What Louisiana lacks in rugged terrain hikes, we make up for in beautiful bayou scenic views. If you’re looking for some of the best hikes in Louisiana, check out the list below. These five hikes range in difficulty, so if you’re new to hiking you can add the more challenging hikes to your goal board. Be sure to click the links under each trail to learn more!
- Chicot State Park Trail
Daniel Weber/Flickr
Richard May/Flickr The 18-mile trail loops around Lake Chicot, making this one of the longest trails in Louisiana. The trail gives visitors a glimpse of the park’s beautiful landscape, including the hardwoods and the swampy parts of the lake. There are several primitive campsites along the trail, so you can spend the whole weekend exploring this beautiful spot. It’s one of the most scenic hiking trails in Louisiana.
Chicot State Park is located at 3469 Chicot Park Rd, Ville Platte, Louisiana.
Learn more about the Chicot State Park Trail in our previous coverage. 3469 Chicot Park Rd, Ville Platte, LA 70586, USA
- Wild Azalea Trail
Chad DiCristina/All Trails
Rinal Chheda/All Trails Located in the Kisatchie National Forest, the Wild Azalea Trail is the longest hiking trail in Louisiana. Approximately 30 miles long, this trail is perfect for a weekend backpacking trip, but you can hike shorter sections to get a feel for it. The trail is well marked and there are several parking areas along the way. The start/end points for the trail are the Woodworth Town Hall and Valentine Lake.
Learn more about the Wild Azalea Trail in our previous coverage. Kisatchie National Forest, Louisiana 71433, USA
- Barataria Preserve Trails
Coffeespiral/Flickr
Coffeespiral/Flickr The boardwalk trails at Barataria Preserve will give you a glimpse at 20,000 acres of marshes, swamps, and bayous that will amaze you. There are a few different trails and they’re all less than two miles long, so you can mix and match to get the perfect hike in. They are some of the best hikes in Louisiana.
Barataria Preserve is located at 6588 Barataria Blvd, Marrero, Louisiana.
Learn more about the Barataria Preserve Trails in our previous coverage. 6588 Barataria Blvd, Marrero, LA 70072, USA
- The Tammany Trace
Rob U./All Trails
Rob U./All Trails The Tammany Trace is a series of paved roads that winds through parts of St. Tammany Parish. The Trace will lead you through parts of Covington, Mandeville, Abita Springs, Lacombe, and Slidell. The paved trails are great for biking and rollerblading, and there’s also a horse trail that runs parallel for parts of the trail. You can hop on and off wherever you’d like, and enjoy lunch (or a drink!) at one of the trailheads.
Learn more about the Tammany Trace in our previous coverage. Tammany Trace Bike Trail, Covington, LA, USA
- Monkey Trail
Stephanie Nash/All Trails
Dr. Spears/All Trails The Monkey Trail is a 6.5 mile loop trail that’s perfect for both hiking and biking. The trail is rated as moderate, and is accessible year-round. It also features gorgeous wildflowers and you’ll be able to hear chimpanzees from the sanctuary nearby. It’s one of the best hikes in Louisiana.
The Monkey Trail is located at 7835 Caddo Dr, Keithville, Louisiana.
Learn more about the Monkey Trail in our previous coverage. 7835 Caddo Dr, Keithville, LA 71047, USA
Daniel Weber/Flickr
Richard May/Flickr
The 18-mile trail loops around Lake Chicot, making this one of the longest trails in Louisiana. The trail gives visitors a glimpse of the park’s beautiful landscape, including the hardwoods and the swampy parts of the lake. There are several primitive campsites along the trail, so you can spend the whole weekend exploring this beautiful spot. It’s one of the most scenic hiking trails in Louisiana.
Chicot State Park is located at 3469 Chicot Park Rd, Ville Platte, Louisiana.
Learn more about the Chicot State Park Trail in our previous coverage.
3469 Chicot Park Rd, Ville Platte, LA 70586, USA
Chad DiCristina/All Trails
Rinal Chheda/All Trails
Located in the Kisatchie National Forest, the Wild Azalea Trail is the longest hiking trail in Louisiana. Approximately 30 miles long, this trail is perfect for a weekend backpacking trip, but you can hike shorter sections to get a feel for it. The trail is well marked and there are several parking areas along the way. The start/end points for the trail are the Woodworth Town Hall and Valentine Lake.
Learn more about the Wild Azalea Trail in our previous coverage.
Kisatchie National Forest, Louisiana 71433, USA
Coffeespiral/Flickr
The boardwalk trails at Barataria Preserve will give you a glimpse at 20,000 acres of marshes, swamps, and bayous that will amaze you. There are a few different trails and they’re all less than two miles long, so you can mix and match to get the perfect hike in. They are some of the best hikes in Louisiana.
Barataria Preserve is located at 6588 Barataria Blvd, Marrero, Louisiana.
Learn more about the Barataria Preserve Trails in our previous coverage.
6588 Barataria Blvd, Marrero, LA 70072, USA
Rob U./All Trails
The Tammany Trace is a series of paved roads that winds through parts of St. Tammany Parish. The Trace will lead you through parts of Covington, Mandeville, Abita Springs, Lacombe, and Slidell. The paved trails are great for biking and rollerblading, and there’s also a horse trail that runs parallel for parts of the trail. You can hop on and off wherever you’d like, and enjoy lunch (or a drink!) at one of the trailheads.
