Where to Kayak in New Orleans
Truly a one-of-a-kind destination, New Orleans is famous for its Creole and Cajun cuisine, jazz music, brass bands and historic architecture. On the outskirts of the city, you’ll find natural beauty and exciting nature to explore.
Best Kayaking Spots in New Orleans
Paddle through swamps lands, circle cypress trees and explore historic sites with these exciting kayaking destinations surrounding New Orleans.
Bayou Sauvage Urban National Wildlife Refuge
New Orleans, LA
Bayou Sauvage Urban National Wildlife Refuge is in New Orleans and is one of the last remaining marsh areas adjacent to Lakes Pontchartrain and Borgne. It is an exciting spot for kayaking in the city with two launch points. The Hwy 11 launch gives you access to winding canals and the shallow interior lakes. Whereas the Joe Madere Marsh Canoe Launch has a picnic pavilion, boardwalk and marsh lands to explore when the water is high enough.
Fort Proctor
St. Bernard Parish, LA
Constructed in 1856 as a Civil War fort, Fort Proctor in St. Bernard Parish looks like the remains of a lost civilization. It once lay on a parcel of land near the city of Chalmette, but overtime was swallowed up by Lake Borgne and is now only accessible by boat. For a unique and history filled kayak, launch from Frank Campo’s Marina. It’s a quick paddle through the canals before you are on the lake and can explore the fort.
Bayou Bienvenue
Orleans Parish & St. Bernard Parish, LA
This 12-mile bayou runs the border between Orleans Parish and St. Bernard Parish. Bayou Bienvenue is less than five miles from the French Quarter and is the remains of the once great Mississippi River Delta swamp. It is best suited for intermediate and advanced kayakers and offers a stunning paddle through aquatic plant beds with views of the city skyline in the distance.
Manchac Swamp
St. John the Baptist Parish, LA
Right outside New Orleans, the Manchac Swamp is one of the most beautiful waterways in the state, but it’s also one of the most haunted. Referred to as “Ghost Swamp” by the locals, it is rumored to be haunted by a Creole voodoo priestess. It is incredibly scenic, secluded and pristine. Tours are offered by a local outfitter where you can join them for a guided paddle under the stars and hear the swamp come to life at night.
Jean Lafitte National Park
Marrero, LA
Named after a French pirate, Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve protects the natural and cultural resources of Louisiana’s Mississippi River Delta region. The park consists of six separate sites and a headquarters about 30 minutes outside of New Orleans. The Barataria Preserve trail offers an excellent taste of the area’s wild and diverse wetlands. It covers 20,000 acres of bayous, swamps, marshes and forest with seven interconnecting waterways to explore and three launches, Bayou des Familles in the Pecan Grove area, Twin Canals and Lower Kenta Canal. You may glimpse alligators, nutria and native birds.
Beautiful Log Kayak Storage for New Orleans
Get your kayak off the ground with Log Kayak Rack. Made from stunning cedar logs, our kayak racks beautifully display and store kayaks, canoes and SUP high and dry. They offer neat and orderly storage options for shorelines, cabins, beachfronts, backyards, cities, parks and rental facilities with racks that hold anywhere from one to 24 kayaks. Shop our kayak and canoe racks online now or contact us for a custom storage solution and enjoy free shipping to New Orleans, Louisiana.