Trails
Refuge hiking trails are open February 1 - September 30, during daylight hours. Hiking trails, (except the Garden City Interpretive Boardwalk Trail and Franklin hiking trail), are closed to hikers during the hunting season for public safety. These trails travel through bottomland hardwood forest and/or along levees. Look for neotropical birds during the spring and watch for alligators in the canals. Knee high mud boots may come in handy during the wet season. Insect repellent and sunscreen are also recommended. Trails are periodically mowed and cleared of brush as weather and staffing permit, so a sense of adventure can sometimes be an asset!
This short interpretive boardwalk trail leads to an overlook within a cypress tupelo bottomland hardwood forest. The Garden City boardwalk is open year round. The Garden City Levee trail continues west past the entrance to the boardwalk, following the top of the levee for about three miles.
Trail Length (mi)
0.07
Trail Difficulty
Easy
Estimated Time
10 Minutes
Suitability
Kid friendly
Wheelchair friendly
Located on the Garden City Unit of the refuge, this trail follows the top of a flood protection levee which is operated by US Army Corps of Engineers and the St. Mary Parish Levee Board. The top of the levee is gravel and overlooks flooded swamp on one side and a borrow pit on the other side. About 400 yards from the parking lot, watch for the entrance to a short interpretive boardwalk that leads into a cypress tupelo swamp on your left. The levee trail continues west past this entrance for about three miles. The trail is open to hiking ONLY How to Get There:From Hwy. 90 take the Centerville exit at (LA 317) and exit towards Burns Point. Travel down LA 317 for about .3 miles where you will pass a gas station located on your right and then a rail road track . Turn right onto Alice C. Road and travel about .7 miles and turn left at the pumping station. The trail head parking lot is behind the pumping station. GPS 29 44’ 25.4” W 91 27’08.3 ”.
Trail Length (mi)
3.77
Trail Difficulty
Easy
Trail Activities
This flat loop trail travels through a cypress/tupelo forest. The trail occasionally goes under water so knee high boots are recommended when the water is high. The trail is usually dry in the fall season. How to Get There:This trail is in the Garden City Unit of the refuge. From Hwy. 90 take the Franklin exit (LA 3211). At the four way stop sign, turn right. At the three way stop sign, go straight. After you cross the bridge take a right under Hwy. 90 overpass. When under Hwy 90 overpass take a left onto the South Frontage Road. About 2 miles from the Hwy. 90 overpass you will cross Hanson Canal. After the canal in about .25 miles you will see the Janet E. Road sign on your right. GPS North 29 45’ 43.8” West 91 28’ 57.5” This is a gravel road. The trail head is at the end of this road. North 29 45 12.2 West 91 29’ 42.1”
Trail Length (mi)
1.57
Trail Difficulty
Easy
Trail Activities