Louisiana Travel Guide - 2026
Hiking & Biking Trails
2026-02-19 09:56:48
YEP, THERE’S A TRAIL FOR THAT!
Louisiana might be known for jazz and jambalaya, but nature lovers take note: The Pelican State is also a sleeper hit for outdoor exploration. (That’s how we got the nickname Sportsman’s Paradise!) From marsh boardwalk strolls to heart-pounding singletracks through rugged forests, there’s a trail for every speed and style.
HIKING HIGHLIGHTS
Wander into Louisiana’s wilder side with a trek across Joyce Wildlife Management Area’s “Swamp Walk” in Ponchatoula, where a half-mile elevated boardwalk winds through a cypress-tupelo swamp alive with osprey and bald eagles in spring, plus gators and other wildlife in summer.
Up north in Bienville Parish, climb the state’s highest natural “peak” at Driskill Mountain on a short 1.7-mile hike that rises 535 feet – with forest views to match.
For an easy, breezy excursion filled with blooms and birdsong, the paved walking loop in the botanical gardens surrounding R.W. Norton Art Gallery in Shreveport is a serene milelong escape.
BIKING ADVENTURES
Whether you’re into mellow greenways or technical terrain, Louisiana has you covered on two wheels. In Baton Rouge, Perkins Road Community Park is a cycling paradise, boasting a velodrome, BMX track and access to the Dawson Creek Greenway, a 1.75-mile ADA-compliant paved path connecting parks and neighborhoods.
Craving a challenge? Bogue Chitto State Park in Franklinton ups the adrenaline with 14 miles of trails, plus pump tracks, wall rides and even a bikerepair station. And along the popular Tammany Trace rail-trail, riders can cross 31 bridges built on original railroad trestles while spotting wildlife on a 31-mile paved path that connects the towns of Covington, Abita Springs, Mandeville, Lacombe and Slidell.
So lace up your boots or grab your helmet. In Louisiana, the trail is always calling!
My Louisiana Outdoors
“Ruston made a major investment into a new mountain-biking hub, which has become really popular among riders from all over. They also have these nice new cabins on the lake, so you can go up and make a great little trip out of it. Some of my other favorite places to bike around the state are Comite River Park in Baton Rouge, The Spillway Trails in Norco and Lake Kincaid in Alexandria.”
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