Cameron is a small gulf coast town in Louisiana in the heart of Cajun Country. Cameron is between Calcasieu Lake and the gulf waters and surrounded by wetlands, making it an outdoor enthusiast's paradise. The town is the parish seat and has survived three major hurricanes: Audrey in 1957, Rita in 2005 and Ike in 2008. It is also the center of the Creole Nature Trail.
Creole Nature Trail
Creole Nature Trail is 180 miles through marshes, beaches and bayous along the Gulf of Mexico. The trail goes through Cameron as it takes up Louisiana Highway 82, and then goes around Calcasieu Lake and the city of Lake Charles. The trail is a series of paved roads and it could be toured by bicycle, though some areas are very remote with no services. The trail is a national All American Road and provides access to lakes, bayous, wildlife areas and beaches.
Beaches
There are 26 miles of beach in Cameron Parish, and much of it is undeveloped and unspoiled. The closest beach access to Cameron is the Cameron Jerry Pier Facility, which has a fishing pier, pavilion, RV park and a short trail to the beach. There is also a bird observation tower and a playground. You can hike along the beaches or take your kayak for some ocean paddling. There are few services on the beaches, although no lifeguards, so be careful.
Trails
The Sabine Refuge has two paved walking trails near Calcesieu Lake. The Blue Goose trail is on the lake and is a one-mile loop with points for bird and wildlife watching. The one-and-a-half-mile paved Wabine Wildlife Refuge Walkway goes through the marshes and backwoods. The wildlife refuges and several lakes in the area have trails that may or may not be paved and developed.
Lakes
Calcesieu Lake is also called the "big lake" because it is the largest lake in the area. There is a causeway from the lake to the Gulf of Mexico that passes through Cameron. The lake is well known for fishing, boating and other water activities. Many outfitters offer guided fishing trips on the lake, and motor boats, pontoon boats, kayaks and jet skis may be rented at many locations around the lake. You can take your boat from Cameron to the big lake, or to the gulf waters through the causeway.
Wildlife Refuges
See the back country the way it may have looked hundreds of years ago in the wildlife refuges in the area. The area is called the Louisiana Outback for that reason. Sabine Refuge is the largest, but there is also Cameron Prairie Refuge, Lacassine Refuge and Rockefeller Refuge. Fishing is allowed in all refuges, and there are controled hunts at various times. There are trails for hiking, horseback riding and bicycling. The refuges are heavily forested with pine trees, but there are swamps heavy with Cypress trees as well as wetlands.
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