Chemin-A-Haut State Park sits on 503 acres of rolling hills above Bayou Bartholomew in Bastrop, Louisiana — a landscape that feels distinctly different from the flat marshlands most people picture when they think of the state. Established in 1935 as one of Louisiana’s original Civilian Conservation Corps parks, its name comes from a Native American trail meaning “road on high,” a nod to the elevated bluffs that give the park its character.

The park’s standout feature is its position along Bayou Bartholomew, the longest bayou in the world. Paddlers can launch directly into the waterway for kayaking and canoeing through cypress-tupelo corridors teeming with herons, turtles, and the occasional alligator. Back on land, hiking trails wind through hardwood forests of oak, hickory, and sweetgum, offering a quieter alternative to Louisiana’s more heavily visited parks.

Families gravitate toward the Olympic-sized swimming pool (open seasonally), playgrounds, and the well-maintained picnic pavilions tucked under old-growth shade trees. Fishing along the bayou and in the park’s stocked pond draws anglers year-round, with bass and catfish being the reliable catches.

With a 4.5-star rating across nearly 400 reviews, visitors consistently praise the park’s peaceful atmosphere and well-kept grounds. Spring and fall deliver the most comfortable weather for exploring, though winter birding along the bayou is underrated.

Chemin-A-Haut rewards travelers willing to venture into northeast Louisiana’s overlooked corner — a place where the land rises, the water slows, and the crowds thin out.

Explore Nearby

• Historic US 80 / Dixie Overland — Scenic Byway in Louisiana
• Delta National Forest — National Forest in Mississippi
• Boom or Bust Byway — Scenic Byway in Louisiana
• Natchez LightA — Lighthouse in Mississippi