher Lumber, a subsidiary of General Motors, as the land contained old growth bottomland hardwood forests. The National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1990 when US Fish and Wildlife service acquired the land. Today, the refuge provides opportunities for hunting and fishing as well as wildlife viewing and hiking trails.

Contact Information:

3391 Poole Road

Vidalia, LA 71373

Phone: (318) 336-7119

Fax: (318) 336-5610

Email: bayoucocodrie@fws.gov

Directions:

The refuge headquarters is about 3 miles southwest of Ferriday. From US-84 in Ferriday, go south on LA-15 for 1 mile and turn right on Poole Road, which is gravel. Go 3.3 miles and the headquarters will be on the left.

Map:

Trails:

There are several miles of primitive trails in the refuge but I didn't get the chance to hike any of them, but did hike the Cypress Creek Trail from the boardwalk.

Cypress Creek Trail:

Cypress Creek Trail is a half-mile one-way hike along an old road to an observation deck in Bayou Cocodrie. The trailhead is just outside the refuge headquarters. It runs through an interesting forest with a dense understory of palmettos.

Points of Interest:

Cypress Observation Deck:

Cypress Observation Deck is at the end of Cypress Creek Trail. The wooden overlook provides views of Bayou Cocodrie. The overlook itself is built around a huge bald cypress tree.