Cane River Creole National Historical Park
The Cane River region is home to a unique culture; the Creoles. Generations of the same families of workers, enslaved and tenant, and owners lived on these lands for over 200 years. The park tells their stories and preserves the cultural landscape of Oakland and Magnolia Plantations, two of the most intact Creole cotton plantations in the United States.
Alerts
- InformationPark Operating Hours
Operating hours are 9:00 am to 3:30 pm Wednesday through Sunday until further notice.
- InformationOakland Main House Self-Guided Tours
The interior of the Oakland Main House is ONLY open to the public on weekends from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. All tours of the house are self-guided and occupancy within the building is limited. Please plan accordingly.
Fees & passes
Free. No entrance fee here.
Hours
| Oakland and Magnolia Plantations | Varies by day ▾
|
Hours by date. Standard hours apply on every date not listed.
| Dates | Hours |
|---|---|
| Standard hoursNow |
|
| Nov 11, 2026Veteran's Day |
|
| Nov 26, 2026Closed Thanksgiving | Closed |
| Nov 26, 2026Thanksgiving | Closed |
| Dec 25, 2026Closed December 25th for Christmas | Closed |
| Dec 25, 2026Christmas | Closed |
| Jan 1, 2027Closed New Years Day | Closed |
| Jan 1, 2027New Year's Day | Closed |
| Jan 18, 2027Closed Martin Luther King Jr. Birthday | Closed |
| Feb 15, 2027Closed George Washington's Birthday | Closed |
| May 31, 2027Closed Memorial Day | Hours not published |
| Oct 12, 2027Closed Columbus Day | Hours not published |
| Oct 12, 2027Columbus Day | Closed |
When to go
March draws the most visits here and January the fewest, averaged over 2021 to 2025.
Visitor centers
- Oakland Plantation Store ↗Passport stamp
The park does not have a visitor center, though the historic Oakland Plantation Store is the park's main visitor contact station Wednesday through Sunday. Inside the store you'll find historic exhibits and a park store/gift shop.
- Magnolia Plantation StorePassport stamp
The park does not have a visitor center though the historic Magnolia Plantation Store serves as a visitor contact station. The main part of the store is only open when there is staff available. However, the wings on either side of the store are open Wednesday through Sunday.
- Texas and Pacific Railway Depot ↗Passport stamp
The depot is open Wednesday-Sunday, 9 am-3:30 pm. Inside you'll find exhibits, NPS passport stamp, and Junior Ranger books. Closed Monday and Tuesday. The Texas & Pacific Railway Depot, completed in 1927, stands as one of the last remaining segregated buildings in Louisiana.
Explore
Things to do
- Visit the Park Store at Oakland Plantation15-30 Minutes
Visit the park store for park souvenirs, Louisiana specialties, books, original artworks, toys, and crafts.
Opens on the Park Service site - Bird Watching at Oakland Plantation1-3 Hours
Cane River Creole provides habitat for a wide variety of birds. Bring your binoculars and enjoy the spectacular views of the many birds in the park.
Opens on the Park Service site - Picnicking at Cane River Creole30-60 Minutes
Enjoy a picnic during your exploration of Oakland or Magnolia Plantations. Picnic tables are located at and around the Oakland Entrance Pavilion and around the Magnolia Overseer’s House. Picnic tables are first come, first served.
Opens on the Park Service site - Cane River Creole Junior Ranger1-3 Hours
The Cane River Creole Junior Ranger program includes different levels of activities for children of all ages. Complete 6 activities, as you learn about the history of Oakland and Magnolia Plantations, to earn a Cane River Creole Junior Ranger badge.
Opens on the Park Service site
Films
National Park Service productions, public domain.
Events
- Oakland Plantation Main House Self-Guided Tour10/1710:00 AM · runs through Dec 27 · free
News
- Cane River Creole National Historical Park Hosts Community Open House ↗2026-06-09
Cane River Creole National Historical Park and Cane River National Heritage Area will host an open house on June 18 for visitors to explore interactive exhibits, stories and artifacts.
Map
Interactive map by the National Park Service
Public land nearby
Distances are approximate. Wilderness Atlas publishes a center point and an acreage for each area rather than a boundary, so each area is treated here as a circle of the same size and the figure is the gap to that circle.
Forest Service trails nearby
These trails are outside the park on National Forest land, within 15 miles of Cane River Creole. Each one opens on Trailhead Atlas.
Distance is measured from the park's reference point to the nearer end of the trail.
Guidebooks for the South
We earn a small commission if you buy through these links. It does not change what we list.
Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject.
Reference
Activities
Questions people ask
Does Cane River Creole charge an entrance fee?
No. Cane River Creole is free to enter.
Source: National Park Service
What are the hours at Cane River Creole?
Standard hours are 9:00AM - 3:30PM on Sunday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, and it is closed on Monday and Tuesday. Dated exceptions are listed under Hours.
Source: National Park Service
Is anything closed at Cane River Creole right now?
2 active alerts as of October 14, 2026: Park Operating Hours; Oakland Main House Self-Guided Tours.
Source: Alerts
How busy is Cane River Creole?
11,203 recreation visits in 2025, number 348 of 387 units that report visitation.
Source: Most visited parks
When was Cane River Creole established?
1994.
Source: Wikipedia
Follow this park
- Alerts feed (RSS)
- Every active Park Service alert for this unit, one item each, rebuilt with the nightly data refresh.
- Add dates to your calendar (.ics file)
- Fee-free entrance days that apply here and each published hours exception, as all-day events.
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