Sycamore Shoals State Historic Park: Patriots Path (Blog Hike #1064)

Trail: Patriots Path
Hike Location: Sycamore Shoals State Historic Park
Geographic Location: Elizabethton, TN (36.34391, -82.25286)
Length: 1.4 miles
Difficulty: 1/10 (Easy)
Date Hiked: March 2025
Overview: An out-and-back past reconstructed Fort Watauga to where the Overmountain Men crossed the Watauga River.
Park Information: https://tnstateparks.com/parks/sycamore-shoals
Hike Route Map: https://www.mappedometer.com/?maproute=981565
Photo Highlight:

Hike Video: (coming July 3, 2026)

Directions to the trailhead: In Johnson City, take I-26 to US 321 (exit 24).  Exit and go north on US 321.  Drive US 321 north 5.9 miles to the signed park entrance on the left.  Turn left to enter the park, and park in the large blacktop lot in front of the Visitor Center.

The hike: It was September 25, 1780 when the hardscrabble Overmountain Men gathered at the Sycamore Shoals of the Watauga River in present-day eastern Tennessee.  The Overmountain Men had helped the American Patriots in earlier Revolutionary War battles, and consequently British military leaders had threatened them with loss of land and life if they failed to lay down arms.  Given the campaign the British were waging in the upstate Carolinas at that time, the threat was not an idle threat.  Rather than lay down arms, the Overmountain Men marched over the mountains to Kings Mountain, South Carolina where they joined the Patriots in the Battle of Kings Mountain.  A victory for the Patriots, that battle proved to be the turning point in the Revolutionary War.

            Today the site in eastern Tennessee where the Overmountain Men gathered to begin their over-mountain march is preserved as Sycamore Shoals State Historic Park.  Established in 1975, this rather young park offers a fascinating mix of scenery and history.  The park features reconstructed Fort Watauga, the grounds of which constituted the Overmountain Men's basecamp.  The park also offers a nice Visitor Center and Museum that tells the story of the Overmountain Men and of the Cherokee and settlers that lived here.

            Hikers can explore the reconstructed fort and the natural areas on the park's 2 hiking trails, one of which was closed on my visit.  This hike uses the one trail that was open on my visit: the short and easy out-and-back Patriots Path.  The Patriots Path passes both the reconstructed fort and the scenic and historic Sycamore Shoals of the Watauga River.  I came here on a damp chilly morning in early March, but I had a fantastic and inspiring hike.

Trailhead for the Patriots Path

            There are a couple of ways you could do this hike, but I chose to hike to Sycamore Shoals first and then see reconstructed Fort Watauga on my return route.  To execute such a plan, walk right/northeast of the Visitor Center and Museum, then turn left to parallel the park road and find the signed start of the Patriots Path.  A simple wooden sign and a white shield-shaped plastic trail marker mark the trailhead.  Numbered posts indicate the existence of an interpretive guide for this trail, but I did not see one at the Visitor Center.

Hiking the Patriots Path

            The Patriots Path is paved with finely crushed gravel.  At first it continues to parallel the park road, but soon the road curves right and the trail continues straight to enter the woods.  At 0.2 miles, the trail forks.  The Patriots Path continues straight, but to add a little more distance I turned right to leave the gravel and hike a short dirt trail.  This dirt trail forms a short loop through young forest, and it provides your first look at the Watauga River, which is wide and calm at this point.

Watauga River

            At 0.35 miles, you rejoin the gravel Patriots Path, now heading south through a narrow strip of woods with the river on your right.  Near 0.5 miles, you pass the historic point where the Overmountain Men crossed the river to reach their gathering point for their march over the mountains to South Carolina.  Imagine wading across this river with your rifle and provisions, anxious about the forthcoming march through the wilderness and the British troops you will fight in South Carolina.

