Hike Through An Enchanted Forest Then Dine At A Small-Town Restaurant On This Delightful Adventure In Louisiana
By Jackie Ann|Published April 20, 2023
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Jackie Ann
Author
Louisiana native and LSU Alum (Geaux Tigers!), Jackie has lived in Louisiana for over three decades and currently lives in New Orleans. She's been writing for OnlyInYourState since 2016 and can often be found with a coffee at her side, dreaming of her next adventure.
Central Louisiana often gets overlooked in favor of some of the more populated cities like Shreveport, Lake Charles, Lafayette, Baton Rouge, and New Orleans, but there are plenty of things to do in Central Louisiana, particularly if you enjoy the outdoors. The Kisatchie National Forest makes up the majority of this part of the state, and it’s filled with primitive hiking trails to explore. We’ve put together a lovely day trip featuring one of our favorite hiking trails and paired it up with a waterfront restaurant for a picture-perfect day trip that you’ll love. Let’s check it out:
The Valentine Lake Nature Trail is an easy loop trail in Elmer, Louisiana that clocks in at about two miles.
You can park at the Valentine Lake Recreation Center and hit the trail from there. The recreation center is also a great spot for camping, but we can circle back to that another day.
The trail is well marked, and takes you through the longleaf pine forest, with a good chunk of the trail right along the water’s edge.
You’re also not far from the famous Wild Azalea Trail, Louisiana’s longest primitive trail. Named for the abundance of wild azaleas that grow in the area, it’s definitely one of the most beautiful trails in the forest. These beauties bloom from April to May, so try to time your hike around then to see them in full bloom!
