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.

Louisiana State Arboretum: Walker Branch/Backbone Ridge/Bald Cypress Loop (Blog Hike #1045)

Trails: Walker Branch, Wetland, Walker Terrace, Backbone Ridge, and Bald Cypress Trails
Hike Location: Louisiana State Arboretum
Geographic Location: north of Ville Platte, LA (30.80302, -92.28552)
Length: 3.7 miles
Difficulty: 4/10 (Moderate)
Date Hiked: February 2025
Overview: A double loop through the wetlands and ridgetops above Chicot Lake.
Arboretum Information: https://www.lastateparks.com/parks-preserves/louisiana-state-arboretum
Hike Route Map: https://www.mappedometer.com/?maproute=979730
Photo Highlight:

Hike Video:

Directions to the trailhead: From Ville Platte, take SR 3042 north 7.1 miles to the signed entrance for Chicot State Park on the right.  Turn right to enter the park, pay the small entrance fee, then turn left at the next 2 intersections to reach the parking lot for Louisiana State Arboretum's Nature Center.  Park in the lot in front of the Nature Center.

The hike: Weighing in at a sprawling 6400 acres, Chicot State Park is the largest state park in Louisiana.  The park is centered around 2000 acre Chicot Lake, a long and skinny lake created in 1943 by damming Chicot Bayou.  Both the dam and the park were built by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC).  The park officially dates to 1939, making it the one of the oldest state parks in Louisiana.

            As you would expect, the lake takes centerstage, and the park is a major destination for fishing, boating, and canoeing.  The park also features a large 198-site developed campground, 15 cabins, 2 group lodges, and some picnic pavilions.  For hikers, the park's most famous trail is its 20 mile backpacking trail.  The backpacking trail circumnavigates Chicot Lake, and many people consider it to be the best backpacking trail in Louisiana.

            If you are not up for the backpacking trail, the area's best destination for short hikes is the Louisiana State Arboretum, which is contained within Chicot State Park.  The 600-acre Arboretum dates to 1961, and it is the oldest state-supported arboretum in the country.  The arboretum's land features more relief than you might expect for south-central Louisiana, and many trails take you over the arboretum's hills and through the arboretum's ravines.  The route described here uses all but one of those trails, and it explores all of the major habitats the arboretum has to offer.

Trailhead at back door of Nature Center

            Walk out the back door of the Nature Center and angle left to start the Walker Branch Trail, which embarks on a general westward course.  Trails in the Arboretum are mostly unmarked, but they are well-worn, well-maintained, and easy to follow.  The single-track dirt Walker Branch Trail descends slightly to reach a trail intersection at 0.15 miles, where a sign tells you that you need to turn left to stay on the Walker Branch Trail.

Hiking the Walker Branch Trail

            The trail rises slightly to cross a small ridge; ignore the Pawpaw Loop Trail that exits left.  Next you descend slightly to reach the longest boardwalk at the arboretum.  This boardwalk takes you over a seasonally wet area dominated by water tupelo and bald cypress trees.  This boardwalk is my favorite boardwalk on this hike, and numerous signs help you identify common plants in the wetland.

Boardwalk on Walker Branch Trail

            After crossing another low ridge, you reach another trail intersection at 0.7 miles where the Walker Branch and Wetland Trails part ways.  These 2 trails come back together later in this hike, so you could go either way here.  The Wetland Trail sounded more interesting to me, so I turned right to temporarily leave the Walker Branch Trail and begin the Wetland Trail.

Hiking the Wetland Trail

            Surprisingly considering its name, the Wetland Trail climbs slightly to enter a drier ridgetop environment.  Oak and hornbeam trees dominate the ridgetops in this arboretum.  Some scratch marks on the ground indicate where feral hogs had done some rooting, but I saw surprisingly little wildlife on this hike.  0.9 miles into the hike, you reach the trail intersection that forms this hike's main loop.  The Backbone Ridge Trail goes right, and that will be our return route.  Angle left to stay on the Wetland Trail.

Start of loop portion

            The trail descends slightly to pass a small pavilion/trail shelter and cross an older boardwalk.  The trail map calls this area a vernal pool.  The pool contained a couple inches of water when I came here in early February, and bald cypress knees make for a scenic area.

