Pecan Grove, Ring Levee, and Wood Duck Trails

Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve

Barataria Preserve

Chef Emile's Pecan Grove, Ring Levee, and Wood Duck Trail Hiking Log

May 16, 2007

Pecan Grove, Ring Levee, Wood Duck Trail, Barataria Preserve, Jean Lafitte National ParkThe day was overcast with just a few moments of sunshine. Also it had rained the prior two days so the ground was mushy (swamps usually are).  I say this because if you are looking to take these trails, normal hiking boots just won't do, you need to get some Chalmette Wedding Boots or Shrimp Boots! Well, that is what we call them down here, basically, they are white wading boots.  You can get them from (Alario Brothers Marine Supplies Inc, 894 Avenue A Westwego, LA (Louisiana) 70094-4230......Phone: (504) 341-1843), in Westwego and cost under $25 bucks.

From the Pecan Grove you go about 4/10s of a mile northeast. On my marked up park's map, It is not labeled with a name except Loop A and is a part of the Plantation Trail. Anyway you come to a point where the Plantation Trail heads off northwest, the Ring Levee trail leads north, the Wood Duck trail heads east and The Old Plantation trail follows southeast.  Plenty of directions to choose to go! See my Plantation Trail Log Notes of Loops A & B. But for this hike I took the Ring Levee Trail.

 

Ring Levee and Plantation Trail Log Notes and Map

 The above is a Google generated map made by the trailpoints reordered by my Garmin GPSMAP 76CSx.  I would suggest clicking on the Hybrid map and zooming in.

Pecan Grove, Ring Levee, Wood Duck Trail, Barataria Preserve, Jean Lafitte National ParkThis is the Pecan Grove, Ring Levee, Wood Duck Trail, Barataria Preserve, Jean Lafitte National Parkplaque that is at the beginning of the Ring Levee Trail, the blow up talks about the Canary Islanders that were brought here by the Spanish Governor Galvez in 1779. My ancestor, Juan Raimoundo Garcia settled here. So, it was pretty cool to see that they were remembered here.  There was also a paper sign that said that the trail was closed for repairs. Well that didn't stop me, I just kept on down the trail.

Pecan Grove, Ring Levee, Wood Duck Trail, Barataria Preserve, Jean Lafitte National ParkThe trail is a built similar to the Kenta Canal Marsh Overlook Trail, BUT..... is just a couple of inches from the water level. That is great because lizards run up and down the walkway! This was also my first hike with my Garmin GPSmap 76CSx so if you want to check out my route just click here!Pecan Grove, Ring Levee, Wood Duck Trail, Barataria Preserve, Jean Lafitte National Park

I hiked 1/2 mile then came upon the above construction. Now I know why the trail was closed!  I only had on tennis shoes so, that was the end of the trail for me. Well, not really, You have to back track the walkway.

From what I have read about the trail, it ends at a site that had some oil drilling in the '60s, and a "ring" levee was built around the drill site. Well, I gotta come back to this one and check it out.

Wood Duck Trail Jean LafitteI then doubled back to the middle of the fork and took the Wood Duck Trail for about 1/4 mile, it leads in an Easterly direction. This trail has no built up walkway, and again it was very marshy and muddy, I needed shrimp boots, so next time I will be ready! But along the way I saw the biggest wood pecker I have ever seen. It was red, white and black!  There is life everywhere, in the trees, running along the ground, and in the water. 

 

 

 

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Chef Emile L. Stieffel, Aurora Catering, Inc. email address: ChefEmile@CustomCatering.net
4016 Red Cypress Dr., Harvey, LA 70058 Phone (504) -329-1344
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