Historic river crossing

            Just south of the historic river crossing, the trail forks to form a loop.  To save the riverside section for last, I turned left and used the trail going right as my return route, thus hiking the short loop clockwise.  The first/south arm of the loop is the worst part of this hike: it stays close to noisy US 321 and an industrial area.

Sycamore Shoals

            0.9 miles into the hike, you return to the Watauga River and reach Sycamore Shoals.  While not really a cascade, an island in the river forces the water over some rocks, and the shoals produce pleasant visual and audio scenery.  Continuing upstream from the shoals, the riverside scenery continues, and I did some nice wildlife viewing that included some Canada geese, mallards, and bufflehead in the river.  

Reconstructed Fort Watauga

            Just shy of 1 mile, you close the loop.  Retrace your steps along the gravel trail, then turn right at 1.25 miles to enter reconstructed Fort Watauga.  The reconstructed wooden fort features buildings that have been furnished to demonstrate frontier life in the 1700's, and walking around the fort is a wonderfully inspiring educational experience.  After touring the fort, head east to climb the stairs to the back door of the Visitor Center and complete the hike.

Frozen Head State Park: Debord Falls and Emory Gap Falls (Blog Hike #1063)

Trails: Panther Branch and Emory Gap Trails
Hike Location: Frozen Head State Park
Geographic Location: east of Wartburg, TN (36.13641, -84.48775)
Length: 2.6 miles
Difficulty: 5/10 (Moderate)
Date Hiked: March 2025
Overview: An out-and-back past 2 nice waterfalls.
Park Information: https://tnstateparks.com/parks/frozen-head
Hike Route Map: https://www.mappedometer.com/?maproute=981425
Photo Highlight:

Hike Video: (coming June 5, 2026)

Directions to the trailhead: From the intersection of SR 62 and US 27 in Wartburg, take SR 62 east 1.5 miles to Flat Fork Road and a brown sign for Frozen Head State Park.  Turn left on Flat Fork Rd.  Flat Fork Rd. becomes the park road at the park entrance.  Continue to follow the main park road past the Visitor Center and over a one lane bridge to its end at the Panther Branch Trailhead, which has a large blacktop parking lot that will hold about 25 cars.  Park in this lot.

The hike: For my general comments on Frozen Head State Park, see my previous hike on the park's Judge Branch Trail, which is described elsewhere in this Trail Journal.  The hike described here heads up Panther Branch, and it is the most popular short hike in this large park because it leads to 2 scenic waterfalls: Debord Falls and Emory Gap Falls.  Even better, the trail stays near Panther Branch or its tributary Emory Gap Branch most of the time.  Thus, although this hike gains about 450 feet of elevation, it does so on easy and moderate grades.

Panther Branch Trailhead

            At the rear of the parking lot, pick up the Panther Branch Trail as it heads up through the ravine of its namesake creek.  A large sign with a park closing time marks this trailhead, and the Panther Branch Trail is marked with blue trail markers.  Broadleaf trees including some sweetgums dominate this forest, but a few pine trees grow along the trail.

Panther Branch

            The wide two-track dirt trail climbs gradually with the creek 20-30 feet downhill to the right.  Careful observation will lead you to conclude that this trail is an old road: the stone walls used for footbridge supports today are much larger than would be required for a footbridge and hence are probably from a former road bridge.  Just past 0.5 miles, you reach the signed spur trail for Debord Falls, which exits right.  Only a couple hundred feet later, you descend some steps and arrive at the base of Debord Falls, where a viewing area gives a great view of the waterfall.  Debord Falls is a common 10-foot ledge-type waterfall with a large plunge pool, and it adds some extra scenery to this creekside hike.

Debord Falls

            Back on the main trail, continue upstream to reach a trail intersection at 0.9 miles.  The Panther Branch Trail exits right and leads to some backcountry campsites and eventually to the trail that leads to the top of Frozen Head Mountain.  This hike angles left to leave the Panther Branch Trail and begin the Emory Gap Trail, still following the old dirt road but now with white trail markers.

