Location
The Cypress Island Preserve, which includes the focal point of Lake Martin, is situated between Breaux Bridge and Lafayette, La.

 

Open during daylight hours. The walking trail starting along the levee is closed during alligator nesting season, June through October. The rookery is closed to all entry from Feb. 1 through July 31 for breeding bird season.

 

Size
About 9,500 acres of important cypress-tupelo swamp and bottomland hardwood forest habitat is protected.

 

The 2.5-mile walking levee trail and connected 1-mile trail system is open from the fall to the spring and is suitable for children. Because this remarkable natural area is easily accessible and affords visitors with incredible wildlife viewing opportunities, our Cypress Island Preserve receives thousands of visitors a year. We are currently finalizing plans to build a public visitor center on a strategic location on our preserve in the coming year. There are currently no restroom facilities on site.

 

Please review the following visitation guidelines:

Directions
Cypress Island Preserve is located about halfway between the town of Breaux Bridge and the city of Lafayette. Lake Martin, the preserve's main visitor attraction, is approached by two paved roads, Highway 353 from Lafayette and Highway 31 from Breaux Bridge. A small parking area is located at the southwest end of Lake Martin, where the walking levee trail may be accessed through the adjacent gate. Another parking area is located at the northern end of the lake from Rookery Road, where the north end of the walking levee trail may be accessed through the adjacent gate.

 

What to see: plants
This cypress-tupelo swamp and bottomland hardwood forest habitat is a relic of the mysterious swamps of the past, with old-growth live oaks and cypress covered with Spanish moss.

 

The preserve is home to a spectacular wading bird rookery that supports thousands of nesting birds each spring. Nesting white ibis, anhinga, cormorant, snowy egret, little blue heron, green heron, great egret, roseate spoonbill, tri-color heron, yellow-crowned night heron, black-crowned night heron, and great blue heron may be observed. The walking levee trail on the preserve is also a good place to observe trans-gulf migratory songbirds. As you visit the preserve, keep an eye out for the many reptiles and amphibians that call this area home, including all sizes of American alligators.

 

What the Conservancy is doing
The Nature Conservancy of Louisiana's goal is to restore 20,000 acres of natural cypress-tupelo swamp and bottomland hardwood forest, in order to support a diverse array of indigenous species of plants and wildlife. Using culturally appropriate and eco-friendly building techniques to add a public parking area, picnic area, much-needed restrooms and a short boardwalk will enable the Conservancy to minimize disturbance to the rookery while accomodating public visitation.