Louisiana Hiking Trails

The Trails

What follows are brief descriptions of those trails I knew about at the close of the last century. Some descriptions are briefer than others, as some of these I knew only from tourist brochures or the like. This list is well out of date, new trails have been built, as some of these have been neglected to impassibility. We wait for Nina Baxley's book, 50 Hikes in Louisiana, to come out Fall 2003. Trails which I think are at least one mile long are in bold.

Kisatchie National Forest

• Caney Ranger District. Webster Parish.
• Sugar Cane National Recreation Trail is a 7.6 mile loop around upper Caney Lake.
• Catahoula Ranger District. Catahoula and Winn Parishes.
• Emery Trail runs a pleasant two miles from the outskirts of the town of Pollock (across from the west side of a town park) to the Stuart Lake Recreation Area.
• Stuart Lake Interpretive Trail has a stated length of 1.2 miles but I measured it at less than a mile, but it was still a nice trail particularly if combined with the Emery Trail which bisects this loop.
• Socia Branch Interpretive Trail reports to be a 1/2 mile loop off FS119, but I could not find it when I looked--may be only seasonal?
• Evangeline Ranger District. Rapides Parish
• Our longest, the Wild Azalea National Recreation Trail winds 31 miles from Lake Valentine to Woodworth (though 1.5 miles are along FS 287 from the real trailhead to Woodworth town hall).
• Lakeshore Trail runs 10 miles along the shore of Kincaid Lake from the East Kincaid Boat Ramp to its intersection with Lamotte Creek Trail. It was temporarily closed at the north end due to storm damage as of 7/5/98, but was reopened by the end of September (or at least the closed signs were down.
• Wild Azalea Spur Trail is a 1 mile spur connecting the Kincaid Trail to the Wild Azalea Trail.
• Another 10 miles of Kincaid Lake shoreline hosts the Kincaid Trail, from FS 205 around the developed campground to an intersection with the Wild Azalea Spur Trail. The trail signs on the site indicate it is a full loop of 8 and some miles.
• Lamotte Creek Trail is a 2.5 mile trail with no road access, running from the Wild Azalea Trail at Lamotte Creek, along said creek to Lake Kincaid, then along that shore to the Kincaid Trail.
• Valentine Trail is a 3 mile loop at Lake Valentine.
• Magnolia Forest Walk is reported to be a 1 mile loop on FS 273 but all I found was .2 mile unmaintained trail (with a dangerously rotten bridge) to a dead end at posted private land?
• Kisatchie Ranger District, Natchitoches Parish
• The Explorer Trail as designated on older maps is shown as the Turpentine Hill Trail (see below) on newer maps, which only makes sense as it is located on Turpentine Hill, the ridge to the northwest of the Longleaf Vista. The trailhead is on the Longleaf Trail Scenic Byway (FS 59) slightly to the west of the turnoff to Longleaf Vista. The maps indicate a 2 mile trail with a short spur at about 1 mile from the trailhead linking to the Backbone Trail, and the Explorer Trail continuing east from there for another mile to dead end near the east boundary of the Kisatchie Hills Wilderness Area. However, as of 1992 I was unable to find the trail any significant distance past the spur(?), and mud from erosion and horse traffic made the part from the road to the spur not particularly enjoyable. Latest update: as of May 1997 the part of the trail on Turpentine Hill (original Explorer Trail) which is supposed to continue beyond the spur to Backbone Trail is now designated as the Explorer Trail, the section from FS 59 to the spur is the Turpentine Hill Trail, and the trail in the northeast section of the Wilderness Area is now the High Ridge Trail.
• The 7.5 mile Backbone Trail forms not quite a loop, the trailheads on the Longleaf Trail Scenic Byway (FS 59--across from its intersection with FS 329) and on FS 339 (just north of its intersection with FS 59) being just over 2 miles apart by road. This is a very scenic trail through woods, over Bayou Cypre, and along ridges (one long one very high and open--great for scenery but a bit hot on a summer midday) in the Kisatchie Hills Wilderness Area.
• As indicated on the old maps, the Turpentine Hill Trail was miles away from Turpentine Hill, but has apparently since been renamed--twice (see Explorer Trail, above)? This trail, whatever it is called, branches off from the Backbone Trail at the east end of the long open ridge, heads north then west for a total of about a mile until it peters out near a small creek.
• A walk on the Caroline Dorman Hiking and Horse Trail could be combined with the Backbone Trail, the southeast trailhead of which is across the Longleaf Trail Scenic Byway (FS 59) from the northeast trailhead of the Dorman, for a one way hike of over 20 miles. If you started walking on the Dorman at Kisatchie Bayou Recreation Area you would have come 13 miles, through or along the edges of the Red Dirt National Wildlife Management Preserve. The trail crosses at least two other Forest Service roads (and comes up to one of those again to use its bridge to cross Bayou L'Ivrogne), so a shorter hike could be arranged.
• Step for step, the Longleaf Vista Nature Trail is probably the most scenic (and one of the most rugged as measured by elevation changes per mile) trail in the state. The 1.5 mile interpretive nature loop starts at the comfort station at Longleaf Vista Recreation Area, and visits, believe it or not, two mesas and a small waterfall. A must hike if you are anywhere near the area with an hour or two to spare.
• Vernon Ranger District. Vernon Parish
• For history buffs, and others, the Fullerton Lake Trail loops 1.6 miles through the ruins of one of the largest sawmills in the South during the logging heyday in the early part of the 20th Century, then along the dam of Fullerton Lake and back to the Fullerton Lake picnic/camping area (or a shorter loop avoids the dam).
• The Whiskey Chitto Trail starts at Fullerton Lake Recreation Area, reportedly crosses the Whiskey Chitto Creek on the Fort Polk Boundary Road bridge, and continues to intersect with the Big Branch Trail near Parish Rd. 443 at 10 miles. However, my last few times in the area I was unable to find key road crossings, especially in the Enduro Trail area. Faint blazes can still be found at the Fullerton Lake trailhead, but this does not look very promising. I am advised by a ranger that they do regard it as nonexistent for the western portion due to right of way questions, and that if it is restored, it will be as an ATV trail. It appears that another trail has bitten the dust (or, in this case, mud).
• Big Branch Trail loops 10 miles, passing through the Government Pond Recreation Area, Vernon Hunters' Camp, the south edge of Fort Polk, and many miles of rolling woods. The latest Forest Service information I have shows it as not being open to ATV's, but the surface looks suspiciously like ATV tracks.