Hiking on the old road

            Just past 1 mile, the old dirt road seems to end, and a pair of switchbacks lifts you higher up the hillside.  The switchbacks are steeper and rockier than the old road, but taking your time with careful stepping will get you up the switchbacks.  At 1.35 miles, you reach the base of Emory Gap Falls.

Emory Gap Falls

            Emory Gap Falls is taller and much less standard than Debord Falls: a single drop of about 10 feet is followed by a myriad of cascades through a boulder field.  Also, finding a good spot to view and photograph this waterfall can be a challenge due to the boulders.  The Emory Gap Trail ends at Emory Gap Falls, so after enjoying the waterfall your only option is to turn around and retrace your steps to the parking lot to complete the hike.

Hiwassee/Ocoee Scenic River State Park: Gee Creek Campground Loop (Blog Hike #1062)

Trail: Gee Creek Campground Loop
Hike Location: Hiwassee/Ocoee Scenic River State Park
Geographic Location: south of Etowah, TN (35.23775, -84.55063)
Length: 1.3 miles
Difficulty: 1/10 (Easy)
Date Hiked: March 2025
Overview: A lollipop loop around Gee Creek Campground and along the Hiwassee River.
Park Information: https://tnstateparks.com/parks/hiwassee-ocoee
Hike Route Map: https://www.mappedometer.com/?maproute=981312
Photo Highlight:

Hike Video: (coming May 26, 2026)

Directions to the trailhead: From Etowah, take US 411 south 6.4 miles to Spring Creek Road and turn left on Spring Creek Rd.  Drive Spring Creek Rd. east 0.8 miles to the park office on the right.  Park in the large blacktop parking lot beside the park office.

The hike: Early European explorers wrote of 2 major rivers that flowed west out of the mountains and into the great valley in present-day southeast Tennessee.  The first river was a quaint river that can be crossed almost anywhere almost anytime.  The second river was a raging beast of a river that can be crossed almost nowhere and almost none of the time.  Today we call the quaint river the Ocoee River, and we call the beastly river the Hiwassee River.

            A few miles up the Hiwassee River from the confluence of these 2 rivers lies a park named for both rivers: Hiwassee/Ocoee Scenic River State Park.  At present the park is located only on the Hiwassee River, but future plans call for adding acreage and splitting this park into 2 parks, one along each river.  The present site is surrounded on 3 sides by Cherokee National Forest, and it features only the Gee Creek Campground with 47 developed sites, Hiwassee River access, and the short hiking trail described here.  While definitely not the best trail in this area, the Gee Creek Campground Loop offers good Hiwassee River views, and it makes a nice add-on if you are camping here or hiking in nearby Cherokee National Forest.

Fort Marr blockhouse

            You can start the trail from either the campground or the park office.  I was not camping here, so I started at the park office.  Beside the park office stands an interesting historical landmark: the Fort Marr Blockhouse.  Fort Marr was built in 1814 to protect the area from the British during the War of 1812, but it soon became the center for military operations to remove Cherokee people from Tennessee to Oklahoma.  The fort was abandoned in 1838, and the blockhouse was moved twice to reach this location, which is about 15 miles from the original fort.  This blockhouse is this region's only remnant of any fort from that era.

Trailhead at park office

            After viewing the blockhouse, walk east across the parking lot to find where the single-track dirt trail enters the woods.  A small wooden sign that says "Loop Trail" marks this trailhead.  The trail heads east through young forest with a dense shrubby understory.  Plenty of sweet gum trees live in this forest, as do some old dying red cedars.  This land is persistently flat, and the total elevation gain on this hike is less than 100 feet.

Trail splits to form loop

            At only 0.1 miles, the trail forks to form its loop around Gee Creek Campground.  I angled left and used the trail going right as my return route, thus hiking the loop clockwise.  The trail continues its southeast course, and just past 0.2 miles it crosses the campground entrance road.  The section of the trail north of the campground passes through a wetland area with a ditch, and a few minor wet areas will need to be negotiated if it has rained recently.  I did some good bird viewing here that included some cardinals and a woodpecker.

