Lake Martin, seven miles east of Lafayette, Louisiana, lies in the heart of the Acadian Region of Louisiana. Lake Martin sits within the 9,500-square acre Cypress Island Preserve, which is within Atchafalaya National Heritage Area.
At Lake Martin, a cypress-tupelo swamp and bottomland hardwood forest supports globally significant colonial nesting waterbird species. Around 270 species of birds make temporary and permanent homes in South Central Louisiana, plus alligators and racoons abound, along with a few bears.
The Lake Martin Region treats visitors and locals to authentic Acadian and Cajun culture. African American, English, French, Native American, and Spanish influences created the distinct arts, crafts, cuisine, customs, dance, language, and music that defines South Louisiana.
Acadians were the French colonists who landed on the Gulf of Mexico’s coast where Louisiana and Mississippi sit today. As the Acadians adapted to their new land full of bayous, swamps, and natural resources, they gave life to the American Cajun culture.
Where Is Lake Martin, Louisiana?
You will find Lake Martin in St. Martin Parish and the City of Lafayette in Lafayette Parish in South Central Louisiana near and at the crossroads of I-10 and US 90. From Lafayette, visitors can take LA 94 east and go south on LA 353/Prairie Highway for about five miles. Go left at the Rookery Road entrance on Lake Martin’s southern tip.
Rookery Road encircles Lake Martin. The northeastern entrance is from LA 31 between Breaux Bridge, and Parks, Louisiana, on the east, to Lake Martin Road. Rookery Road offers excellent gator-spotting opportunities. Alligators come dressed effectively camouflaged, but spotting them does not take too much practice.
What Animals Live in Lake Martin?
The Nature Conservancy maintains Lake Martin and works all over Louisiana to protect its environment. The enormous bird populations make Lake Martin one of Louisiana’s best known birding spots year-round. Canoeing, kayaking, and swamp tours allow visitors to see the amazing diversity of wildlife representing South Central Louisiana.
Lake Martin is an official wildlife sanctuary. The Nature Conservancy operates a visitor’s center and a boardwalk over the swamp at the south end of the lake. It offers a “bird check-list” so visitors can note the birds they discover.
Among the thousands of wild shorebirds and migratory songbirds, several varieties of neotropic and double-crested cormorants call Lake Martin home along with anhingas, bald eagles, hawks, loons, ospreys, owls, pelicans, roseate spoonbills, and warblers. Alligators nest and run amok all over Lake Martin.
A large invasive rodent, the nutria, also called the coypu, runs rampant at Lake Martin. Folklore tells us that coypus spread throughout the wetlands of Louisiana when a hurricane destroyed a McIlhenny family fur production facility. The McIlhenneys first mass-produced the original Tabasco sauce.
Lake Martin is home to amphibians like frogs and toads, reptiles like turtles and tortoises, and several species of venomous and nonvenomous snakes. A few black bears are known to hang around among wild boars, coyotes, and foxes.
Can You Swim in Lake Martin?
No, it is not safe to swim in Lake Martin because of the great amount of alligators and also because of bacteria. Visitors may see locals taking a dip in the Louisiana bayous and swamps. However, locals who swim in Louisiana bayous and swamps have generational experience swimming in them.
Is Lake Martin, Louisiana, Man-made?
Lake Martin is a natural lake and a wildlife preserve and ranges from five to 12-feet deep. The State of Louisiana built the Lake Martin Dam and completed construction in 1952. What is called Lake Martin today was formed by a ring levee surrounding its low cypress swamp, also built in 1952.
What City is Close to Lake Martin?
Lafayette is the closest city to Lake Martin at seven miles to its west. Baton Rouge is 55 miles to the east of Lake Martin. The small towns of Breaux Bridge and Parks lie less than ten miles to its east. Here are the directions from Lafayette and Baton Rouge:
From Lafayette:
- Take the I-10 exit 109 for LA 328 toward Breaux Bridge: 0.3 miles.
- Follow LA 328 South/Rees St, LA 31/South Main Street and Lake Martin to Rookery Rd: 6.6 miles.
- Turn right onto LA 328 South/Rees Street with signs for Breaux Bridge: 1.7 miles.
- Turn right onto East Bridge Street: 0.2 miles.
- Turn left onto LA 31/South Main Street: 2.7 miles.
- Turn right onto Lake Martin Road: 1.8 miles.
- Turn left onto Rookery Road.
From Baton Rouge:
- Take I-10 exit 115 for LA 347 toward Henderson/Cecilia: 0.3 miles.
- Continue on LA 347. Take Doyle Melancon Road and Lake Martin Road to Rookery Road: 10.3 miles.
- Turn left onto LA 347 with signs for Henderson: 3.4 miles.
- Turn left onto Andrew Broussard/Doyle Melancon Road/Par Road 214. Continue to follow Doyle Melancon Road: 3.0 miles.
- Turn right onto Clayton Castille Road: 0.9 miles.
- Turn right onto LA 347: 0.2 miles.
- Turn left onto LA 351: 0.7 miles.
- Turn right onto LA 31: 0.3 miles.
- Turn left onto Lake Martin Road: 1.8 miles.
- Turn left onto Rookery Road.