• Turkey Pen Trail is an old section of the Big Branch Trail that runs through Longleaf Scenic Area, bypassed by the main trail when it was opened to bicycles. The Big Branch and Turkey Pen Trails diverge at Government Pond Recreation Area and reunite north of FS 421.
• The Ol' Sarg Trail is a short nature loop around a small lake at an old CCC camp.
• Winn Ranger District. Winn and Natchitoches Parishes
• Dogwood Nature Trail is a 1.2 mile nature loop on US 84 near the west boundary of Winn RD.
• Saline Bayou Hiking Trail. 3 miles along Saline Bayou Wild & Scenic River (the north part on the banks, the south part skirting the swamps, from Cloud Crossing campground down to Pearfield Landing..

Other Federal Agencies.

• Cameron Prairie National Wildlife Refuge. Cameron Parish.
• There is a 1/2 mile hiking trail shown on the brochure map, but last I checked it had not yet been constructed.
• Jean Lafitte National Historic Park(Barataria Preserve Unit). Jefferson Parish
• Although individually named, the Coquille Trail and Marsh Overlook Trail run end to end (with no road access to the latter) from the parking area at the north trailhead of the Palmetto Trail to the Kenta Canal (where the first ends and the latter begins), then along the Canal to an observation tower overlooking the marsh, total about 1 mile.
• From the visitor center to the Coquille Trail parking area is the boardwalk through the swamp that is the Palmetto Trail, about 1 mile.
• A trail system starts at the picnic area across and south from the visitor center, with four trails radiating around the .2 mile Christmas Road, at the end of which is a five-corner trailhead servicing the Ring Levee Trail, about 1/2 mile mostly boardwalk to an old drilling rig site, the Wood Duck trail, about 1/3 mile, and the two longer trails described below.
• The Plantation Trail is a 3 mile almost, but very eccentric, figure 8, from the north of the picnic area to the five- corner trailhead. Many bridges and some longer boardwalks take you over the wettest areas.
• On the other side of the picnic area, the Old Barataria Trail (1 1/3 mile) is not as extensively constructed as the Plantation, but shows more evidence of the farming operations of the former plantation here.
• Sabine National Wildlife Refuge. Cameron Parish.
• The Marsh Trail is a 1 1/2 mile concrete and boardwalk trail through the marsh to an observation tower--though the main attraction is the likelihood of seeing alligators (don't bring the dog).
• Tensas River National Wildlife Refuge. Tensas and Madison Parishes.
• There is a nice short boardwalk leading through the bottomland to an observation tower at the edge of a clearing behind the visitor center.
• Raney Lake Trail circles its namesake lake and then some. It was being extensively refurbished in September 1998, including interpretive area near the trailhead.
• Africa Lake Trail starts from a parking area to the west of the Tensas River. It runs along the banks of Africa Lake (appear to be two oxbow lakes end to end with a channel between them) to the end of an ATV trail at the Southwest end of the lakes. Another trail crosses the channel.