Hiking north of the campground

            Just shy of 0.5 miles, the trail crosses the ditch on a footbridge and heads around the east end of the campground.  Although the campground is fairly close on the right, dense woods keeps the campground out of your field of vision most of the time.  Just past 0.6 miles, the Hiwassee River comes into view on the left for the first time.  The river was high and raging on my visit due to recent rains, but the water was still remarkably clear.

Hiwassee River

            The riverside segment is the most scenic part of this hike.  At 0.9 miles, you cross over a riverside bluff and pass the park's boat ramp.  The southwest corner of the loop was somewhat overgrown on my visit, and I had to negotiate several blowdowns across the trail.  Look for the white plastic shield-like trail markers to make sure you are still on the trail.

Primitive campground

            Just past 1 mile, you come out at the park's primitive campground.  Angle right to walk along the gravel primitive campground road and then look to the left to find the continuation of the trail.  A few hundred feet later, you close the loop.  Angle left to return to the park office and complete the hike.

Buck's Pocket State Park: Point Rock Trail (Blog Hike #1061)

Trail: Point Rock Trail
Hike Location: Buck's Pocket State Park
Geographic Location: west of Rainsville, AL (34.47527, -86.05100)
Length: 2.3 miles
Difficulty: 8/10 (Difficult)
Date Hiked: March 2025
Overview: An out-and-back, partly along cascading Little Sauty Creek, to fantastic Point Rock Overlook.
Park Information: https://www.alapark.com/parks/bucks-pocket-state-park
Hike Route Map: https://www.mappedometer.com/?maproute=981260
Photo Highlight:

Hike Video: (coming May 29, 2026)

Directions to the trailhead: From Rainsville, take SR 75 south 9.3 miles to CR 400 and turn right on CR 400.  Drive CR 400 west 5.2 miles to CR 402 and turn right on CR 402.  Drive CR 402 north 0.8 miles.  Turn left and immediately turn right to continue north on CR 20.  Drive CR 20 north 1.8 miles to CR 557 and angle softly left on CR 557.  Drive CR 557 north 0.5 miles to CR 172 and turn left on CR 172.  Drive CR 172 west 0.7 miles to the park entrance on the right.  Turn right to enter the park, pay the day-use fee, and park in the perpendicular parking area on the left just after crossing Little Sauty Creek but just before reaching the campground entrance.

The hike: The large number of turns and county roads in the driving directions to reach Buck's Pocket State Park testifies to this park rural and rustic location.  Possibly the most remote state park in Alabama, Buck's Pocket State Park protects 2080 acres in and around a pocket canyon in the northeast part of the state.  The park consists of land purchased from a farmer combined with land donated by the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA), and it opened in 1971.  Several theories and legends have been advanced to explain the pocket canyon's name, but none have been substantiated.

            True to its rustic nature, Buck's Pocket State Park offers limited amenities that include only a cozy 23-site developed campground, some picnic areas, and seven trails.  All of the park's hiking trails are short, and this park's signature hike is the Point Rock Trail described here.  This out-and-back connects the campground with the trail's namesake Point Rock while passing the fantastic scenery of this park's scenic but rugged pocket canyon.

Lower trailhead near campground

            From the parking lot outside the campground, walk back out the entrance road, cross Little Sauty Creek on the road's bridge, and then look to the left for the start of the Point Rock Trail.  Several small wooden signs mark this trailhead.  The Point Rock Trail begins as an old road with the creek on your left, and the trail surface alternates between smooth dirt and rough rocks, roots, and boulders.  The rough areas are quite primitive, and they make this hike harder than the distance and elevation gain would indicate.