Vernal pool

            Past the vernal pool, the trail begins the hardest climb of this hike.  The difference between maximum and minimum elevations on this hike is only 75 feet, so the steep part of this climb is over pretty quickly.  At 1.3 miles, you reach the west end of the Wetland Trail where the Walker Branch Trail goes left and right.  This hike turns right to continue hiking west on the Walker Branch Trail; turning left would provide a shorter route back to the Nature Center.

Overlook platform on Walker Terrace

            A little more climbing brings you to the asphalt Walker Terrace, an ADA accessible trail, less than 500 feet later.  A wooden overlook platform overlooks nothing in particular, and you want to keep heading west on Walker Terrace.  1.5 miles into the hike, as the arboretum's Caroline Dormon Lodge comes into view, you reach another trail intersection and the western-most point on this hike.  Turn right to leave the asphalt and begin the dirt Backbone Ridge Trail.

Hiking the Backbone Ridge Trail

            The Backbone Ridge Trail is the arboretum's most strenuous trail, and you soon learn why: it drops steeply into a ravine only to cross a stream on a wooden footbridge and climb slightly less steeply out of the ravine.  The trail then curves right to begin a ridgetop course with more downs than ups.  You pass a couple more overlooks that overlook nothing in particular, but their benches make nice places to rest and rehydrate near the midpoint of this hike.

Overlook on Backbone Ridge Trail

            After some winding and some undulations, you reach the Backbone Ridge Trail's east end at 2.6 miles; this intersection closes this hike's main loop.  Turn left twice, once on the Wetland Trail and again on the Walker Branch Trail, to start heading back to the Nature Center.  At the last intersection before you get back to the trailhead, angle left to leave the Walker Branch Trail and begin the short Bald Cypress Trail.

Chicot Lake on Bald Cypress Trail

            Though only 0.2 miles long, the Bald Cypress Trail may be the arboretum's most scenic trail: it takes you past an inlet of Chicot Lake filled with bald cypress and water tupelo trees.  The dirt trail takes you down to the edge of the water for fantastic views.  Some stairs lift you up to a large overlook platform, and an ADA-accessible concrete trail returns you to the Nature Center to complete the hike.

Lake Fausse Pointe State Park: Trail C (Blog Hike #1044)

Trail: Trail C
Hike Location: Lake Fausse Pointe State Park
Geographic Location: east of St. Martinville, LA (30.06008, -91.60961)
Length: 3.4 miles
Difficulty: 3/10 (Easy/Moderate)
Date Hiked: February 2025
Overview: A flat loop hike with good wildlife viewing along several bayous and lakes.
Park Information: https://www.lastateparks.com/parks-preserves/lake-fausse-pointe-state-park
Hike Route Map: https://www.mappedometer.com/?maproute=979662
Photo Highlight:

Hike Video:

Directions to the trailhead: From St. Martinville, take SR 96 east 12 miles to SR 352 and turn right on SR 352.  Drive SR 352 south 13 miles to the signed state park entrance on the right.  Turn right to enter the park, pay the entrance fee, and park at the main trailhead parking area on the left 0.2 miles from the entrance.  A sign and restroom building on the right mark the trailhead.

The hike: The drive into Lake Fausse Pointe State Park is pure Louisiana.  Most visitors start by driving through Lafayette with its oil/natural gas industry, large regional public university, and heavy French influence.  Next you drive through St. Martinville, a small town with a large Black population and heavy Roman Catholic influence.  The final 13 miles run along a levee, and few places outside of southern Louisiana have levees as long or tall as this one.

            Once you finally get there, you find a real gem of a park.  Consisting of 6000 acres deep in the heart of southern Louisiana's Cajun Country, remote and rustic Lake Fausse Pointe State Park is a sportsman's and nature lover's paradise.  For such a remote park, it has surprisingly good amenities.  The park offers a 50-site developed campground, 18 cabins, several primitive campsites accessible only by trail or canoe, a boat launch, a playground, and several picnic areas.

            For hikers, the trail system at Lake Fausse Pointe State Park consists of 3 loops all of which start from a common trailhead.  The loops are simply labeled A, B, and C in order of increasing length.  This hike takes you around the C loop, which traces the perimeter of the park.  While I would not want to come here in the summer due to heat and bugs, I saw a lot of wildlife and had a great hike when I came here on a Friday morning in early February.

