For my 40th birthday I took a road trip to Louisiana to drive the Creole Nature Trail and camp on Rutherford Beach. I’m a nature photographer and always looking for new places to explore, and this trip was so much fun! Of course I had my Catahoula mix, Hemingway, along for the ride. Here’s everything we loved, what we would have done differently, and what you should know before you drive the Creole Nature Trail with your own adventure pup!
What is the Creole Nature Trail?
The National Scenic Byway Association describes this destination as 160 miles of scenic highway driving in the Southern Louisiana wilderness. It takes a minimum of 8-10 hours to explore the suggested stops along the way. Hem and I camped on Rutherford Beach for 3 nights and explored during the day – but I wish our trip had been longer. Our stay included:
- Cameron Prairie NWR
- Sabine NWR
- Lacassine NWR
- Rockefeller NWR
- Holly Beach
- Rutherford Beach
The wildlife and birds are incredibly diverse. I loved how each NWR has it’s own unique character. Each habitat is unique and there were so many breathtaking views. Most of the NWRs are wetland habitat. If I had a boat, I would have been in heaven. I didn’t, though, so I spent lots of time at overlooks, boardwalks, and wildlife drives. We saw so many people fishing along the roadsides, too! If I go back, I definitely want to get a fishing license.
Is this trip dog-friendly?
I felt like this was a very dog-friendly adventure. Many of the Wildlife Refuges along the route welcome well-behaved dogs on a leash. Leashed dogs are also welcome on all of the beaches.
Is it safe to drive the Creole Nature Trail with your dog?
That being said, there are lots of alligators in the NWRs! If you plan to hike with your dog, a leash is a must – for everyone’s safety.
We also saw Portuguese man o’ war jellies washing up on the beach our last morning there. So depending on the time of year (November-April), you’ll need to be vigilant on your beach walks.
Also, this is one adventure where it pays to be weather-aware. Louisiana gets hot and humid in the summer, and the humidity can make it challenging for your dog to cool down. This can be more of a problem for bulldogs or mixes with short snoots, but it’s important to watch all dogs for signs of heat stroke once the temp reaches 80F (or 70F if your dog has a snub nose).
What to know
I’d consider this an intermediate trip if you are camping, because of the remote nature of most of the NWRs and the (very) basic beach digs. It’s the Louisiana Outback, after all! Rutherford Beach is bare bones camping. There are dumpsters and portable toilets at the beach entrance, but other than that – no amenities.
- Stop by the Creole Nature Trail Adventure Point (visitor center) to get maps and up-to-date info when you start.
- There’s a small ferry in Cameron, LA. It was easy to board and there’s no fee going East, but it sometimes goes down briefly for maintenance. Plan accordingly.
- Always make sure you have at least a half tank of gas, and plan ahead so you know where the gas stations are. It’s remote, y’all!
- Despite feeling gloriously out in the middle of nowhere, I actually had good cell service most of the trip. Go figure!
- Rutherford Beach gets busy on the weekends. You may end up sharing the beach with 4-wheelers and dirt bikes, especially in the afternoons. The sand is firm, so you don’t really have to worry about getting stuck as long as you are careful.
- If you visit Rockefeller NWR, you’ll need a day use permit, but the other NWRs are free entry at the time of writing.
- Lacassine NWR is accessed by a long gravel road, and the wildlife drives are gravel. Make sure you are comfortable driving on gravel before you go.
What to bring
Besides your usual car camping supplies, there were a few things that stood out as extra important for this trip.
- Don’t forget your first aid kit! The area around the Creole Nature Trail All American Road is also known as the Louisiana Outback. Many of the wildlife refuges are remote and far from big towns. This is the first aid kit I use.
- Plenty of water for both you and your dog.
- Extra-long tent stakes for camping on the beach.
- Binoculars. The birding along the Trail is wonderful!
What I would do differently next time
I did a lot of planning before my trip and things went pretty smoothly. But there’s always room to improve! Next time, I will:
- Bring a shade tarp for the beach. I spent most of my time hanging out in my tent with the doors open to catch the breeze, which was fine, but a shade tarp would have been even better.
- Buy a different cooler. This trip made me realize that the one I have is pretty annoying. It doesn’t fit my car well, it’s too bulky to pick up easily, and I need to add more ice every other day and drain it daily.
- Add a small broom and dustpan to my car camping supplies. For my tent. Because. So. Much. Sand! I’ve gone beach camping before, but this trip was extra, extra sandy for some reason.
Enjoy your adventures!
Once your trip is underway, I hope you will take time to roll the windows down and enjoy the scenery while your dog enjoys all the smells. If you love camping and nature road trips, the Creole Nature Trail is a unique adventure for you and your dog.
Looking for other dog-friendly adventures? here’s a post of my favorite dog-friendly hikes at Georgia State Parks.
