Couturie Forest
Overview
Expert Summary
Detailed Insights
Couturie Forest offers a vast and serene natural escape, uniquely combining extensive walking trails with rich educational opportunities about local flora and fauna. It's a prime spot for diverse wildlife observation, including a wide array of birds, lizards, and even gator heads, making it an engaging outdoor classroom experience.
Key Highlights
- ✓Extensive network of trails, described as 'HUGE' and allowing for multiple visits to explore different areas.
- ✓Abundant wildlife viewing opportunities, including specific birds like White Ibises, Mallards, Snowy Egrets, Downy Woodpeckers, Yellow-rumped Warblers, Blue Jays, Northern Cardinals, as well as bunnies, butterflies, lizards, and gator heads.
- ✓Informative signs providing nature and history lessons, teaching 'all ages' about the importance of forests and local wildlife.
- ✓Unique ecological observation where wetlands meet the forest, with glimpses of grassland birds.
- ✓Well-kept and beautiful trails, with one review noting 'no litter at all'.
- ✓Picnic tables available for a quiet family lunch amidst nature.
- ✓Generally uncrowded and serene atmosphere, offering a peaceful outdoor experience.
Standout Features
- ⭐Interactive educational signs about nature and history.
- ⭐Diverse and abundant wildlife viewing.
- ⭐Vast and varied trail system suitable for long walks and multiple visits.
- ⭐Dog-friendly trails (though trash disposal for waste is a concern).
- ⭐Designated picnic tables for family meals.
- ⭐Uncrowded environment, allowing for a peaceful experience.
Perfect For
Ideal For
💡Pro Tips from Reviews
- →**Bring bug spray** to combat the 'more than a few mosquitoes'.
- →**Plan to carry all trash (e.g., dog poop bags, empty water bottles) with you** until you exit, as trash cans are only at the entrance.
- →**Supervise children closely near water bodies** due to the reported presence of gator heads.
- →**Check local weather forecasts** if your primary goal is extensive bird watching, as cold fronts can reduce sightings.
- →**Utilize the free parking** and access the trails by walking across the bridge.
- →**Pack a picnic lunch** to enjoy at the available picnic tables.
Things to Consider
- ⚠Lack of trash cans throughout the trails, with disposal only at the very entrance, leading to some littering of dog waste bags and water bottles.
- ⚠Presence of 'more than a few mosquitoes' can be a nuisance, especially near water.
- ⚠Observations of 'gator heads swimming around' require parental supervision near water.
- ⚠Wildlife spotting, particularly birds, can be weather-dependent (e.g., fewer sightings during a cold front).
- ⚠Location is 'a bit of a walk from other sections of City Park', potentially making it less convenient for those combining it with other park activities.
Price & Value
Entry to Couturie Forest is free. Free parking is also available, making it a highly valuable, no-cost family outing for nature exploration.
♿Accessibility & Special Needs
- •No specific accommodations for special needs or wheelchairs are mentioned in the reviews, but the trails are described as 'well-kept' and 'beautiful'.
🍎Food & Drink Policy
- •Outside food and drinks (e.g., water bottles, picnic lunches) are permitted and encouraged, with picnic tables available for use.
🚗Parking Info
- •Free parking is available, and visitors access the trails by walking across a bridge from the parking area.
👥Crowd Levels
- •Generally not crowded, described as 'serene' and 'mostly not crowded'. The vast size also contributes to a feeling of spaciousness, even if others are present.
🛡️Safety Features
- •No specific safety features (e.g., staff supervision, first aid stations, security) are explicitly mentioned beyond the general 'well-kept' nature of the park. The presence of gator heads in water bodies implies a need for parental vigilance and supervision.
- •Lack of readily available trash cans could lead to unhygienic conditions from litter if not managed by visitors.
⏰When to Avoid
- • Families highly sensitive to mosquitoes without proper repellent.
- • If you require frequent and convenient trash disposal points during your walk.
- • If your primary goal is high-energy playground equipment or structured activities.
- • Expectations of seeing abundant wildlife during adverse weather conditions like a cold front.
- • If you are looking for activities directly adjacent to other City Park amenities, as it requires a bit of a walk.
Pricing/Package/Events
Events & Schedule
Special Events(Last 2 months - Next 6 months)
High School Football
October 2, 2025 (Thursday)
Local schools square off under the Tad Gormley lights. Location: Tad Gormley Stadium.
High School Football
October 2, 2025 (Thursday)
Local schools square off under the Pan Am Stadium lights. Location: Pan American Stadium.
High School Football
October 3, 2025 (Friday)
Local schools square off under the Pan Am Stadium lights. Location: Pan American Stadium.
High School Football
October 3, 2025 (Friday)
Local schools square off under the Tad Gormley lights. Location: Tad Gormley Stadium.
Fall Garden Festival
October 4, 2025 (Saturday)
The New Orleans Botanical Garden will be alive with gardening gurus from all over the southeast. This year, the Fall Garden Festival showcases everything in one dynamic day – with… Location: Botanical Garden.
🍎Food Policy
- • Kitchen in the Garden (located within Botanical Garden) policy: No outside food or drink allowed.
🛡️Safety Policy
- • City Park Police: 504-421-9307
- • In the event of an emergency, call 911.
What People Say
What's Great
- Spacious play areas (mentioned in 5 reviews)
Areas for Improvement
- Parking can be challenging (mentioned in 4 reviews)
Recent Reviews
Jessica Schultz
a month agoI love Couturie Forest; it's such a serene, lovely place to walk! The forest is beautiful, and I enjoy walking and birding here. I also really like the signs and education given here to help people of all ages learn the importance of forests, and what kinds of wildlife live in them! I spotted White Ibises, Mallards, Snowy Egrets, Downy Woodpeckers, Yellow-rumped Warblers, Blue Jays, Northern Cardinals, and several more here; it's a lovely forest and also a lovely place to see where the wetlands meet the forest, and you can also catch glimpses of grassland birds that roam around across the water. :) I have been here (at least) twice, and I would absolutely go again. It's a lovely place to walk and enjoy nature. :)
Joe Pilato
9 months agoBeautiful park, though a bit of a walk from other sections of City Park. We saw several species of birds, some lizards, and a few gator heads swimming around. Not to mention beautiful plants (and more than a few mosquitoes).
Terri Lacombe
a year agoMy god I love this place. HUGE. When you walk over an into the forest there’s a trail to the left middle and right. It is so big that after finishing one day I went back another day and saw areas I didn’t see the first time. - was able to see 2 bunnies, a red cardinal, and lord of butterflies. My dog loved the trail. My only complaint is there’s no trash cans. But at the very entrance so if you have a poop bag or bottle of water you finished you must hold it the whole entire walk. To refrain from littering. I did see a few poop bags littered. It upset me because I wouldn’t want to be penalized for them as far as dogs being welcomed. So I def think atleast one trash can in the middle could totally help.
Vann V
a year agoA beautiful and well-kept city park for sure!! There was no litter at all. I only saw a few birds today, but I’m guessing there wasn’t much because of the cold front coming to town. Very spacious area and beautiful trails
Katie Ellison
2 years agoWalk across the bridge at the free parking for a hike amongst many different species of trees. I liked looking at different bark and walking along the water edge to watch birds. There are some signs with informative nature and history lessons. Mostly, the area is not crowded and has picnic tables for a quiet lunch.