Trail entrance at trailhead

            The common entrance trail heads west across the park road from the parking lot.  Almost immediately you cross a wide wooden bridge over Old Bird Island Chute to reach an information kiosk where Trail A exits right.  As directed by a wooden sign, continue straight to begin Trail C.

Lake Fausse Pointe

            Less than 5 minutes into the hike, you reach a west-facing wooden overlook platform that provides a nice view across Lake Fausse Pointe.  The large, calm lake is dotted with islands near the shore, and I saw several limpkins enjoying the lake on the warm and humid morning that I came here.  Past the overlook, the trail heads south through a seasonally wet forest with some tupelo trees.  Some wet areas will need to be negotiated, but wooden boardwalks get you over the worst of the wetness.

Trails B and C split

            At 0.3 miles and at the end of one of the boardwalks, Trails B and C part ways at another signed trail intersection.  This hike turns left to stay on Trail C, which is marked with orange plastic diamonds.  Soon you pass the first of 7 signed primitive backpack campsites.  Each of these sites are reached via a short signed spur trail, and each site has a picnic table, a fire pit, and room for a couple of tents.  These primitive campsites allow you to turn this hike into a super short and super easy backpacking trail provided the heat and bugs are not too bad.

Backpack campsite

            For the next 1.1 miles the trail heads southeast on a level course through classic lowland scenery.  In some ways this hike is very boring: there is no noticeable elevation change, and the scenery never seems to change.  Yet the park's remote location and abundant wetlands ensure good bird and wildlife viewing.  I saw 2 roseate spoonbills, an egret, some herons, some cardinals, a chickadee, some robins, and some deer on this hike.

Spur trail to canoe campsite #5

            At 1.3 miles, you reach signed canoe campsite #5, which is my favorite of the primitive campsites at this park.  Not to be confused with backpack campsite #5, this site is accessible by canoe trail and by hiking trail.  The site occupies a small knoll on the edge of the channel, and I saw much wildlife including several alligators while sitting and resting at this site.

View from canoe campsite #5

            For the next 0.7 miles the trail parallels the water channel as you round the south end of the loop.  The deep muddy channel stays in sight through the trees to the right.  The hiking is easy but the scenery repetitive except for the wildlife.  Just past 2 miles, the trail curves left to leave the channel.

Crossing a boardwalk

            After crossing the longest boardwalk on this hike, you reach a trail intersection at 2.3 miles where both options are marked with orange diamonds.  The option going left is a short-cut that leads to the park's conference center, and it is the wettest trail in this park.  This hike continues straight to hike the longer and dryer version of Trail C.

Hiking along Borrow Pit Canal

            Very quickly the trail comes out at the park's cabin area.  Turn left to hike 0.3 miles on the park's cabin road, but look for the orange diamonds on the right at 2.6 miles where Trail C leaves the road and returns to single track dirt trail.  The rest of the hike stays in a narrow swath of woods between the park road on the left and the Borrow Pit Canal waterway on the right.  This area is slightly higher than most of the ground you have trodden so far, and large numbers of palmettos live in the understory.  Just shy of 3.4 miles, you reach the trail's end at the main park road.  The trailhead parking area with your car is only a couple hundred feet to the right.

Chemin-a-Haut State Park: Cabin Area to Castle Tree (Blog Hike #985)

Trail: (unnamed)
Hike Location: Chemin-a-Haut State Park
Geographic Location: north of Bastrop, LA (32.90658, -91.84063)
Length: 2.3 miles
Difficulty: 2/10 (Easy)
Date Hiked: February 2024
Overview: An out-and-back along Chemin-a-Haut Creek to old-growth bald cypress forest.
Park Information: https://www.lastateparks.com/parks-preserves/chemin-a-haut-state-park
Hike Route Map: https://www.mappedometer.com/?maproute=955413
Photo Highlight:

Hike Video:

Directions to the trailhead: From Bastrop, take US 425 north 8.1 miles to Loop Park Road.  Turn right on Loop Park Rd.  Drive Loop Park Rd. east 0.9 miles to the park entrance, and turn right to enter the park.  Pay the small entrance fee, turn left at the first intersection, and drive the park road to the cabin area at its end.  Park here, taking care not to park in spots reserved for people renting cabins.

