Trail Review: Fontainebleau Nature Trail

Since all the trails at Davis Bayou were closed, we decided to drive the 2.8 miles to Fontainebleau Nature Trail for a hike. The whole loop is 1.6 miles, but we did the shorter loop, cutting through the middle, so our hike was only about a mile.

The trail started off gravel, and could be accessible with a jogging stroller up until the wood overlook.

After that, it needs to be done on foot because it gets narrow and there are some large roots in the middle of the trail that need to be climbed over.  Some parts are along wooden boardwalks, which are easy to walk on.

Others are wide paths that go through the pine forest.

From the overlook, you can see the bayou and there are some nice views. The kids enjoyed climbing on the railing and we took a lot of photos from here. Most of the trail goes through a slash pine forest.

We only saw one other family out, so the hike was pretty private, even though the weather was great, which was nice. We didn't see any dogs, but you can take your dog on this hike so long as it is on a leash. It's also supposed to be great for birdwatching.

This is where I learned about bayous. This information would prove useful many times along the trip, especially at our next stop as we explored the area around New Orleans in Louisiana. Bayou is a Native American word that is loosely translated as "river," but it differs from a river in several important ways. Notably, the current can run either direction, and shifts with the tides. Also, the water is a mixture of fresh water and brackish water and the salinity level varies with the season. Even a small amound of salt in the water can drastically affect the plants and animals that can be found in the area.