Louisiana's Scenic Wetlands Wildlife Area Is Surrounded By 2 Lakes With Birding, Fishing, And Boating

For most people, the thought of Southern Louisiana conjures visions of swamps, bayous, cypress trees, alligators, and Cajun cuisine. The Manchac Wildlife Management Area features all of those natural elements and is only a short drive from some of the best food in the Pelican State. This scenic wetland is bracketed by two of the most iconic lakes in Louisiana, offering visitors an incredible array of outdoor activities, including birding, fishing, and boating. Given that it's only 45 minutes from downtown New Orleans, it is a perfect day trip for anyone staying in the Crescent City or visiting Southeast Louisiana.

Manchac WMA encompasses just over 8,300 acres of the Manchac Swamp in St. John the Baptist Parish. The WMA is bounded by Lake Pontchartrain, America's second-largest estuary, to the east and Lake Maurepas to the west. These two lakes are connected by Pass Manchac, which forms the northern border of the WMA. In addition to those brackish water lakes, there is a 500-acre freshwater pond inside Manchac WMA, as well as numerous canals. A mixture of palmettos, along with willow, cypress, tupelo, and maple trees, accent the prairie grass and aquatic vegetation.

A variety of wildlife can be found within this remote, rugged landscape. There are, of course, alligators, as well as the usual array of other swamp creatures, such as turtles, snakes, and nutria. There are also deer and an incredible assortment of birds, including egrets, ibis, owls, woodpeckers, and anhingas. However, one trio of avians is what most impresses visitors. Ospreys, roseate spoonbills, and bald eagles all reside within the Manchac WMA. The one caveat for birders is that, since this is swamp land, a boat or kayak is necessary to properly tour the WMA.

Boating and paddling is not just the best way for birders to tour the Manchac WMA; it is the best way to explore the swamp, period. There are a variety of ways in which this can be done. Boaters are able to launch at the North Pass boat ramp near the base of the I-55 bridge, just off of exit 15. DIY paddlers can launch their kayaks and canoes from the kayak launch adjacent to the western side of the boat ramp, then explore the shorelines and various canals of the WMA. There are also a number of boat and kayak tour operators offering trips through the Manchac WMA. Some, such as Crescent City Kayak, offer optional transportation from New Orleans to the swamp as well.

Regardless of whether you are going on your own or with a tour group, the shoulder seasons are typically considered the best times to tour the swamp, as there are plenty of active creatures to see, yet the temperatures are still manageable. Summer is another good season for spotting a variety of animals, but temperatures can be sweltering, and tour bookings may be more limited. During the winter, alligator sightings are not common. However, the swamp is full of birds at that time of year and the weather is typically pleasant. This is the best time of year to catch a glimpse of bald eagles.

Anglers launching boats or kayaks from the aforementioned North Pass launch site have direct access to the waters of North Pass (Pass Manchac), which connects Lake Maurepas to Lake Pontchartrain and runs along the northern edge of Manchac WMA. In the pass, as well as in the various canals in the WMA, fishermen can catch a variety of freshwater species, such as largemouth bass, bream, catfish, and crappie, which are known as sac-a-lait in this part of Louisiana.

Anglers putting in at the North Pass launch site also have easy access to fish the western portion of Lake Pontchartrain, which makes up the eastern boundary of the WMA. There, fishermen routinely catch saltwater species such as redfish, speckled trout, and black drum, as well as freshwater species of bass. Anyone fishing within the boundaries of the WMA must possess a WMA access permit in addition to a valid Louisiana fishing license.

Getting to Manchac WMA is relatively easy. It is located along I-55 between Ponchatoula, the World's "Strawberry Capital," and LaPlace. When coming in from Ponchatoula, visitors will pass through Joyce Wildlife Management Area, another lakeside wildlife area with scenic wetlands, which is north of Manchac. To get to Manchac WMA from New Orleans, where Louis Armstrong International Airport (MSY) is located, just take I-10 west, then head north on I-55 once you get to LaPlace.