The hike: Established in 1935, Chemin-a-Haut State Park (pronounced like "Shem in a HOT") is one of the oldest state parks in Louisiana.  The northeast Louisiana park protects 750 acres along Bayou Bartholomew, and many of those acres sit on a relatively high bluff overlooking the bayou.  The park's name comes from the French phrase that translates to "high road," a reference to a nearby blufftop route taken by migrants many centuries ago.

            The park sees few visitors due to its rural location, but it still offers some nice amenities.  The park offers a cozy 26-site developed campground, 14 cabins, a large picnic area, 2 playgrounds, and a wading pool.  In terms of trails, the park has only 2 short hiker-only trails, but hiking is also allowed on the park's 8 miles of bridle trails.  The out-and-back described here heads into the bridle trail system, but it leads to a scenic area along Chemin-a-Haut Creek that features old-growth bald cypress trees.  Thus, it forms a hike that is both longer and more scenic than the park's short hiker-only trails.

Trailhead at cabin area

            The unsigned two-track dirt trail starts to the left of cabin #14 and immediately heads into the woods.  After only a few hundred feet, you reach a trail intersection.  The trail going left leads past the campground to the gatehouse, and both of those destinations are alternate starting points for this hike.  To continue to the old-growth bald cypress trees, turn right to begin heading east.

Big Slough Lake

            Soon Big Slough Lake, a crescent-shaped body of water formed by damming a tributary of Bayou Bartholomew, comes into view on the right.  I did some nice bird watching along this lake that included a heron, some blue jays, and some cardinals.  Pine trees dominate the high ground, but bald cypress trees take center stage when you get closer to the water.

Hiking along Chemin-a-Haut Creek

            Near 0.5 miles, you pass the earthen dam that forms Big Slough Lake.  Next the trail descends slightly and curves left to begin heading upstream along the west bank of Chemin-a-Haut Creek.  A few muddy areas will need to be negotiated, but the entire trail was easily passable on the warm Friday afternoon in early February that I hiked here.

Picnic area near castle tree

            At 1.15 miles, you reach a cluster of picnic tables along Chemin-a-Haut Creek.  These picnic tables sit beside the grove of old-growth bald cypress trees, and a particularly large cypress tree known as the "castle tree" grows on the far side of the creek.  You cannot see the opening of the "castle" from this angle; you would need to paddle to the other side to see it.  Take some time to admire these giants while sitting at the picnic tables for a water break and/or trail snack.

Old-growth cypress trees

Old-growth cypress trees

            The bridle trail continues for several more miles past the picnic area, but the old-growth bald cypress grove that is the main attraction has already been attained.  Thus, I turned around here and retraced my steps to the cabin area to complete the hike.  If you want to add more distance, you can add the spur trail to the gatehouse.  Alternatively, another trail called the Cypress Trail forms a short hiker-only loop through the developed part of the park.

Poverty Point Reservoir State Park (Blog Hike #934)

Trails: Walking and Nature Trails
Hike Location: Poverty Point Reservoir State Park (32.48652, -91.49261)
Geographic Location: north of Delhi, LA
Length: 0.8 miles
Difficulty: 1/10 (Easy)
Date Hiked: April 2023
Overview: A short semiloop to an oxbow lake near Bayou Macon.
Park Information: https://www.lastateparks.com/parks-preserves/poverty-point-reservoir-state-park
Hike Route Map: https://www.mappedometer.com/?maproute=934163
Photo Highlight:

Short Video:

Directions to the trailhead: In northeast Louisiana, take I-20 to SR 17 (exit 153).  Exit and go north on SR 17.  Drive SR 17 north 2.7 miles, passing through the town of Delhi in the process, to the park entrance on the right.  Turn right to enter the park, pay the entrance fee, and park in the parking lot in front of the Visitor Center, which is on the left after 0.3 miles.

The hike: For my general comments on Poverty Point, the nearby historical site for which this reservoir and park are named, see my hike at nearby Poverty Point National Monument.  Established only in 2005, Poverty Point Reservoir State Park protects 2700 acres on and along its namesake impoundment.  The lake is this park's main attraction, and the park features a 48-slip marina, a 54-site developed campground, and 12 cabins.  For hikers, the park offers only a gravel walking trail and a short dirt nature trail, but these trails offer views across both the reservoir and an oxbow lake near Bayou Macon below the reservoir's dam.  I came here during the last hour of a mid-April day and had a nice short leg-stretcher hike while driving I-20 across Louisiana.

