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    Home » Travel

    Published: Jun 7, 2018 · Updated: Feb 14, 2025 by JohnTillison · This post may contain affiliate links

    Cameron Prairie National Wildlife Refuge

    Cameron Prairie National Wildlife Refuge is an epic birding destination near Lake Charles, Louisiana! This is due to the fact that it is at the convergence of the Mississippi and Central flyways in the United States. Numerous birds make year-round residences here while millions make their way through this region in the spring and fall during migration.

    Needless to say this should be on any birdwatchers ( In my case, Bird Nerd) list of places to visit. Here is what you need to know about Cameron Prairie National Wildlife Refuge.

    Plan your perfect trip to Cameron Prairie National Wildlife Refuge in Southwest Louisiana with my things to do, travel tips and much more! #cameronprairie #nationalwildliferefuge #creolenaturetrail #wildlifeviewing

    UPDATE - Cameron Prairie received damage during the last hurricanes. They are still waiting on federal funds to repair the damage. Please be aware that there is damage to buildings and boardwalks before visiting.

    History of Cameron Prairie National Wildlife Refuge

    Twenty-Five Miles Southeast of Lake Charles Louisiana lies the Cameron Prairie National Wildlife Refuge. It's 9,621 acres include fresh marsh, coastal prairie, and old rice fields in the Gibbstown Unit play an important role for migrating birds.

    The refuge also manages the East Cove Unit which consists of 14,927 acres of brackish and salt marsh. The Cameron Prairie National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1988  and was the first refuge established under the North American Waterfowl Management Plan, a treaty among Canada, Mexico, and the United States.

    Plan your perfect trip to Cameron Prairie National Wildlife Refuge in Southwest Louisiana with my things to do, travel tips and much more! #cameronprairie #nationalwildliferefuge #creolenaturetrail #wildlifeviewing
    Purple Gallinule along the Pintail Wildlife Drive in Cameron Prairie National Wildlife Refuge

    Things To Do at Cameron Prairie National Wildlife Refuge

    Wildlife Viewing and Photography at Cameron Prairie NWR

    Cameron Prairie is your chance to truly enjoy the Louisiana Outback at its finest! Wildlife is abundant and makes wildlife viewing and photography opportunities endless. The best places to spot wildlife are the Pintail Wildlife Drive, the visitor center and all along the Creole Nature Trail.

    Cameron Prairie Visitor Center

    The Cameron Prairie Visitor Center makes a great first stop. Here you can get brochures, plan your trip, walk through the interpretative displays and walk out back of the visitor center to a boardwalk giving you your first taste of Cameron Prairie National Wildlife Refuge.

    Make sure to look around as we saw several birds, many of which blended in very well. We also saw several turtles in the water near the boardwalks!

    Plan your perfect trip to Cameron Prairie National Wildlife Refuge in Southwest Louisiana with my things to do, travel tips and much more! #cameronprairie #nationalwildliferefuge #creolenaturetrail #wildlifeviewing

    Pintail Wildlife Drive

    The Pintail Wildlife Drive is the gem of the Cameron Prairie National Wildlife Refuge!

    Be prepared to drive slow as you look for birds, alligators, and numerous other wildlife as you get up close to some of the best wildlife viewings in the area!

    The road itself is an easy three-mile gravel loop road.  A short distance into the drive is a short boardwalk to your right.

    ParkRangerJohn Pro Tips for viewing wildlife: 

    • Do not attempt to drive while looking at/for wildlife! We saw a motorhome attempt this while driving the Pintail Loop Drive as the motor home left the roadway and almost rolled off the edge of the bank into the alligator-filled waters.
    • Walk & Drive slow. Don't be that person that tries to see wildlife out of a windshield at 30+ miles per hour leaving everyone else in the dust. Your opportunities for seeing wildlife are greatly reduced for you while frustrating everyone else
    • Be patient!
    • Do not wear strong odors or wear perfumes and/or colognes
    • Bring binoculars & a bird guide
    • Animals tend to be more active in the morning and evening but alligators can be seen throughout the day
    • Look for movement, colors, and shape
    • If you are looking for a particular bird: know their chirp/song, desired habitat, times of year they migrate to/from etc.
    Plan your perfect trip to Cameron Prairie National Wildlife Refuge in Southwest Louisiana with my things to do, travel tips and much more! #cameronprairie #nationalwildliferefuge #creolenaturetrail #wildlifeviewing
    Boardwalk Overlook at the Cameron Prairie National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center

    Hiking at Cameron Praire National Wildlife Refuge

    There are two short boardwalks; the first is at the visitor center and the second is along the Pintail Wildlife Drive. You will not find miles of designated and maintained trails at Cameron Prairie.

    I like to remind people that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Mission is to administer a national network of lands and waters for the conservation, management, and where appropriate, restoration of the fish, wildlife, and plant resources and their habitats within the United States for the benefit of present and future generations of Americans.

    This means that their primary focus is on conservation and protecting Endangered and Threatened Species.

    Do you know the number of species that are either Endangered or Threatened in the U.S.? There are well over 900 flowering plants, 160 fish, and over 100 birds protected in the United States!

     

    Plan your perfect trip to Cameron Prairie National Wildlife Refuge in Southwest Louisiana with my things to do, travel tips and much more! #cameronprairie #nationalwildliferefuge #creolenaturetrail #wildlifeviewing
    Cattle Egret at Cameron Prairie National Wildlife Refuge

    Travel Tips for Cameron Prairie National Wildlife Refuge

    Carry plenty of water, snacks, sunscreen, and insect repellent

    Bring cameras, guidebooks, and binoculars for wildlife viewing

    There is no fee to enter Cameron Prairie National Wildlife Refuge

    Cameron Prairie National Wildlife Refuge Address

    Southwest Louisiana National Wildlife Refuge Complex
    1428 Highway 27
    Bell City LA 70630

    Phone Number: 337-598-2216
    Email: SWLRComplex@fws.gov

    Cameron Prairie Visitor Center Hours:

    Monday-Thursday  7:30-4:00

    Friday 7:30-3:00

    Saturday 9:00-4:00

    Cameron Prairie National Wildlife Refuge is a great place to visit and is part of the Creole Nature Trail. Make sure to check out more information about:

    Creole Nature Trail

    Grosse Savanne Eco-Tours

    Sabine National Wildlife Refuge

    Restaurants in Lake Charles Louisiana

    Things to do In Lake Charles Louisiana

     

    Plan your perfect trip to Cameron Prairie National Wildlife Refuge in Southwest Louisiana with my things to do, travel tips and much more! #cameronprairie #nationalwildliferefuge #creolenaturetrail #wildlifeviewing

    Thank you Lake Charles CVS for hosting our trip to Lake Charles

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    Filed Under: Outdoor Life, Things to Do, Travel

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Shirley and Dick Good says

      March 13, 2023 at 5:25 pm

      Why is nothing open at Cameron Prairie? No Visitor Center, picnic area, restrooms, boardwalks, no posted information. Boardwalks and gazebo are in terrible disrepair. No one around to give information. Why?

      Reply
      • JohnTillison says

        March 20, 2023 at 8:49 am

        Hi,
        We reached out and found out that the Wildlife Refuge is still waiting on federal aid from the hurricanes since they are federally owned and maintained structures.
        The Creole Nature Trail center is open in Sulphur.

        Reply

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