 Scene in the Honey Island swamp in Louisiana |
Honey Island Swamp
One of the most natural and least-altered river swamps in the United States is the Honey Island Swamp.
It is located in southeast Louisiana in St. Tammany Parish, near the Pearl River which is the dividing line between Louisiana and Mississippi.
The swamp is bordered on the north by U.S. 11, on the south by Lake Borgne, on the east by the Pearl River and the west by the West Pearl River.
The area is roughly 20 miles long north-south, and 7 miles wide east-west. About half of its 70,000 acres are protected in the Pearl River Wildlife Management Area, which is swampy in the south with more hardwood bottoms to the north. The swamp supports an abundance of wildlife, such as alligators, wild boars, black bear, raccoons, nutria and dozens of species of year-round and migratory birds, including bald eagles.
Honey Island earned its name because of the honeybees once seen on a nearby isle.
The topic of much discussion in the area is the "Honey Island Swamp Monster" ... does it really exist? It depends on who you ask!
The Pearl River area has been the location of various research efforts to locate the Ivory-Billed Woodpecker, assumed to be extinct decades ago. Reports of "The Lord God Bird" sightings persist in the area.
 The Louisiana Alligator ... seen on a swamp tour at Honey Island |
Swamp Tours Into the Honey Island Swamp
One of the most popular attractions for visitors to Louisiana is touring the swamps!
The area north of New Orleans and Lake Pontchartrain is often called "The Northshore", the location of cities such as Slidell, Lacombe, Mandeville and Madisonville.
The Honey Island and Pearl River swamps and marshes near Slidell offer exciting and educational opportunities for visitors and residents alike.
Swamp tour operators provide a variety of options, boats, tour length and cost.
Some operators offer online reservations, others only by phone. Some accept credit cards, while some require cash, so plan accordingly.
Flat-bottom tour boat in the Honey Island swamp in Louisiana |
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List of Selected Louisiana Swamp Tours near Honey Island
We have no connection with any of the tour operators listed below ... we just know of their existence and offer their names, web addresses and phone numbers as a starting point for you to choose the right tour for your group. We also offer links to TripAdvisor to read reviews for many of the tour companies.
| Swamp Tour Operator, Website, Address & Phone Number | City |
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Admin Office located at 941 Decatur St. in New Orleans; Swamp tour location is 55345 Highway 90 East in Slidell Honey Island Swamp tours. Also tours of cemeteries, city tours, plantations, custom tours. Hotel pickups available. p 504.834.1770 or 866.928.6877 |
Slidell, Louisiana |
Dr. Wagner's Honey Island Swamp Tours 41490 Crawford Landing Road; tours depart from Crawford Landing on West Pearl River, Slidell Small boats (both covered and uncovered) allow deep access into the heart of the beautiful Honey Island Cypress Swamp. Boat tours since 1982. Hotel pickup available. p 985.641.1769 or 504.242.5877 |
Slidell, Louisiana |
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55050 Highway 90 Large and small flatboat swamp tours, night tours, and tours for school groups into the Honey Island Swamp. Hotel pickups available. p 985.649.4200 or 866.597.9267 |
Slidell, Louisiana |
Photographs of Honey Island in Louisiana
Along the Pearl River in Louisiana
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Swamp Tours by Pearl River Eco-Tours
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Dr. Wagner's Honey Island Swamp Tours
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Cajun Country Swamp Tours
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Pileated Woodpecker in the Honey Island Swamp in Louisiana
Similar in size and coloration to the nearly extinct Ivory-Billed Woodpecker (Staff Photo)  |
Video of a Honey Island Swamp Tour
Tom Gregory narrates a tour into the Honey Island Swamp. Video produced by the St. Tammany Parish Tourist Commission and WLAE-TV |
Swamp Tours in Other Parts of Louisiana
| Section 2: Swamp Tours in the Greater New Orleans Area |
| Section 3: Swamp Tours Near Morgan City, Houma & Thibodaux |
| Section 4: Swamp Tours in the Atchafalaya Basin |
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Interactive Map of the Slidell and Honey Island Area in Louisiana |