Basic Info about the Refuge
The D'Arbonne National Wildlife Refuge in Louisiana is nearly 20,000 acres.
The D’Arbonne NWR in Louisiana is a beautiful and generally quiet place to hang out and watch wildlife. It’s hard to think of another place you can find a scene as breathtaking as the view of the meadow and water from the observation tower.
On any given day, you can find wading birds, like great egrets, great blue herons, and even little blue herons, songbirds, woodpeckers, frogs, toads, raptors, skunks, armadillos, deer, turtles, black bears, snakes, and vultures.
The NWR has a special place in our hearts as the first place we saw red-headed woodpeckers and the only place we’ve seen red-cockaded woodpeckers.
Because the Bayou D’Arbonne bisects the refuge, it’s almost impossible to visit from all entrances in a single visit. We suggest you try the Saline Creek Wetlands area and Holland’s Bluff Road area on different visits and start with the wetlands area just off Highway 15 near Downsville. Along with the beautiful scenery there, you can see all kinds of wildlife there.
In our visits to the area, we’ve met more birds of prey in the Saline Creek area. We’ve met red-shouldered hawks, red-tailed hawks, or northern harriers on each visit. During the dry season, when we’ve been able to cross the creek on the gravel trail, we’ve met eagles and ospreys.
If you have time, check out the Lake Drain area down the road from the Saline Creek area.