Rough wooden steps

            At 0.3 miles, you cross a side stream at a point that forces you to scramble over some boulders.  Soon comes a steep section that climbs some rough wooden steps built into the ground.  Just past 0.5 miles, you cross Little Sauty Creek without the aid of a bridge.  All of these obstacles are manageable for most people, but they slow your progress and make you plan your steps.  Cascading Little Sauty Creek keeps you constant company through the challenges, and red aluminum discs nailed to trees mark the way.

Little Sauty Creek in Buck's Pocket

            0.7 miles into the hike, a spur trail exits right that leads to a small waterfall.  The harder and wetter the creek crossings and boulders have been so far, the better this waterfall will be.  Next the trail embarks on a short but steep and rocky final climb to the rim of the pocket canyon.  When you make the final switchback to reach the rim, the hardest part of the hike is over.

View west at Point Rock Overlook

View south at Point Rock Overlook

            The hike along the rim is an easy glide, and 1 mile into the hike you reach the Point Rock Overlook parking area.  Angle left through the parking area and walk down the gravel and boardwalk trail that accesses the overlook.  What a view!  The pocket canyon you climbed through sits to the left, while the larger South Sauty Creek canyon sits to the right and directly ahead.  Benches and rock slabs make great places to sit and rest.  There is only 1 trail to this overlook, so after enjoying the view retrace your steps back down to the campground to complete the hike.

Lake Guntersville State Park: Dry Falls/Taylor Mountain Loop (Blog Hike #1060)

Trails: Dry Falls, Terrell, Taylor Mountain, and Golf Course Trails
Hike Location: Lake Guntersville State Park
Geographic Location: northeast of Guntersville, AL (34.39527, -86.20502)
Length: 4 miles
Difficulty: 7/10 (Moderate)
Date Hiked: March 2025
Overview: A loop hike down and up a steep rocky hillside.
Park Information: https://www.alapark.com/parks/lake-guntersville-state-park
Hike Route Map: https://www.mappedometer.com/?maproute=981185
Photo Highlight:

Hike Video: (coming March 20, 2026)

Directions to the trailhead: From the intersection of US 431 and SR 227 in Guntersville, take SR 227 south 7 miles to the signed park entrance on the left.  Turn left to enter the park, then turn right at the first intersection to follow signs for the park's lodge.  Drive the main park loop road 1.8 miles to Lodge Drive and turn left on Lodge Dr.  Park in the lodge parking lot, which is 0.1 miles ahead on the right.

The hike: At 69,100 acres of surface area, Guntersville Lake is the largest reservoir in Alabama.  The lake was formed in the late 1930's when the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) built Guntersville Dam on the Tennessee River for purposes of flood control, river navigation, and hydroelectric power generation.  The lake and dam are named for the nearby town of Guntersville, which in turn is named for John Gunter, an early settler in the area.

            Perched near the southeast corner of its namesake lake is 5909 acre Lake Guntersville State Park.  The park was formed in 1947 when the TVA transferred 4000 lakeside acres to the State of Alabama, but it did not open until 1974.  The park is one of the best-amenitied state parks in Alabama, and it offers a golf course, a lodge and convention complex, a fishing center that makes this park a top-tier fishing destination, several cabins, a 282-site developed campground, and a zip line.

            For hikers, Lake Guntersville State Park offers more than 30 trails totaling over 36 miles.  Many routes with many types of scenery are possible, and the route described here goes down and up one of the park's main ridges.  Even better, this hike begins at the park's lodge, thus allowing you to hit the trail without ever getting in your car if you are spending the night here.

Lodge trailhead

            From the front door of the lodge, walk across Lodge Drive to find the lodge's trailhead.  A wooden sign and red aluminum disc mark this trailhead.  The single track dirt trail heads into the dense pine woods that dominate this ridge.  At the first trail intersection, angle right to pass over a low knob.

