Tickfaw State Park
|
|
|
|
27225 Patterson Road, Springfield, LA 70462-8906 225-294-5020 or 888-981-2020 toll free For reservations, call 1-877-CAMP-N-LA (877-226-7652) toll free. Email: tickfaw@crt.la.gov Directions: Take I-12 to the Albany/Springfield exit. Travel 2 miles south on LA 43, merge with LA 42 and continues one mile to the center of Springfield. Turn west on LA 1037 and travel six miles to Patterson Road (across from Woodland Baptist Church), then south 1.2 miles to the park entrance. GPS Coordinates: N 30 22.9342, W 90 37.8761. Hours of Operation: Gates are open 7 a.m. to 9 p.m., Sunday through Thursday. April-September, entrance station is open 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.; October-March, entrance station is open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. All park sites close at 10 p.m. on Friday, Saturday and days preceding holidays. Entrance Fees: $1 per person; Free for Seniors (62 and older) and children age 3 and under |
Strolling through four ecosystems on over a mile of boardwalks through Tickfaw State Park, visitors can experience the sights and sounds of a cypress/tupelo swamp, a bottomland hardwood forest, a mixed pine/hardwood forest and the Tickfaw River.
Periodically the park site serves the region by detaining floodwaters when winter and spring rains overflow the steep banks of the Tickfaw River. These periods of occasional flooding offer a unique opportunity to educate visitors on the importance of periodic flooding in the cycle of life that makes wetlands an invaluable habitat and breeding ground for wildlife and fisheries.
Check posted program schedules for guided hikes on the boardwalks, or you may prefer the more relaxed approach offered during a nature program presentation at one of the three education pavilions and an outdoor amphitheater at the nature center. You can also join a nighttime program, go night hiking or listen to the swamp nightlife from the porch of your vacation cabin.
Bicycle, stroll, or skate the interconnecting park roadways. Rent a canoe and take a fun-filled trip on this unique section of the Tickfaw River. Visitors can bring their own canoes or rent ones supplied by an available canoe vendor. The Water Playground offers refreshing fun for those not quite adventurous enough to explore the swamps and sloughs.
A gift shop in the Nature Center (open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily) offers souvenirs with a local flavor.
| Deluxe Cabins | 14 available, 2 are ADA compliant | $120/night, Oct-Mar; $150/night on Fridays & Saturdays, Apr-Sept, sleeps up to 8 people with 1 double beds, 2 bunk beds and 1 sofa sleeper |
| Group Camp | $250/night | Includes dining hall/kitchen and 2 dormitory-style wings, sleeping up to 52 people |
Camping:
| 30 Improved Campsites (water and electrical hookup) | $16/night, Oct-Mar; $20/night, Apr-Sept |
| 20 Unimproved Campsites (water hookup only) | $12/night |
|
America the Beautiful Passes (formerly Golden Age & Golden Access Passports) (Available through the National Park Service. Visit www.nps.gov/fees_passes.htm for more information) Holders of the Passes, whose state of residence also honors the America the Beautiful pass, are entitled to a 50% reduction on camping fees at Louisiana State Parks. (Passport holders are allowed one site per passport). | |
Rental Boats (State Park operated rentals)
| Canoes | $20 per day | includes paddles, life jackets |
| ||
Trails at Tickfaw State Park:
Nearby Attractions:
Kliebert's Turtle and Alligator Tours (41607 West Yellow Road, Hammond, LA 70401) - Tours include the turtle and alligator farms as well as a bird sanctuary with egrets and herons nesting over the alligators.
Ponchatoula - "America's Antique City" (7 miles south of Hammond on I-55) - Historic District renovated in 1920-30 period featuring over 60 antique stores representing 200 dealers.
Fairview-Riverside State Park (12 miles east of Madisonville on LA Hwy. 22) - Nestled among magnificent live oaks on the edge of the cool clear waters of the Tchefuncte River, this park features 81 improved campsites, excellent fishing, canoeing, and picnicking. A nearby boat ramp offers access to the park and Lake Pontchartrain.
Joyce Wildlife Management Area (2 miles south of Ponchatoula off I-55) - This area is primarily a cypress-tupelo swamp with a small tract of fresh marsh. A boardwalk offers birding and opportunities to view wildlife. Hunting allowed in season.
Global Wildlife Park (26389 Hwy. 40, Folsom, La 70437) - Get eye to eye with giraffes and many other species! 900 acres, more than 200 free-ranging animals, 90-minute guided-covered-wagon tours.
BREC Bluebonnet Swamp Nature Center (10503 N. Oak Hills Parkway, Baton Rouge, LA 70810) - Take a unique walk into the Bluebonnet Swamp in the heart of the city. Educational exhibits and a gift shop.