Top Stories

Visit, Snap, Send, Win at Atchafalaya Basin Program Primitive Camp Sites

Ready  Set  Photo - It’s the first day of Fall and with the first cool spell, many will be yearning for some quality time in the great outdoors. In the Atchafalaya Basin, ready yourself for acres of hardwoods and cypress, bountiful fish and wildlife, and one of the best landscapes on the globe for primitive camping at sites accessible only by water!

Get set campers for some fresh air and outdoor indulgence in the heart of the Atchafalaya Basin. Campers can easily find designated sites located in Iberville, St. Martin and St. Mary parishes, where the state Department of Natural Resources’ Atchafalaya Basin Program has installed special markers in primitive areas of the basin to aid naturalists, boaters, tourists, and campers alike in being a part of and enjoying the great outdoors.

Earlier this year, DNR Secretary Stephen Chustz announced the completion of the project to locate and mark 30 primitive camping sites in the Atchafalaya Basin on state-owned property for use by the public.

This fall season, as more people plan to enjoy the Atchafalaya Experience, the department will be offering a free souvenir cap to visitors who set-up camp at any one of the sites and send a photo of their stay there. According to Atchafalaya Basin Program director Don Haydel, all of the camping location details, maps, and latitude/longitude coordinates can be found online at the Louisiana DNR website and at www.dothewildthing.dnr.la.gov  Each camp site is designated with a four-foot metal post and marked “PC”, means Primitive Camp, along with a corresponding number.

Also, the month of October is dedicated to “Experience Atchafalaya Days” which include festivals, birding and hiking opportunities and much more. The October Calendar of Events for all of these activities can be found at http://www.atchafalaya.org/events.php?month=10&year=2014

Win a “I Went Wild in the Atchafalaya” Souvenir Cap by sending a photo of your camping experience along with email, mailing address and contact information to Atchafalaya@la.gov

Learn more about the DNR Atchafalaya Basin Program online at http://dnr.louisiana.gov/index.cfm?md=pagebuilder&tmp=home&pid=494&pnid=0&nid=273