Self-Guided Kayak Tour

New Orleans Big Lake Kayak Tour

City Park is a scenic oasis of enchantment, featuring many colorful and cultural highlights. Create your own adventure, with a self-guided kayak tour that is included FREE with half-day and full-day kayak rentals!

Our self-guided kayak tour of New Orleans City Park has everything you need for a day of relaxation, fun, and exploring! Learn the rich history of New Orleans City Park and everything it has to offer while paddling through the beautiful canals starting at our location on Big Lake. You’ll see old-growth oak trees, birds of all species, world-class art installations, and a variety of Louisiana wildlife.

Included FREE with half-day and full-day kayak rentals come prepared to get a little wet from the drip of your paddle and splash of the water. Dress for the weather; lightweight, synthetic clothing is best. Prepare to be out in the sun; sunglasses, sunblock, and a hat that won’t blow off. A water bottle is also recommended.

Starting at $39

Skill Level

Approx. Time

2 hours

New Orleans Museum of Art

The New Orleans Museum of Art is an exquisite pearl wrapped inside City Park’s gorgeous natural landscape. The city’s oldest fine arts institution contains a permanent collection with more than 40,000 objects and is noted for its extraordinary strengths in French and American art, as well as photography, glass, and Japanese works.

Singing Oak Tree

One of the special Oak Trees in City Park is the Signing Oak Tree. It is a large Oak tree located adjacent to Big Lake near the intersection of Wisner and Lelong. The name “Singing Oak Tree” comes from an art installation done by Jim Hart, where he added wind chimes throughout the tree to show that music is always in the air!

Sydney and Walda Besthoff Sculpture Garden

Created by the Sydney and Walda Besthoff Foundation, this 11-acre Sculpture Garden holds nearly 90 different sculptures throughout City Park. Located by reflecting lagoons, lakes, footpaths, and 200-year-old oak trees, you’ll experience these sculptural works in the picturesque landscape from the water. Created in 2003, the Sculpture Garden has more than doubled in size over recent years.

Bird Watching

New Orleans City Park is one of the top locations for bird watching in the nation. With more than 280 species bird lovers are guaranteed to see at least 40 different bird species in one outing. On your kayak tour you will be sure to see some various birds like the Double-crested Cormorant, Herons, American Kestrel, and the American Goldfinch. If you’re lucky you may even spot a Bald Eagle!

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Included with this

Self-Guided Tour


  • KAYAK OF YOUR CHOICE
  • A PADDLE
  • LIFE JACKETS
  • DETAILED TOUR MAP

Gear up for the trip

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What to bring & wear

  • DRESS FOR THE WEATHER. LIGHTWEIGHT, SYNTHETIC CLOTHING
  • TOWEL/EXTRA CLOTHES
  • SANDALS OR WATER SHOES
  • CAMERA
  • WATER BOTTLE(S)
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