State Parks and Commemorative Areas

• Audubon State Commemorative Area. West Feliciana Parish.
• Cardinal Trail--a short loop in the woods near a plantation house.
• Chemin-a-Haut State Park. Morehouse Parish.
• The "trail along Bayou Bartholomew" described in the brochure is a sidewalk. There are (11/98) however, temporarily, miles of primitive trails cut into the woods between the developed sections of the park and Big Slough Lake, but these are just to allow workers to cut pine beetle infested trees, and there are plans to run a road through to put new cabins along the lake. Hurry for a fun place to explore.
• Chicot State Park. Evangeline Parish.
• Chicot Trail has been cleared and blazed all the way around the lake (about 14 1/2 miles). This is once again the crown jewel of the State Parks.
• Louisiana Arboretum. Evangeline Parish.
• Trail system winds through the woods.
• Fontainebleau State Park. St. Tammany Parish.
• Nature Trail is a a little over a mile almost loop (return along the road). A new naturalist is working on a new interpretive booklet..
• Lake Bistineau State Park. Webster Parish.
• Hiking trail(s) as per state park system brochure?
• Lake Claiborne State Park. Claiborne Parish.
• Nature trail as per state park system brochure? 1 mile as per Louisiana Outdoors brochure?
• Lake Fausse Point State Park. Iberia Parish.
• The Trail system of two loops commences across a footbridge from the more developed area of the park.
• Loop C has now been constructed. It loops about three miles and passes a tent pad which can be reached (and used with proper permit--make reservations early as there is only one) by boat or by the trail only, making this the only backpacking trail in the State Park system other than the Chicot Trail.
• Los Adaes State Commemorative Area. Natchitoches Parish.
• Trail(s) as per state park system brochure?
• Mansfield State Commemorative Area. DeSoto Parish.
• Trail(s) as per state park system brochure?
• North Toledo Bend State Park. Sabine Parish.
• The Dogwood Trail Nature Walk is a 1 1/2 mile interpretive loop. Be sure to ask for a trail guide at the entrance station.
• A scenic overlook trail stretches .2 mile from campground loop B to an observation deck and dock at lakeside.
• Port Hudson State Commemorative Area. East Feliciana Parish.
• An extensive Trail System (6 miles) leads to important sites of the Civil War battle, among ridges, ravines, and dense woods. Don't let the history lesson scare you. These are some of the most scenic and rugged trails in the state.
• Poverty Point State Commemorative Area. West Carroll Parish.
• A 2.6 mile Walking Tour of the mounds winds through wooded areas and along bayous.
• Sam Houston Jones State Park. Calcasieu Parish.
• 1 1/2 mile almost loop from the east end of the picnic area along the ridge between the winding river and the swamp is called, according to the maps, the River Walk Trail.
• A 3/4 mile "Old Stagecoach Road" near the deer pen was at one time a "Nature Trail" but now has no interpretive markers or brochures.
• The Longleaf Pine Trail was built by the Jolly Roger bike club and is very suitable for hiking. It runs three miles from the trailhead near the deer pen out to a road a short distance closer to the entrance, mostly along the edge between a recently endangered mixed forest and wetlands..
• St. Bernard State Park. St. Bernard Parish.
• "Clearly marked trails" as per web page, according to the gate personnel these merely connect various areas of the park.

