Lake Martin Rookery

The basics

Birdcalls fill the air with a bright chorus at this Lake Martin nesting area. To see the birds, all you have to do is pull over—they’re often visible from the side of Rookery Road that runs along the lake edge. It’s possible to walk around the lake, too, by taking a 5-mile (8-kilometer) trail that links the levee walkway with Rookery Road. Between storms and nesting seasons, however, the trails are sometimes closed, so it’s a good idea to check updated conditions before you arrive.

Things to know before you go

• Bring binoculars or a camera with a zoom, since the birds are best observed from a distance.

• Dogs and other pets are not allowed off the levee trail—they can disturb wildlife so consider leaving them at home.

• Watch for signs indicating nesting seasons, since the trail is periodically closed.

How to get there

The Lake Martin Rookery is only 8 miles (13 kilometers) from Lafayette, and most visitors come by car; free parking is available on-site. You’ll find a small visitor center and pavilion on Prairie Highway (Highway 353) at the south end of Lake Martin, just south of the intersection with Rookery Road.

When to get there

For much of the year, the trails are open from dawn until dusk. The visitor center is often staffed on the weekends, as well as some weekdays in the busier spring months; the rookery is particularly busy with nesting activity from March through June. Note that the levee trail is usually closed June 1 through October 1 for alligator nesting season, and is sometimes closed at other times.

Where to see alligators in Louisiana

While you don’t have to make a special trip to see Louisiana alligators, there are a few hot spots worth knowing about. The animals are a common sight on swamp tours out of Breaux Bridge and the Cajun country outside of New Orleans. The tours, often by water-skimming air boat, are a great way to see other local plants and wildlife, too—amid cypress and tupelo trees towering from the waters are native snakes, herons, egrets, and more.