Bike along the Byway
Louisiana’s swamps, rolling expanse of agricultural scenery, and historic small towns are the perfect backdrops to your biking adventure. The Zydeco Cajun Prairie Scenic Byway Bike Trail is a little over 80 miles of scenic backroads that are rich with stories and tranquil biking.
You can start your biking journey in the historic town of Washington. There, you can drive along their main street and witness 300 years of history. From Washington, you can make your way to Mamou where Fred's Lounge stands as a music history destination. Continue south along 95 through the village of Chataignier and on to Eunice.
From Eunice you can travel through Acadia Parish and take in the breathtaking views of crawfish ponds and rice fields. From there, you can move through Church Point and on to Sunset where local artist and antique shops line the streets.
Route Description:
WASHINGTON to MAMOU:
Take Hwy. 103 West out of Washington.
0.4 Magnolia Ridge Plantation. (not open to the public)
2.2 Arlington Antebellum Home.
6.8 Straight ahead on Hwy. 363.
6.9 Grand Prairie
7.2 Left onto Hwy. 748 at graveyard and church.
11.4 Straight ahead on Hwy. 748 at junction with Hwy. 1169.
12.9 Junction with Hwy. 167 and Hwy. 10. Straight ahead on LeBois D'Arch Road. Do Not Turn on Hwy. 167 & 10.
14.3 Left at T and stop sign on Bellaire Cove Road.
16.4 Right on Lance De Cavalier Road (EASILY MISSED!). Brick house on right. Street sign with name of road was missing at the time of this writing.
20.4 Right at T onto Hwy 104 (Prairie Ronde Road near the Olivier Store).
22.8 Right at T and stop sign on Hwy. 104 & Hwy. 29.
23.1 Left on Hwy. 104. Follow the sign to Mamou.
31.0 Left at four-way stop and caution light on Sixth Street.
31.7 FRED'S LOUNGE ON THE LEFT. Fred's is one of the most exciting Cajun places you can visit. Fred's has been in existence for over 50 years. Be prepared to squeeze in the door and work your way to the bar. Fred's opens at 8 a.m. The music and radio broadcast start at 9 a.m. The music goes until 1 p.m. Please don't drink and drive - your bike, that is! On the wall, one of Fred's home-made signs says: "This is not a dancehall. If you get hurt dancing, we are not responsible." Another sign proclaims, "Don't dance on the juke box, table tops or bar." And yet another pleads, "No volunteer musicians, please!" Carl's, across the street from Fred's, is a good place to eat lunch before you start the leg to Eunice.
MAMOU TO EUNICE:
Fred's Lounge. Go left or south on Hwy. 104.
0.3 Left on Hwy. 95 at T and stop sign toward Chataigner.
3.8 Left on Hwy. 95 at T and stop sign.
8.9 In Chataignier, go right on Hwy. 29 to Eunice. 16.3 Left on Hwy. 13 at stop sign and caution light.
17.0 At the traffic light, cross Hwy. 190 and continue straight ahead.
17.1 Right on Park Street. Potier's Cajun Prairie Inn will be on your right. The Liberty Theatre and the Prairie Acadian Cultural Center are two blocks down on Park Street.
Start: Potier's Cajun Prairie Inn
Right at T onto C.C. Duson Street.
0.4 Right on Hwy. 91 South.
0.9 Left on Hwy. 755 Spur (College Street).
1.4 Right on Hwy. 755 (by the Cemetery).
1.8 Left at T and stop on Hwy. 755 (LSUE Street).
6.4 Straight ahead on Hwy. 368 East & Hwy. 370.
9.4 Right on Hwy. 370 (Frey Cove Road) at T.
9.9 Straight ahead on Hwy. 370 West (McCain Road).
12.9 Left on Hwy. 365 East.
14.9 Straight ahead on Shultz Road at junction with Hwy. 13.
15.9 Straight ahead on PR1109.
16.4 Left on Hwy.1109.
17.4 Right on Hwy. 365 (Branch Highway) at T and stop sign.
23.9 In Branch, at the junction with Hwy. 35, continue straight ahead on Hwy. 365 (Branch Highway). Chevron Station & Deli will be on your left.
28.4 Right at T and stop sign on Hwy. 95 & Hwy. 365. Then immediately turn left on Hwy. 365 (Choppy's Road).
29.6 Left at T on Mary Alice Road
31.5 Right on Hwy. 356 (Peach Bloom Highway)
33.7 Left on Hwy. 356 in Bristol.
35.8 Left on Chretien Point Road (EASILY MISSED!).
36.8 Chretien Point Plantation.
38.6 At yield sign, continue straight ahead. Turn right at stop sign.
38.8 Right on Highway 182 into Sunset.
40.4 Sunset Town Hall on left.
