10 Best Outdoor Adventures in New Orleans

City Park is a vast park with a large collection of live oak trees, athletic fields, and attractions like carousels, museums, and botanical gardens. Located about 15 minutes from downtown, City Park is a popular destination for residents and visitors and one of the oldest parks in the country.

For outdoor adventure, nothing beats City Park. You’ll find driving ranges, golf courses, tennis courts, baseball fields, and other athletic fields. The park also has a birding corridor, a dog park, bike and boat rentals, an amusement park, horse stables, and a vast forest with walking trails and ponds

Audubon Park is a municipal park on the riverfront that’s home to an abundance of wildlife. Located about 6 miles west of downtown, the park is a popular birding spot that was named in honor of artist and naturalist John James Audubon.

The park has picnic areas and athletic fields along the Mississippi River for outdoor fun and recreation. Birders and nature lovers enjoy the park for its abundance of wading birds, including ibis, herons, and egrets. You’ll also find ducks, cormorants, and other birds that stop in during migration.

The New Orleans Kayak Swamp Tours company offers an opportunity to explore the swamps near the city and experience its unique ecosystems. Swamp tours take place in various swamp areas near the city and provide different experiences, such as historic tours, eco-tours, and more.

You can choose from tours that take you to places like the Bayou Bienvenue or the Manchac Swamp. Experienced guides help you navigate the swamp and offer insights into the ecology and flora and fauna of the area, as well as point out historic locations and share local lore along the way. Swamp tours are suited to different skill levels, so you can enjoy as much adventure as you wish.

The Barataria Preserve offers an adventure in the wild wetlands of Louisiana that are home to alligators, birds, and other wildlife. Located about 26 minutes from downtown, the preserve offers 26,000 acres of bayous, marshes, swamps, and forests with walking trails and boardwalks among native wildlife.

You can take a trail map for a self-guided tour or book a guided tour to learn about the wildlife and ecosystem in the area. On your tour, you may spot alligators, turtles, snakes, and wading birds. Before you go, you can stop in the visitor center to get field guides, insect repellent, children’s books, and other gear.

Crescent Park is a 20-acre urban park with landscaping, bike paths, a dog area, and multiuse pavilions for outdoor fun. Located east of downtown in the French Market District, Crescent Park is easily accessible by car, bus, or riverfront trolley.

The park is a lovely place to go to get some fresh air and enjoy the scenery and riverfront views, but it’s also a popular spot for biking and walking dogs. You can bring the family for a riverfront picnic or nature exploration with the kids.

A steamboat cruise at Woldenberg Riverfront Park is a great way to take in the views of the city landmarks from the water. Located east of downtown on the Mississippi River, the park features several art installations, including the New Orleans Holocaust Memorial Sculpture and the Ocean Song steel sculpture.

When you take a steamboat cruise, you’ll have a unique vantage point on New Orleans landmarks and the romance and history of the city. You’ll pass numerous attractions, such as Jackson Square, the Aquarium of the Americas, and Canal Street.

Paddleboarding in Bayou St. John is a fun way to experience New Orleans like a local and travel through the city’s waterways. You can book paddleboarding tours, kayak tours, and other adventure experiences on Bayou St. John that are suited to your skill level and group.

Located north of downtown, several tour operators offer bayou paddleboarding that includes equipment rentals, itineraries, and experienced guides. You can book trips for exploration, family fun, paddleboard yoga, bird-watching, and more, ensuring you can make the most of the experience on the water.

The Mississippi River Trail is an extensive trail for hiking and biking that travels along the Mississippi River. The trail begins from Lake Itasca in Minnesota and stretches all the way to the mouth of the river in Venice, Louisiana, but the New Orleans portion travels through Jefferson, Orleans, St. Charles, St. James, and St. John the Baptist counties.

In total, over 60 miles of the trail are near the city, and you’ll have plenty of opportunities to get on the trail and experience the landscape. The most popular portion of the trail extends from Audubon Park to the Bonnet Carre Spillway in St. Charles Parish.