Start of Dry Falls Trail

            At 0.2 miles, you reach a major trail intersection with trails going straight, left, and right.  The trail going right is the Nature Trail; it leads back to the lodge parking lot in only another 0.3 miles.  The trail going left is the Golf Course Loop; it will be our return route.  Continue straight to head south on the Dry Falls Trail and begin a counterclockwise journey around our loop.

Heading off of the ridge

            Soon the descent steepens as the trail drops off the top of the ridge, and you find yourself in a rocky ravine that feels cut-and-pasted from the Appalachian Mountains to the northeast.  The trail map says that the Dry Falls Trail is marked with yellow markers, but I saw quite a few green aluminum discs marking the trail.  As you descend the rocky trail into the ravine, the pine trees give way to a mixed forest that features plenty of sweet gum trees.  At 0.7 miles, you descend past a rock jam in the stream that is the dry falls for which this trail is named.

Rock jam in ravine

            0.9 miles into the hike, you reach the lowest elevation on this hike and the lower end of the Dry Falls Trail.  An alternative parking lot with a bench provides the only good resting point on this hike.  Turn left to begin the Terrell Trail.

Starting the Terrell Trail

            The Terrell Trail embarks on a rolling course with Aubrey Carr Scenic Drive through the trees to your right.  Several streams are crossed with the aid of wooden footbridges.  At 1.2 miles, you reach another trail intersection.  The Terrell Trail turns right to cross the road, but this hike continues straight to begin the Taylor Mountain Trail.

Starting the Taylor Mountain Trail

            The Taylor Mountain Trail dips to cross one final stream before beginning its long gradual climb.  Honestly, the Taylor Mountain Trail can get annoying: it stays near the park's main loop road for its entire distance, and it uses far more switchbacks than necessary to climb the ridge.  At 2.8 miles, you make it back to the ridgetop and reach the upper end of the Taylor Mountain Trail where it intersects the Golf Course Loop.  Angle softly left to join the Golf Course Loop, which is the last leg of this hike.

View on the Golf Course Loop

            For such an uninspiringly-named trail, the Golf Course Loop offers a reasonably pleasant hike.  On the down side, the park's main loop road stays close on the right.  On the bright side, the trail has only minor undulations, and long partially-obstructed views can be had to the left during the leafless months.  At 3.8 miles, you close the loop.  Turn right and hike 0.2 miles gradually uphill through dense pine woods to return to the lodge and complete the hike.

Homochitto National Forest: Clear Springs Lake Trail (Blog Hike #1059)

Trail: Clear Springs Lake Trail
Hike Location: Homochitto National Forest, Clear Springs Recreation Area
Geographic Location: southeast of Roxie, MS (31.42591, -90.98519)
Length: 1.3 miles
Difficulty: 2/10 (Easy)
Date Hiked: February 2025
Overview: A short loop hike around Clear Springs Lake.
Area Information: https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/mississippi/recarea/?recid=28869
Hike Route Map: https://www.mappedometer.com/?maproute=980760
Photo Highlight:

Hike Video: (coming March 24, 2026)

Directions to the trailhead: From Roxie, take US 84 east 6.5 miles to Clear Springs Road and turn right on Clear Springs Road; there is a national forest sign at this intersection.  Drive narrow and winding Clear Springs Rd. 4 miles to the recreation area entrance.  Pay the entrance fee, and park in the day use parking area near the picnic shelters beside the lake.

The hike: Located in the rural southwest quadrant of Mississippi east of Natchez, Homochitto National Forest (pronounced like home-uh-CHEAT-uh) protects 191,839 acres mostly of recovering farmland.  The forest was established in 1936 as Mississippi's first national forest, and the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) worked to reforest the land and build many of the roads and recreation areas we use today.  The forest is named for the Homochitto River, which drains most of its land.  The river's name in turn probably comes from the Choctaw word for "big red."

