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Joined 10 years ago

A great outdoor escape and science lesson all in one.. Overview
One of seven refuges managed by the Louisiana division of the U.S. Fisheries and Wildlife Service, Bayou Sauvage is located about 16 miles east of downtown New Orleans and is the best way to learn about the state's varied ecosystems. Encompassing more than 23,000 acres, the refuge takes visitors through freshwater and brackish marshes, lagoons, natural bayous and bottomland hardwood forests. It's a great place to take the kids and get away from the city heat while still being outside.

The Experience
There are more than 300 species of birds, including white egrets, great blue herons, gulls and brown pelicans. Alligators, turtles, snakes and nutria also make their homes in the bayous here, as do dozens of species of fish. The best way to enjoy all the wildlife is by mountain bike; the state recently completed a 9-mile bike path through Bayou Sauvage that allows cyclists to ride atop the hurricane levees along Lake Pontchartrain.