Wooden bridge across inlet of reservoir

            From the parking lot in front of the Visitor Center, head south down the concrete path that leads to a wooden bridge over an arm of the reservoir.  Some frogs in the shallow part of the inlet to the left greeted me with croaks when I walked across this bridge, and the sun setting across the main body of the lake to the right made a watercolor-painted sky.  Only traffic on SR 17 just across the lake detracts from the bucolic setting.

Sunset across Poverty Point Reservoir

            After crossing the bridge, angle left and climb slightly to reach the intersection of the main park road and the campground access road.  The walking trail starts at the northeast corner of this intersection, so you need to cross the main park road and angle left.  A sign warns of black bears, which are known to inhabit the woods along Bayou Macon.  Some picnic tables make inviting places to read a book or have a snack.

Start of walking trail

            The gravel trail with wooden side rails winds around the edge of a mowed-grass area.  At 0.35 miles, look to the right for signs at the edge of the woods that say "Hard Bottom Trail" and "Nature Trail."  The short dirt trail that enters the woods here connects the gravel trail you have been walking with the campground.  Even if you do not plan to go to the campground, this trail is worth following for a short distance: it leads downhill to an oxbow lake near Bayou Macon.  Tall cypress trees make a pleasant swamp-like setting, but large numbers of bugs also appear during the warmer months.

Oxbow lake near Bayou Macon

            Follow the dirt nature trail as far as you care, then retrace your steps to the gravel walking trail and continue around the walking trail.  Soon you reach the other end of the walking trail across the main park road from the Visitor Center.  Cross the park road to reach the Visitor Center parking lot and complete the hike.  While you are in the area, consider hiking at nearby Poverty Point National Monument, which is one of the most historic sites in the southeast.

Bayou Cocodrie National Wildlife Refuge: Route 15 Trail (Blog Hike #889)

Trail: Route 15 Trail
Hike Location: Bayou Cocodrie National Wildlife Refuge
Geographic Location: south of Vidalia, LA (31.56459, -91.55725)
Length: 2.6 miles
Difficulty: 2/10 (Easy)
Date Hiked: March 2022
Overview: An out-and-back on an old logging road through periodically inundated land.
Refuge Information: https://www.fws.gov/refuge/bayou-cocodrie
Hike Route Map: https://www.mappedometer.com/?maproute=903208
Photo Highlight:

Hike Video: 

Directions to the trailhead: From Vidalia, LA, take SR 131 south 6.6 miles to SR 15 and turn right on SR 15.  Drive SR 15 north 3.4 miles to the unmarked gravel road on the left that leads to the Route 15 Trail parking area.  Park in the large gravel cul de sac at the end of this short road.

The hike: Located across the Mississippi River from the historic town of Natchez, Mississippi, Bayou Cocodrie National Wildlife Refuge protects 14,668 acres of bottomland hardwood forest along its namesake bayou.  The refuge came to be in 1988 when The Nature Conservancy purchased land from the Fisher Lumber Company and resold it to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.  The central tract of land offers one of the largest and least disturbed groves of bottomland hardwood forest in the Lower Mississippi River Valley, and the refuge is one of a complex of nine national wildlife refuges in the region.

            Most experts believe the refuge's best trail to be the Old Growth Trail, which as its name suggests leads through the least disturbed part of the forest.  Unfortunately, the Old Growth Trail requires a 3 mile hike just to reach its trailhead, and when I came here a large rainstorm lurked to the west.  Thus, I had to forego the Old Growth Trail and hike the refuge's most convenient trail: the Route 15 Trail.  As indicated by this trail's rather unappealing name, this hike is not the most appealing hike, but its ease of access allowed me to salvage what would otherwise have been a complete washout of a day.

Trailhead for Route 15 Trail

            From the rear of the gravel cul de sac, the unmarked trail heads west into the woods on the bed of an old logging road, which the trail follows for its entire distance.  The surrounding scenery varies from inundated to somewhat drier with small changes in elevation.  While some wet spots will need to be negotiated, in general the old logging road keeps the trail drier than its surrounding area.

Palmettos along the trail

            The forest along the Route 15 Trail exhibits more diversity than you might expect.  Tupelo trees dominate the wetter areas, while sweetgum trees prevail in the drier areas.  Dwarf palmetto is the dominant shrub in the understory, and some yellow asters brightened my path when I came here in early March.  I heard some woodpeckers and other birds, but the greenery is too think to allow me to see many.