            For recreation, the forest is most famous for its many miles of bridle trails, but it also has a few dayhiking options.  I came here on the last day of a 23 day hiking trip with a long drive home in front of me, so I chose to hike the forest's shortest trail: the 1.3 mile Clear Springs Lake Trail described here.  This trail forms a loop around its namesake lake, and the scenic lake views combine with the relatively steep hills and good wildlife viewing to make a fantastic short rustic hike.

Drinking fountain at trailhead

            From the main information board, begin a counterclockwise journey around Clear Springs Lake by heading west on the single track trail with the lake to your left.  The Clear Springs Lake Trail is mostly unmarked but entirely easy to follow.  The drinking fountain at the trailhead was turned off for the winter when I came here in late February, but several picnic tables occupy scenic spots beside the lake.  Clear Springs Lake was not particularly clear on my visit: the lake is fed by a combination of streams and springs, and this area had received large amounts of rain the week preceding my visit.

Picnic shelter across the lake

            Ignore several side trails that exit right; they lead uphill to the campground and another picnic area.  The lake makes for above average birding, and I heard and saw lots of common birds on this hike.  After following the trail closest to the lake for 0.3 miles, you reach Clear Springs Dam, which forms the lake.  Turn left to hike across the earthen dam and access the less developed south side of Clear Springs Lake.

Clear Springs Lake, as seen from the dam

            The next 0.4 miles stay close to the south shore of the lake.  The forest is dominated by pine trees, as you would expect for reverting farmland from the 1930's.  Some narrow trail and a decent number of small ups-and-downs make the going more challenging than you might expect, but broad views open up across the lake.  Old patches of asphalt can be seen in the trail surface, indicating that this trail might have been partially paved at one time.  At 0.7 miles, the trail curves right to briefly leave the lake and begin heading southeast high above a small side stream.

Hiking along the lake

            After crossing the stream and returning to the lake area, the trail curves right to round a low ridge before passing the east/upstream end of the lake.  You pass through a muddy area before intersecting the much longer red-blazed Richardson Creek Trail at 1.1 miles.  Turn left to continue the loop around the lake and cross the lake's main feeder stream on a wooden footbridge.

Footbridge over Richardson Creek

Final turn

            After less than 500 feet on the Richardson Creek Trail, you need to turn left to leave the Richardson Creek Trail and begin the final leg of our loop.  The blue arrow here is one of the few trail markers I saw on the entire Clear Springs Lake Trail.  A short flat walk through more pines deposits you at the picnic area to complete the hike.

Lake D'Arbonne State Park: White and Yellow Trails (Blog Hike #1058)

Trails: White and Yellow Trails
Hike Location: Lake D'Arbonne State Park
Geographic Location: west of Farmerville, LA (32.77652, -92.47566)
Length: 4 miles
Difficulty: 5/10 (Moderate)
Date Hiked: February 2025
Overview: A loop hike through dense pine forest and passing Lake D'Arbonne.
Park Information: https://www.lastateparks.com/parks-preserves/lake-darbonne-state-park
Hike Route Map: https://www.mappedometer.com/?maproute=980681
Photo Highlight:

Hike Video: (coming December 2026)

Directions to the trailhead: From Farmerville, take SR 2 west 5.5 miles to Evergreen Road and turn left on Evergreen Rd.  Drive Evergreen Rd. south 0.3 miles to the signed park entrance on the left.  Turn left to enter the park, pay the entrance fee, and drive the main park road to its end at picnic pavilions #1 and #2.  Park near the picnic pavilions.

The hike: Located in northern Louisiana northwest of Monroe, Lake D'Arbonne State Park protects 655 acres on the north shore of its namesake lake.  The lake was formed in 1961 when the Louisiana Department of Public Works built a 2450 foot long and 51 foot tall concrete dam on Bayou D'Arbonne.  The bayou and hence everything else gets its name from the Arbonne commune in extreme southwest France, another indication of Louisiana's heavy French influence.

