The end of the road down bayou way is 70 miles southeast of Houma, in Grand Isle. The windswept barrier-island town seems to consistently take a beating from hurricanes and disasters like the BP Gulf oil spill, yet this beach village retains charm and character. In addition to seafood shacks and fishing camps, boat charters are the big business here. Watching the waves lap ashore at Grand Isle State Park, it’s easy to imagine the power of mother nature. Rent canoes to explore the inland canals or just watch as the brown ­pelicans, the state bird, dive for fish offshore.

Grand Isle State Park, lies at the eastern tip of Grand Isle, a barrier island in Jefferson Parish, Louisiana, U.S.A. Grand Isle is the only inhabited barrier island in the state. The park has been seriously affected in the past by Hurricanes Katrina, Gustav, and Ike. However, much of Grand Isle State Park has been renovated. Beach restoration in the area is ongoing. The area has a long-standing reputation as one of America's best fishing spots with access to over 300 species of fish. At one time, the park's fishing pier was especially popular, but it was destroyed in 2005 by Hurricane Katrina and had to be repaired. An observation tower provides fine views of the surrounding coastal scenery. Visitors come to 160-acre Grand Isle State Park to beachcomb, birdwatch, boat, camp, crab, fish, and sunbathe. The site is rumored to hold the buried treasure of famed 18th century privateers Jean and Pierre Lafitte whose operations were based at the neighboring Grand Terre Island across the Barataria Pass. The legend of the rougarou also is told as part of the area's history. On May 22, 2010, the beach was closed due to oil contamination from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. On May 3, 2011, a portion of the beach reopened. On June 26, 2011, volunteers, organized by the Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana, planted 1,600 black mangrove trees along the coast to prevent erosion. It was named in 2020 to The New York Times' List of 52 Places to Go which noted that the site "may soon vanish" and faces one of the world’s highest rates of relative sea level rise. Use our Grand Isle trip planner to arrange your visit to Grand Isle State Park and other attractions in Grand Isle.

Over 280 species of fish are known to make their home in the waters off the coast of Grand Isle. Brown pelicans--the state bird of Louisiana--dive into the water. Seagulls appear to float on the wind above the shore. Crabs nimbly scamper out of reach of the children chasing them with their nets.This is Grand Isle State Park--a natural haven on the most popular barrier island off the coast of Louisiana. A beach ridge created by the action of the waves of the Gulf, Grand Isle serves as a breakwater between the Gulf and the network of inland channels that connect to the bayou tributaries of the Mississippi River. It is also the launching point for excellent deep-sea salt-water fishing adventures.Every July, a Tarpon Rodeo attracts thousands of fishing competitors to these prolific waters offshore. Speckled trout can be caught by surf fishers year round, especially in the spring and summer. Redfish venture into the range of the surf fishermen in the fall and winter. The warm Gulf waters are enjoyed by swimmers most of the year, and Grand Isle State Park offers an excellent location for splashing in the surf.Birding enthusiasts will also delight in the beauty of the lagoons and the Gulf shore. This unique environment attracts numerous species of birds and other wildlife, so bring your binoculars or a camera to enjoy the opportunity to view nature unspoiled.So take a trip to the edge of Louisiana. Fishing, birding, swimming, crabbing, hiking, sunning, boating, or just relaxing--Grand Isle State Park gives you the best of Grand Isle. Site is open daily. Gates open at 7 a.m. and close at 9 p.m., Sunday through Thursday, and at 10 p.m. on Friday, Saturday and days preceding holidays.April-September,entrance station is open 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.; October-March, entrance station is open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.and Entrance Fees: $1 per person; Free for Seniors and children age 3 and under.