Fontainebleau State Park

Introduction

Fontainebleau State Park, located on the north shore of Lake Pontchartrain in southeastern Louisiana near New Orleans, is a green paradise where residents of the Jazz City escape urban hustle on weekends. The park covers about 2,800 acres, spanning pine forests and wetlands along the lakeshore. Historically, this was the site of a sugar cane plantation and sugar mill, with the preserved sugar mill chimney ruins witnessing the glory of 19th century Louisiana's sugar industry. The park is named after the French Fontainebleau Palace, reflecting Louisiana's deep French cultural roots. The park features multiple campgrounds, picnic areas, and lakes, making it an ideal destination for boating, fishing, hiking, and bird watching. The most attractive feature is the 13-mile composite trail system that traverses pine forests, cypress swamps, and lakeside wetlands, where visitors can observe alligators, egrets, pelicans, and various waterfowl. During fall migration season, the park becomes a paradise for bird watchers, with hundreds of migratory species stopping here.

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