Frequently Asked Questions
Where are the docks located and is there a map for the trail?
Yes. You can find our list of dock sites with addresses here. Maps can be found at Pack & Paddle in Lafayette, visitors and tourist information centers in St. Landry, St. Martin, Iberia and St. Mary parishes, and on our website here.
Where can I rent a boat or kayak?
Wanderlust Rentals has kayaks available for day rentals and tour opportunities. They are also installing a self-service kayak kiosk on Bayou Teche in New Iberia, which should be available soon. Boats can also be rented from The Backpacker (337-406-8754) in Lafayette. Tours are offered by Pack & Paddle in Lafayette (337-232-5854) and Tours by Steven in Franklin (504-442-4220).
What amenities are provided at the trailhead dock locations?
Bathroom facilities are included at the trailheads in Leonville, Arnaudville and Breaux Bridge, but please call the town halls in advance to check on availability. The docks in Parks, Jeanerette, Charenton and Patterson are located in parks that have bathrooms within walking distance. The docks in Port Barre, Poche Bridge, St. Martinville, Loreauville and New Iberia have public bathrooms at businesses nearby. The trailheads in Baldwin and Centerville are more remote and do not have bathroom facilities.
What is there to see and do along the trail?
A lot! We have developed a Paddle Planner available for download here that includes maps, itineraries for each of the four parishes (St. Landry, St. Martin, Iberia and St. Mary), a shopping list, places to spend the night or camp, travel times, Bayou Teche Bucket List and lots more.
Where can I camp along the trail?
Trail towns offer everything from primitive camping spots to RV parks and campgrounds with all the amenities, in addition to bed and breakfasts and homes for rent. You can also check Hip Camp for private landowners along the Teche that allow camping. See our Paddle Planner for a list of RV parks, campgrounds and private land.
How did the Bayou Teche become a National Water Trail?
In 2010, The TECHE Project applied for and received technical support from the National Park Service’s Rivers, Trails and Conservation Assistance program to write the Bayou Teche Paddle Trail plan with residents, local, state and federal governments, the Chitimacha Tribe of Louisiana, recreation groups, small businesses and tourism officials. The plan was accepted by the National Park Service in 2012 and is available to view here. The TECHE Project submitted an application in 2013 to be considered for inclusion in the National Water Trail System. Bayou Teche is the ONLY National Water Trail in Louisiana and No. 17 in the National Water Trail System. It joins the Chattahoochee River in Georgia, Waccamaw River in South Carolina, Alabama River in Alabama, among others throughout the nation. The TECHE Project serves as manager of the trail.
What other programs are affiliated with the National Park Service in our area?
The Atchafalaya National Heritage Area includes the 14 parishes in and around the Atchafalaya Basin. It promotes cultural and nature-based tourism and is managed by the Louisiana Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism and receives planning and promotion assistance from the National Park Service. The National Register of Historic Places, a program of the National Park Service, boasts dozens of buildings in the Bayou Teche Corridor, including Shadows-on-the-Teche in New Iberia.
Find more information about the National Water Trail System here: http://www.nps.gov/WaterTrails/.
Is the water in Bayou Teche safe?
Bayou Teche is included on the state’s impaired waterways list and is not safe for fish consumption but is safe for paddling. One of our immediate goals is to get the bayou removed from this list and work toward making if safe for fishing and swimming.
