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Home/Featured/Tickfaw State Park
suspention bridge in forest over river in Tickfaw State Park

Tickfaw State Park

All boardwalks temporarily closed due to Hurricane Ida damage.

Tickfaw State Park at Springfield is the perfect place for nature lovers to explore several Louisiana habitats. You can walk through pine forests and swamp river bottoms on a series of trails and boardwalks.

cypress and tupelo trees standing in water with boardwalk hiking path at Tickfaw State Park Louisiana
A boardwalk takes visitors through a flooded cypress-tupelo swamp

Several hiking trails wind through this heavily wooded state park in Livingston Parish. You will experience a pine forest, and then follow a raised boardwalk deep into a cypress-tupelo swamp that gets wetter and wetter the closer you get to the Tickfaw River.

Watch this video of a walk in nature

from eco park to tickfaw state park

Tickfaw State Park opened its extensive network of boardwalks and trails in 1999 as an eco park. Visitors can explore four distinct eco systems within the park’s 1,200 acre footprint along the Tickfaw River. In addition to the river habitat, you can experience a cypress/tupelo swamp, a bottomland hardwood forest, and a pine/hardwood forest in the higher elevations. The boardwalks stand above the lowlands which occasionally flood from a high river level. That puts visitors into an area that would normally be inaccessible.

barred owl on display in nature center at Tickfaw State Park Louisiana
wild turkey on display in nature center at Tickfaw State Park Louisiana
fox on display in nature center at Tickfaw State Park Louisiana
beaver on display in nature center at Tickfaw State Park Louisiana
alligator head on display in nature center Tickfaw State Park Louisiana
gar fish on display in nature center at Tickfaw State Park Louisiana
catfish on display in nature center at Tickfaw State Park Louisiana
fish in aquarium on display in nature center at Tickfaw State Park Louisiana
turtle in aquarium on display in nature center at Tickfaw State Park Louisiana
barred owl on display in nature center at Tickfaw State Park Louisiana
wild turkey on display in nature center at Tickfaw State Park Louisiana
fox on display in nature center at Tickfaw State Park Louisiana
beaver on display in nature center at Tickfaw State Park Louisiana
alligator head on display in nature center Tickfaw State Park Louisiana
gar fish on display in nature center at Tickfaw State Park Louisiana
catfish on display in nature center at Tickfaw State Park Louisiana
fish in aquarium on display in nature center at Tickfaw State Park Louisiana
turtle in aquarium on display in nature center at Tickfaw State Park Louisiana

see animals up close at nature center

You are likely to catch a glimpse of some animals along the nature walks. However, families can get up close to a variety of mammals, birds and fish that are native to this area along the Tickfaw River in the park’s nature center. In addition, the center includes an 800-gallon aquarium loaded with fish caught in the park.

enjoy the tickfaw river

suspension bridge crosses the river in Tickfaw State Park Louisiana
Suspension bridge over Tickfaw River

The park provides a boat launch for fishing boats, canoes and kayaks. From here, boaters and paddlers can explore the beauty of the river. Hikers can also follow a raised boardwalk that takes them to a suspension bridge over the Tickfaw River. While at the bridge, you can step down to ground-level trails for more hiking or to drop a fishing line into the river.

spend the day or camp in tickfaw state park

fishing pier over pond with sign don't feed the alligators in Tickfaw State Park Louisiana
Fishing pier over pond near campground

There are 14 deluxe cabins available for overnight stays. Also, the park features a campground with 30 improved campsites with water and electrical hookups and an additional 20 primitive sites.

Heart of louisiana tv feature on Tickfaw

Watch this TV feature on Tickfaw State Park

getting to tickfaw state park

Tickfaw State Park is located at 27225 Patterson Road in Springfield, Louisiana.

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        Written by:
        Dave McNamara
        Published on:
        March 15, 2021
        Thoughts:
        2 Comments

        Categories: Capital Area, Featured

        Reader Interactions

        Comments

        1. Timothy Mcleod

          March 17, 2021 at 5:24 pm

          I read the article about Tickfaw State Park. It said there were four ecosystems, but only three were listed. What is the fourth?

          Reply
          • Dave McNamara

            March 28, 2021 at 8:42 pm

            The fourth is the river. Thanks Timothy.

            Reply

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