Northlake Nature Center

Northlake Nature Center sits just minutes from the busy suburban streets of St. Tammany Parish, yet feels worlds away from traffic, screens, and schedules. Here, the pace slows as several miles of trails wind through a landscape where nature quietly takes over. Elevated boardwalks and natural paths invite visitors to explore a compact but diverse outdoor setting in Mandeville.

boardwalk through forested wetland at northlake nature center — Elevated boardwalk trail at Northlake Nature Center.

three habitats – one small space

One of the features of Northlake Nature Center is how quickly the scenery changes. According to park naturalist Alex Landry, the area offers a chance to experience multiple ecosystems in a relatively small footprint. “A really good example of three kind of habitats. We have the Cypress Tupelo Swamp, which you could see behind me, there is kind of a mixed pine hardwoods, and then on the north end, it’s becoming a longleaf pine savannah,” Landry explains.

boarded up brick building overgrown with trees in woods — Remains of brick club house from never-completed 1930’s golf course at Northlake Nature Center.

a bit of history hidden in the woods

As visitors move from swampy lowlands lined with cypress trees to higher ground dotted with large pines, they may notice something unexpected—hills. Those rises aren’t entirely natural. “You’ll notice that it’s kind of hilly. There’s a change in elevation, and that’s actually remnants of an old golf course that was built here,” Landry says. The abandoned project dates back to the 1930s, and the crumbling clubhouse still stands as a quiet reminder of an unfinished chapter in Louisiana history. The project was started by a former governor, Richard Leche, but abandoned when his term ended in scandal and prison time.

walking the trails of northlake nature center

The park provides several miles of paths for hikers, bird watchers, and anyone looking to reconnect with the outdoors. For many visitors, Northlake is part of a routine. Hiker Dustin Tamor uses the trails to stay fit for backpacking trips. “Come out maybe twice, three times a week, try to do at least five or six miles, sometimes up to 11 or 12 miles,” he says. Others come for something less measurable. Laura Flannery, often accompanied by her cat, visits almost daily. “I pretty much come here every morning. It’s just so beautiful here and I feel like every time I come, you find something new,” she says.

Landry believes places like this are increasingly important. “So much of the world today is on a screen with algorithms and AI and, you know, the outdoors is I think the anecdote to it,” he says.

from walking to a sunset paddle

A short distance away, the experience continues on Cane Bayou, where guides with Canoe and Trail Adventures lead sunset paddles toward Lake Pontchartrain. In just a mile and a half, the scenery shifts again. “Kinda that hardwood pine forest feel… and then it transitions from the swamp to the marsh,” says guide Matt May.

kayakers paddle on a tree lined bayou — A guided paddle tour on Cane Bayou near Mandeville, LA.

Moving slowly allows time to spot water lilies, birds, and even an alligator watching quietly from the bayou. As the sun sets over Lake Pontchartrain, the water glows orange before fading into a peaceful, moonlit paddle home. “You know, we go slow. We take our time. Hopefully just a sense of calm as well,” May says.