Everglades Nation Park by S. Cotrell / Public Domain
Although a swamp may not be the first type of environment that comes to mind when you think of landscape and nature photography, swamps and bayous can present opportunities to get beautiful and unique photos. First, you will need to know where to go to find the best opportunities. Here you will find a list of ten places in the United States that are ideal for photographing swampland.
Congaree National Park, South Carolina
Congaree National Park in South Carolina is home to a large old-growth forest. The Congaree River and Cedar Creek flow through the park. The park features Boardwalk Loop, which is an elevated walkway about 2.5 miles long. It takes you through the swamp, giving you plenty of opportunities to see and photograph the swamp with ease.
→ See more places to photograph in South Carolina.
Congaree National Park by joeyglockner / CC BY-SA 3.0
Bataria Preserve, Louisiana
The Bataria Preserve is one section of the Jean Lafitte National Historical Park & Preserve south of New Orleans. There are several boardwalk and dirt trails that take you in and around this amazing swamp. If you are in New Orleans and you want to photograph nature, the Bataria Preserve is an excellent option.
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Barataria Preserve by Ken Lund / CC BY-SA 2.0
Honey Island Swamp, Louisiana
Honey Island Swamp is located northeast of New Orleans and the Bataria Preserve. It is a pristine swamp more than 20 miles long and 7 miles wide. There are a number of different companies that offer commercial tours of the swamp.
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Honey Island Swamp by Paul Mannix / CC BY 2.0
Lake Martin, Louisiana
Lake Martin is about two hours west of New Orleans. You can reach the lake by care either via Lake Martin Road or Rookery Road, and then you can explore by trail or by boat. This stunning lake and swamplands is a great place to get beautiful photographs.
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Lake Martin by Chris Litherland / CC BY-SA 3.0
Caddo Lake, Texas and Louisiana
Caddo Lake lies in western Louisiana and eastern Texas. On the west side of the lake is Caddo Lake State Park. It is one of the largest flooded cypress forests in the United States, and a great place to photograph. One of the best ways to photograph this landscape is to head to Caddo Lake State Park and take a boat onto the water.
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Caddo Lake by stokes rx / CC BY-ND 2.0
Big Thicket National Preserve, Texas
Big Thicket National Preserve is in east Texas, about a three hour drive south of Caddo Lake State Park. Big Thicket is a heavily-forested area that includes several different ecosystems. Part of the area is bayou and is ideal for exploring by canoe or kayak.
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Big Thicket National Preserve by Larry Rana / CC BY 2.0
Everglades National Park, Florida
Everglades National Park in south Florida is a well-known tropical wilderness. In addition to hiking trails, there are also canoe and kayak trails that allow you to explore this beautiful area. Some airboat tours are also offered, but only in a limited section of the national park. Outside of the park lands more airboat tours are offered.
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Everglades Nation Park by S. Cotrell / Public Domain
Big Cypress National Preserve, Florida
Big Cypress National Preserve is just north of Everglades National Park. There is a scenic loop road that you can drive, but to get the best views you will need to either hike or take a canoe or kayak.
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Big Cypress National Preserve by Fredlyfish4 / CC BY-SA 4.0
Great Dismal Swamp, Virginia and North Carolina
Great Dismal Swamp is located in southern Virginia and northern North Carolina. The refuge includes forested wetlands and Lake Drummond. Lake Drummond Wildlife Drive is an easy way to experience the area, or take a boat onto the lake for the best views.
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Great Dismal Swamp by Rebecca Wynn / CC BY 2.0
Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge, New Jersey
Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge is in New Jersey, just about 35 miles outside of New York City. It includes 1.5 miles of boardwalk that allows you to easily see and experience the area. There are also other hiking trails and a two-mile auto tour.
→ See more places to photograph in New Jersey.
Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge by Miguel Vieira / CC BY 2.0
Photo license links: CC BY 2.0, CC BY-ND 2.0, CC BY-SA 4.0, CC BY-SA 3.0, CC BY-SA 2.0
We have so many spectacular images from our time in the swamps around New Orleans, we take a lot of people to the Honey Island Swamp, and another great one would be the Manchac Swamp on the west side.
Thanks for the suggestion of Manchac Swamp.