Wet area on the trail

            After passing through a particularly wet area, the trail curves left to begin heading more south than west.  Some small stems were growing in the trail on my visit, and this trail will need to be re-cleared in a few years if the refuge wants to keep it passable.  At 1.3 miles, the trail ends at an old logging landing.  The Route 15 Trail connects with no other trails, so your only option is to turn around and retrace your steps to the parking area to complete the hike.  The rain I had been racing started falling about 15 minutes after I made it back to my car, and it continued for the rest of the day.

Black Bayou Lake National Wildlife Refuge (Blog Hike #885)

Trails: Nature, Wetland Boardwalk, and Prairie Trails
Hike Location: Black Bayou Lake National Wildlife Refuge
Geographic Location: north of Monroe, LA (32.60448, -92.05136)
Length: 1.25 miles
Difficulty: 0/10 (Easy)
Date Hiked: December 2021
Overview: A double loop featuring a long boardwalk over open water.
Refuge Information: https://www.fws.gov/refuge/black-bayou-lake
Hike Route Map: https://www.mappedometer.com/?maproute=896005
Photo Highlight:

Hike Video: 

Directions to the trailhead: Near Monroe, take I-20 to US 165 (exit 118).  Exit and go north on US 165.  Drive US 165 north 7.5 miles to Richland Place and turn right on Richland Pl.  At the next intersection, bear right to stay on Richland Pl.  Drive Richland Pl. east 0.8 miles to the second signed refuge entrance on the right.  Turn right to enter the refuge, and park in the paved parking lot in front of the Visitor Center.

The hike: Established only in 1997, Black Bayou Lake National Wildlife Refuge is centered around its namesake 1600 acre lake.  The refuge is located within the city limits of Monroe, and many local residents and college groups come here to recreate and study.  The lake is also the City of Monroe's back-up water source, and it is managed by the US Fish and Wildlife Service under a 99-year lease.

            The refuge offers several options for hikers, but the highlight of the refuge's trail system is its spectacular boardwalk that takes you over the lake's open waters.  Thus, the refuge's most popular trails pass through the wetlands on the north shore of Black Bayou Lake and lead to this boardwalk.  This hike takes you through said wetlands to said boardwalk, but it also features an interesting loop through a small tallgrass prairie, thus sampling all the refuge has to offer.

Trailhead near Visitor Center

            Begin with the Nature Trail, which is a gravel trail with wooden side beams that starts to the right (west) of the Visitor Center.  An information board and garbage can also stand here.  The trail heads into the woods and quickly reaches a 3-way split.  Take the right option to begin heading counterclockwise around the Nature Trail's longest loop.

Boardwalk over seasonal wetland

            The trail approaches a railroad track that runs along the west boundary of this natural area before curving left to begin a boardwalk.  This boardwalk was rather new on my visit, and it takes you over a periodically inundated wetland that features dense lowland forest.  At the other end of the boardwalk, stay straight where a short-cut trail exits left to head back to the Visitor Center.

            Soon you start to see bald cypress knees beside the trail, and they indicate your approach to Black Bayou Lake.  At the next intersection, turn right to head out onto the spectacular boardwalk that carries you over the lake's open waters.  Two small shelters make for great places to watch waterfowl, and I saw multiple herons, egrets, coots, ibis, and cormorants while I slowly walked along this boardwalk.  This boardwalk is the highlight of the refuge, so take your time out here to see what you can see.

Black Bayou Lake

Egret near the boardwalk

            The boardwalk makes two 90-degree left turns to head back to solid land.  Just past 0.7 miles, you reach the parking area for the refuge's boat ramp on Black Bayou Lake.  To continue this hike, turn left on a gravel trail that connects back to the Nature Trail's main loop.  Two more right turns on the Nature Trail return you to your car at the Visitor Center parking area.

Prairie Trail

            If you want to do a little more hiking, walk across the parking area to find the signed start of the Prairie Trail.  Though only 0.25 miles in length, the concrete Prairie Trail forms a short loop through a fantastic tallgrass prairie.  Only light brown prairie grass could be seen when I came here, but this prairie comes alive with color in late summer when flowers such as purple coneflower, blazing star, and butterfly weed bloom.  This dry prairie forms a nice contrast to the wooded wetland you saw on the rest of this hike.