Bluebonnet Swamp Nature Center

Your Parks

Location:

10503 N. Oak Hills Parkway
Baton Rouge, LA 70810

Directions:

BSNC is located one block off of Bluebonnet Blvd. between Perkins and Highland Road. Turn toward the Whitney Bank and follow N. Oak Hills Pkwy into our parking lot.

Hours:

Tues-Sat: 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Sunday: noon - 5 p.m.
Trails and gate close at 5 p.m.
Closed: Mondays, New Year's Day, July 4th, Thanksgiving Day, & Christmas Day.

Admission:

Ages 2 and younger: free
Ages 3-17: $2
Ages 18-64: $3
Ages 65 and older: $2.50
Full-time college students with university ID: $2.50

Bluebonnet Swamp Nature Center

All Parks | Park & Conservation | Special Use Facility

102.75 Acres - Bluebonnet Swamp Nature Center is a 103-acre facility dedicated to conservation, education, recreation and tourism. It houses an award-winning, 9500-square-foot building filled with live animal exhibits; photographic presentations of the site's flora and fauna; natural artifact and mineral displays; and a sizeable, vintage waterfowl decoy carving collection. Ecology and art exhibits are featured periodically.

Over a mile of gravel paths and boardwalks link varied habitats such as the cypress-tupelo swamp, beech-magnolia and hardwood forests. Wildlife is plentiful at Bluebonnet Swamp, including hundreds of bird species utilizing the site throughout the year. Birders can view seasonal species during peak migrations, as well as year-round residents. While snakes and turtles are commonly seen from the trails, raccoons, rabbits, opossums, armadillos, squirrels, foxes, coyotes, deer and otter are also known to inhabit the site.

Nature programs and environmental education are conducted throughout the year including educational group tours, live animal encounters, holiday and summer day camps, toddler activities, birding walks, field trips and special events.

Exhibit Building
The award-winning exhibit building is an impressive structure combining the natural tones of wood and the illuminating effects of light to create an open-air feeling. Young visitors will surely enjoy the live animal displays, as well as the touch tables that are covered with items like snakeskin, feathers, pelts, skulls and other natural artifacts. More mature audiences might enjoy viewing the carving displays and picking up some free educational materials at the information table. Guests can find a variety of nature-related gifts and souvenirs in The Bee Hive, while also observing a real, working beehive and hunting for the marked queen.

Small business groups (up to 40 people) using the center's conference room will find the beautiful surroundings of this site quite inspiring during breaks. Larger groups (up to 150 people) can reserve the entire building for evening events as well.

Mission Statement
Through ecotourism and nature-based education, BSNC provides opportunities for discovery and positive outdoor experiences, which foster an awareness and appreciation of natural resources. BSNC promotes the conservation of natural areas, ecological research, and hands-on community involvement to cultivate environmental stewardship.

Pet Policy
This site has a "no pets" policy except on designated days. Call 225-757-8905 for more information on our Dog Days program, when visitors are allowed to enjoy the Swamp with their pets.

Volunteers Wanted!
Interested in Louisiana natural science? Can you donate at least three hours per week to the nature center. Then BREC's Bluebonnet Swamp is for you. Contact BREC's Volunteer Coordinator at 225-272-9200, 143 or volunteer@brec.org for more information.

Field Trip Information

To schedule a field trip, please call the nature center or email our Education Curator at sguidry@brec.org.

Founding Land Conservation Sponsors 1987-1997
BREC
Vulcan Chemicals
ExxonMobil
Baton Rouge Area Foundation
International Paper
The Nature Conservancy of Louisiana

For more information about this park, please contact:
225-757-8905

Park Staff

Claire Coco
Bluebonnet Swamp Nature Center Manager
10503 N. Oak Hills Parkway
Baton Rouge, LA 70810
Phone: 225-757-8905
ccoco@brec.org

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News Room

Triple Planetary Conjunction This Weekend

Spend an evening among the stars as Highland Road Park Observatory hosts its viewing for the Triple Planetary Conjunction on Sunday, May 26 and Monday, May 27 from 7-9 p.m.

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BREC will host an Arbor Day Celebration at Forest Community Park, 13900 S. Harrell’s Ferry Road, on Friday, April 26 from 6-9 p.m. This event is free and open to the public and concessions will be available for sale.

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As part of the nationwide effort to get 10-million more kids to spend more time outdoors, BREC is launching a new six-month program called Expedition BREC. The program will kick off at one of BREC’s premier events, Zippity Zoo Fest on April 6-7, and will include interactive displays representing the many different ways BREC offers children and families to get moving, get outdoors and have fun.