Did you know that Louisiana is home to the largest bald cypress tree in the United States? Don’t feel bad if your answer was no! Actually, our Frugal Family Travelers were unaware of this as well until a recent trip to St. Francisville, Louisiana.
At 83 ft. tall and 54 ft. in circumference, the bald cypress at Cat Island National Wildlife Refuge is the 6th largest tree in the US. Even more impressive is that the tree is estimated to be between 1,000-1,500 years old. This is pretty impressive considering that the 5 top oldest trees in the United States reside in California!
Piqued your interest yet? We certainly hope so! With that being said, do not be deterred from planning a visit here if you are not a skilled hiker. The trail from the parking area to the tree is short and the terrain quite flat, which makes this a very accessible adventure for the youngest and even most inexperienced hikers.
The record tree and surrounding grove of old growth cypress trees are breathtaking and certainly worthy to add to your outdoor bucket list! Scroll down to view photos, details, directions and also other attractions in the area to make visiting St. Francisville a true get-away.
Admission:
Free
Web-site:
Cat Island National Wildlife Refuge
Click below for Directions:
Cat Island National Wildlife Refuge
Driving Directions to the Headquarters
From U.S. Highway 61 in St. Francisville take Commerce Street into town. The office is located at 5720 Commerce St. It is co-located with the St. Francisville Inn, which is next to the park and across the street from the Ford dealership.
Driving Directions to the Refuge
From U.S. Highway 61 go north of St. Francisville to Highway 66 and turn left (west toward Angola). After 1.5 miles, turn left on Solitude Road. Go about 3.5 miles and turn right at the refuge sign. Go another 1.5 miles to the refuge entrance. Enjoy your visit to Cat Island National Wildlife Refuge!
Note: The refuge is used by hunters. Check the official website for hunting schedules, refuge rules and closures before traveling here. However, don’t be deterred! Plan a visit- it’s a spectacular place to behold!
Follow the links below to discover and create a full weekend (or longer) itinerary of activities in the area!
Mary Ann Brown Nature Preserve
The Myrtles - most haunted historic home!
Clark Creek - waterfalls in Louisiana.
Audubon State Historic Site/old Centenary Collage/Train Museum
Enjoy the pictures from our Frugal Family Adventure:
Look carefully to the right side base of the tree. Our Frugal Family Traveler (pictured in purple) gives you an idea of the scale of the tree!