            The well-amenitied park features the usual aquatic recreation on Lake D'Arbonne in addition to an excellent 58-site developed campground, 16 cabins, 2 group lodges, several picnic areas, and a disc golf course.  For hikers, the park offers 5 trails totaling over 7 miles, and the park's best trails feature the large bald cypress trees that grow along the park's lakeshore.

            At over 4 miles long, the White Trail is this park's longest trail, and most of the park's other trails are short-cuts for the White Trail, which traces the perimeter of the park.  While you could stay on the White Trail for its entire distance, this hike follows the White Trail most of the way while taking a short-cut on the Yellow Trail.  This particular short-cut avoids a couple of road crossings and gets you to the scenic lakeshore faster.

White Trail exits picnic pavilion area

            Pick up the White Trail as it leaves the east side of the picnic pavilion area; a small green sign that says "Cypress Bend Trail" marks this trailhead.  On my visit the initial segment of trail was decorated with Christmas lights even though I came here in late February.  White paint blazes and white plastic diamonds mark the way.

Hiking the White Trail

            Soon the trail curves left to begin climbing gradually roughly parallel to the park road.  A couple of side trails exit left to head for the road, but this hike stays with the White Trail.  Pine trees grow everywhere in this part of the park, and I saw 1 red-headed woodpecker while hearing several more.  You pass in and out of several small ravines until, 1 mile into the hike, you reach the park's north boundary and the highest elevation on this hike.  This elevation is only about 125 feet above the lake's elevation, so while this hike has some steep areas, the steep areas never last long.

Climbing out of a ravine

            After passing through a particularly steep ravine, just past 1.3 miles you reach a trail intersection with the park's gatehouse in sight.  The White Trail continues straight to form a short loop across Evergreen Road, and you could go that way if you wanted to be a purist and do the entire White Trail.  This hike skips the loop by turning left, crossing the park entrance road just east of the gatehouse, and starting the Yellow Trail, which is one of this park's several connector trails.

Start of Yellow Trail near gatehouse

            The Yellow Trail descends and curves right to reach the paved park road that accesses the park's group lodge.  Turn right to walk this road to the group lodge parking lot, then look to the right for the next white trail marker: it is a white plastic diamond located on a wooden post beside orange and red diamonds.  This white diamond means you are back on the White Trail, and thus the brief Yellow Trail short-cut is over.

Trailhead at group lodge

            1.75 miles into the hike, you reach a power line corridor, where you need to turn left to stay on the White Trail as it begins heading southwest under the power line.  Keep your eyes peeled for the trail markers at 2.1 miles: the White Trail curves left to leave the power line corridor, and it is easy to keep mindlessly following the power line.  The next section of trail heads gradually downhill toward the park's cabin area.  I have read that this section can become overgrown, but I had no trouble following the trail when I came here.

Hiking under the power line

            At 2.5 miles, you enter the park's cabin area.  Follow the white trail markers through the cabin area and exit the cabin area on the east side.  The cabin area lies close to Lake D'Arbonne, and thus passing through the cabin area marks the beginning of the last leg of this hike: the leg along the lake.  This leg is the most scenic part of the hike because it stays closest to the lake, but it is also the most developed part of the hike because most of the park's amenities are along the lakeshore.  Watch for the white trail markers carefully to stay on the trail.

Bald cypress trees in Lake D'Arbonne

            The trail passes through the park's cabin area, campground, and yurt area in that order before passing in front of the Visitor Center.  A sign calls the trail leaving the Visitor Center area the Owl Heaven Trail, and the White and Blue Trails run conjointly here.  Large beautiful bald cypress trees line the lakeshore.

Lake D'Arbonne

            At 3.6 miles, you re-enter the picnic pavilion area where you started.  Rather than heading straight for your car, turn right to take a short detour to the picnic pavilion fishing pier.  This pier extends well out into Lake D'Arbonne, and it provides my favorite lake view in this entire park.  Walk back up the pier and into the picnic pavilion area to complete the hike.