The Top 9 Must-Visit Hiking Trails in Louisiana

While most people think of mountainous regions as providing the best hiking, states like Louisiana also have hidden gem hiking spots. From its coastal marshes and flood plains to its terraces and rolling forested hills, Louisiana has breathtaking landscapes suitable for beginners to intermediate hikers. Check out the top nine must-visit hiking trails in Louisiana and learn about their difficulty levels and locations. 

Please be mindful of alligators while hiking with pets in the state of Louisiana, as attacks can and do happen. Most especially, keep dogs on leashes and do not let them wade into the water.

1. Bogue Chitto State Park

This Louisiana State Park is in Washington Parish in Franklinton. Bogue Chitto features diverse habitats, including cypress swamps, rolling hills, and hardwood forests. Walk through wooded landscapes and pass by crystal clear streams and swamps. This area is great for beginners and families, but there are also a few trails for moderate hikes. 

Best trail: Bogue Chitto Gorge Run Trail

Difficulty level: Moderate

Length: 4.8 miles

2. Lake D’Arbonne State Park

This 655-acre state park is in the hilly region adjacent to Lake D’Arbonne in Farmerville, Union Parish. This park offers easy-to-moderate hiking trails that weave through pine forests and rolling hills. It’s also a popular spot for fishing. 

Best trail: Cypress Bend Trail

Difficulty level: Moderate

Length: 3.8 miles

3. Fontainebleau State Park

The Fontainebleau State Park is in St. Tammany Parish on the Northshore of Lake Pontchartrain. The park features 2,800 acres of swamps and hardwood forests. It was also the site of a sugar cane plantation and brickyard. 

Best trail: Cane Bayou Track

Difficulty level: Easy

Length: 4.4 miles

4. Audobon Park

Audobon Park is in the Uptown neighborhood of New Orleans, where it encompasses 350 acres of lush scenery covered in walking paths that wind around ancient live oaks. If you’re looking for an easy stroll with breathtaking scenery, check out the Audubon Park Loop.

Best trail: Audubon Park Loop

Difficulty level: Easy

Length: 1.9 miles

5. Kisatchie National Forest

Part of the Cenozoic uplands in several central and northern parishes, Kisatchie National Forest is the only national forest in Louisiana. It contains forested piney hills and hardwood bottoms, with more than 20 hiking trails ranging from easy to moderate. It’s also a great place for wildlife viewing, bird watching, camping, and mountain biking.

Best trail: Longleaf Vista Road to Backbone Trail 

Difficulty level: Moderate

Length: 10.6 miles

6. Acadiana Park Nature Station

Located in Lafayette, Acadiana Park Nature Station is 150 acres of wild forest and several long nature trails. It’s a great place for families, as all of the trails are easy, and you can participate in guided nature walks and educational programs. The best trail in the area is kid and dog-friendly and offers forest and river views.

Best trail: Moon Seed Loop

Difficulty level: Easy

Length: 4.1 miles

7. Big Branch Marsh National Wildlife Refuge

The Big Branch Marsh National Wildlife Refuge sits on Lake Pontchartrain’s north shore and is north of New Orleans. The purpose of this refuge is to protect one of the most valuable wetland ecosystems in the country, which covers an area of 19,000 acres. Visitors to the wildlife refuge can enjoy an easy stroll through marshland and view spectacularly diverse bird species.

Best trail: Boy Scout Road

Difficulty level: Easy

Length: 5 miles 

8. Tunica Hills State Wildlife Management Area

Located in West Feliciana Parish, the Tunica Hills State Wildlife Management Area is an excellent recreational spot in St. Francisville. Along with several moderately challenging hiking trails, Tunica Hills also offers hunting, horseback riding, and more. 

Best trail: Tunica Hills C Trail

Difficulty level: Moderate

Length: 3.6 miles

9. Port Hudson State Historic Site

The Port Hudson State Historic Site is on the Mississippi River north of Baton Rouge. While this wilderness site only has one hiking trail, it is a great spot for the whole family to enjoy beautiful scenery through forests and across bridges overlooking the water. 

Best trail: Port Hudson State Historic Site Trail

Difficulty level: Easy

Length: 6.6 miles

A Recap of the 9 Must-Visit Hiking Trails in Louisiana