Black Bayou Lake National Wildlife Refuge sits about 8 miles north of Monroe, protecting 4,500 acres of cypress-tupelo swamp, hardwood bottomland, and open water that are characteristic of the Ouachita River flood plain. The refuge is managed primarily for wintering waterfowl but draws year-round visitors for birdwatching, paddling, and wildlife photography.
The scenery is quintessential Louisiana lowland — dark water beneath cathedral-scale cypress trees draped in Spanish moss, with egrets, herons, wood ducks, and alligators as reliable sights. A paved road gives easy car access to the lake, and a boat launch allows kayaks and canoes. Dawn and dusk are best for wildlife. Free admission.