Other State, Parochial, or Private Trails (by Parish)

• Bienville Parish
• Driskill Mountain at 535 feet is the high point in Louisiana.
• Bossier Parish
• Cypress-Black Bayou Recreation Area Natural area claims four miles of trails, but I found about 2 miles, including 2 handicapped concrete loops.
• Caddo Parish
• The Walter Jacob Nature Center near Blanchard has many interesting loops across, around and between two small sandy bayous, a wildflower trail along a power line right of way, and a handicapped accessible (including braille interpretive signs and a guide rope) short interpretive loop..
• Red River Trail is primarily a bike path (4 1/2 miles) along the Shreveport riverfront.
• Calcasieu Parish
• At the I-10 (Vinton) Welcome Station is a short swamp boardwalk interpretive trail.
• Catahoula Parish
• The Nature Trail at the Sicily Island WMA leads to a real waterfall! 0.6 mile of very rugged but very scenic trail. Rivals Longleaf Vista Trail and Stoker Trail for most rugged.
• The Rock Canyon Trail described in the Louisiana Outdoors brochure is a short hike to a (usually dry) waterfall.
• East Baton Rouge Parish
• Cohn Memorial Arboretum has paths through 16 acres of native Louisiana trees and shrubs, very landscaped, a park like setting. Wilder but smaller is Hilltop Arboretum on Highland Road.
• Lafayette Parish
• The Acadiana Park (Lafayette Natural History Museum) Nature Trail winds from a parking area past the Nature Station and along sections of the Trail system across Francois Coulee.

• LaSalle Parish

• Dewey Wills (formerly Saline) WMA has a .6 mile nature trail to Muddy Bayou.
• Natchitoches Parish

• Trails wind through the Briarwood-Caroline Dorman Nature Preserve as a monument to the woman instrumental in the establishment of Kisatchie National Forest, but, sadly, they are not open to the general public, except on a fascinating guided tour by golf cart.
• Orleans Parish
• The Louisiana Nature Center in Joe Brown Park claims 2 1/2 miles of loop trails through wetlands and fields.
• Ouachita Parish
• Kiroli Park in West Monroe has an Outer Loop that combines portions of smaller loop trails through woods, stream bottoms, along lakes, and around this well-designed park.
• Rapides Parish
• The Indian Creek Trail at Alexander State Forest; Indian Creek Recreation Area loops 2 miles through woods and along the reservoir, but the north leg between the entrance station and the primitive camping road needs blazing & maintenance badly--I had to bushwhack after losing the trail.
• Fort Beuhler Recreation Area off U.S. 165 & 71 at Pineville has about 1 mile trail system.
• Sabine Parish
• Hodges Gardens has a series of named trails, mostly service roads opened to bike, horse and foot traffic, around the outer edges of the preserve, plus paths through a wild area and an arboretum, in addition to the paths through the more formal gardens. Be sure to ask for a map of the trails when you pay your admission.
• If you're passing near Many, be sure to check out the Stoker Hills Hiking Trail, a 2 mile tree identification loop through extremely rugged terrain (would you believe canyons and a waterfall--but usually dry). Look for the sign on La. 6 between Fort Jessup and Robeline.
• St. Tammany Parish
• Pearl River Wildlife Management Area's Honey Island Nature Trail is about a 1 mile loop with interpretive brochure.
• The Tammany Trace is the state's first rails to trails conversion. About 15 to 20 miles of the planned 31 miles are opened to hikers, bicycles, rollerbladers, and horses. The sections I have bicycled did not appear very inviting to hikers--mostly an asphalt bike path in mostly straight lines.

Other walks

• Around the state.
• Several private campgrounds claim nature trails in the Louisiana Campground Owners Association brochure. Are any of these open to the public and/or long enough to be of interest??
• Stroll or splash along the beaches at Grand Isle and Cameron Parish.
• Levee tops are open at various places. The Delta Trail Guide describes several in Greater New Orleans.
• Some ATV trails are not too crowded.
• Various other Wildlife Management areas claim nature trails, but other than the ones noted above most have been neglected or are just short loops.
• And many many miles of parish and forest service roads have minimal vehicular traffic.

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Rev. 04/2003--Last substantive revision to trail list 06/2000