Learn more about the Tammany Trace in our previous coverage.
Tammany Trace Bike Trail, Covington, LA, USA
Stephanie Nash/All Trails
Dr. Spears/All Trails
The Monkey Trail is a 6.5 mile loop trail that’s perfect for both hiking and biking. The trail is rated as moderate, and is accessible year-round. It also features gorgeous wildflowers and you’ll be able to hear chimpanzees from the sanctuary nearby. It’s one of the best hikes in Louisiana.
The Monkey Trail is located at 7835 Caddo Dr, Keithville, Louisiana.
Learn more about the Monkey Trail in our previous coverage.
7835 Caddo Dr, Keithville, LA 71047, USA
What do you think of the best hikes in Louisiana listed here? How many of these trails have you hiked? Are there other trails you think should be on the list? Let us know in the comments below! We love to hear your feedback. And be sure to check out our other favorite hiking pieces, including forest trails, trails less than two miles, and our favorite swamp trails in Louisiana.
OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article.
The OIYS Visitor Center
Best Hikes In Louisiana March 11, 2022 Melissa M. Are there any easy or kid-friendly hikes in Louisiana? Not all hikes around the state are family-friendly, but we have put together a list of five trails that are one mile and under and easy enough for kids. In Tickfaw State Park, you can find the family-friendly Cut Through Trail through the forest. You can enjoy the wildflowers found along this hike. At the LSU Botanical Gardens, take a hike along the Learning Tree Trail, a half-mile loop that’s perfect for children. You can learn more about these and a few other kid-friendly hikes in this post. What are some of the most scenic hikes in Louisiana? Sure there are plenty of trails to get exercise around the Bayou State but not all of them are scenic. If you are looking for hiking trails with gorgeous scenery and views, read our post: These 8 Louisiana Hiking Spots Are Out Of This World. Use this as your guide and start making plans to places like Grand Isle to hike the Grand Isle Birding Trail, the Jean Lafitte National Park for the Barataria Preserve Trails, and more. Are there any waterfall hikes in Louisiana? If you want waterfall hikes, Louisiana has waterfall hikes! Located within the J.C. “Sonny” Gilbert Wildlife Management Area in Catahoula Parish, you can hike to a gorgeous waterfall known as Rock Falls. The trail to get there is rather easy and relatively short and you can read more about it in this article. It’s one of the best waterfall hikes in Louisiana.
The OIYS Visitor Center
Best Hikes In Louisiana
March 11, 2022
Melissa M.
Are there any easy or kid-friendly hikes in Louisiana? Not all hikes around the state are family-friendly, but we have put together a list of five trails that are one mile and under and easy enough for kids. In Tickfaw State Park, you can find the family-friendly Cut Through Trail through the forest. You can enjoy the wildflowers found along this hike. At the LSU Botanical Gardens, take a hike along the Learning Tree Trail, a half-mile loop that’s perfect for children. You can learn more about these and a few other kid-friendly hikes in this post. What are some of the most scenic hikes in Louisiana? Sure there are plenty of trails to get exercise around the Bayou State but not all of them are scenic. If you are looking for hiking trails with gorgeous scenery and views, read our post: These 8 Louisiana Hiking Spots Are Out Of This World. Use this as your guide and start making plans to places like Grand Isle to hike the Grand Isle Birding Trail, the Jean Lafitte National Park for the Barataria Preserve Trails, and more. Are there any waterfall hikes in Louisiana? If you want waterfall hikes, Louisiana has waterfall hikes! Located within the J.C. “Sonny” Gilbert Wildlife Management Area in Catahoula Parish, you can hike to a gorgeous waterfall known as Rock Falls. The trail to get there is rather easy and relatively short and you can read more about it in this article. It’s one of the best waterfall hikes in Louisiana.
The OIYS Visitor Center
The OIYS Visitor Center
Not all hikes around the state are family-friendly, but we have put together a list of five trails that are one mile and under and easy enough for kids. In Tickfaw State Park, you can find the family-friendly Cut Through Trail through the forest. You can enjoy the wildflowers found along this hike. At the LSU Botanical Gardens, take a hike along the Learning Tree Trail, a half-mile loop that’s perfect for children. You can learn more about these and a few other kid-friendly hikes in this post.
What are some of the most scenic hikes in Louisiana?
Sure there are plenty of trails to get exercise around the Bayou State but not all of them are scenic. If you are looking for hiking trails with gorgeous scenery and views, read our post: These 8 Louisiana Hiking Spots Are Out Of This World. Use this as your guide and start making plans to places like Grand Isle to hike the Grand Isle Birding Trail, the Jean Lafitte National Park for the Barataria Preserve Trails, and more.
Are there any waterfall hikes in Louisiana?
If you want waterfall hikes, Louisiana has waterfall hikes! Located within the J.C. “Sonny” Gilbert Wildlife Management Area in Catahoula Parish, you can hike to a gorgeous waterfall known as Rock Falls. The trail to get there is rather easy and relatively short and you can read more about it in this article. It’s one of the best waterfall hikes in Louisiana.
