Sprawled out across seven parishes in Louisiana, the Kisatchie National Forest is a nature lover’s paradise. Louisiana’s only National Forest features over 600,000 acres of rolling hills, longleaf pines, and beautiful forested terrain that is broken up into five Ranger Districts across central and northern Louisiana. There are countless primitive trails throughout the forest, but there’s one in particular that will take you on quite the adventure, and the views are nothing short of mesmerizing.

When you’re ready to experience some of Louisiana’s most beautiful natural scenery, the Backbone Trail is a great place to start.
Dillon Jones/All Trails
Point to point, the trail is about 7.5 miles, but you can make it a loop trail if you take the Longleaf Vista Road, which will add another 3 to 3.5 miles to your journey.
Jean-Lic Gulibeaux/All Trails
The route is primarily used for hiking, but horses are permitted on the trails, in case you want to bring your gentle giant out for some fun.
Levi Blaire/All Trails
Whether you’re on foot or on horseback, you’ll want to make sure you’ve got the appropriate footwear.
Nickie Mastrodomenico/All Trails
While the trail is considered fairly easy, you will be traversing some hilly terrain, and you may run into some muddy patches you visit after a recent rainstorm.

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You’ll feel like you’re a million miles away from it all, so soak up that solitude!
Ryan A./All Trails
And keep an eye out for wildlife along the way. The forest is home to countless critters, from the rare Louisiana pine snake to the Louisiana black bear.
When you make your way to the Longleaf Vista overlook, prepare to be mesmerized...
Jean-Lic Gulibeaux/All Trails
...it's not often that we get those endless treetop views, so soak it in!
Jean-Lic Gulibeaux/All Trails
If you can time your hike during sunset, that's even better!
You can also pitch a tent and sleep along the trail if you'd like to extend your stay.
Lyle Guidry/All Trails
When the views are this beautiful, it's hard to leave.

Have you ever hiked the Backbone Trail? Share your experience with us in the comments below!

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Backbone Trail, Montrose Rd, Natchitoches, LA 71457, USA