The weather is perfect right now to spend some time in the great outdoors. If you’re looking for an exciting and challenging hike that will lead you to some spectacular views, this unrivaled forest hike is one that every Louisianan should take at least once in a lifetime.

Sprawling over seven central and northern Louisiana parishes, the Kisatchie National Forest is the only national forest in the state.
nascarmikeb / TripAdvisor
The 604,000 acres of beautiful hardwood bottoms and piney hills are divided up into five ranger districts: Calcasieu, Caney, Catahoula, Kisatchie, and Winn.
The forest is a popular recreational site for backpacking, canoeing, mountain biking, fishing, hunting, camping, and swimming. Nature photographers love it here too!
Priscilla Punch/All Trails
There are more than 40 developed recreation sites and over 100 miles of trails for hiking and mountain biking.
One of those trails is the Backbone Trail.
AllTrails
This loop trail is just shy of 10 miles and considered moderately difficult, but it’s definitely worth the extra effort to explore.

Related Stories

This Beautiful Hike In Louisiana Has A Mouthwatering Restaurant Right Along The Trail

This Beautiful Hike In Louisiana Has A Mouthwatering Restaurant Right Along The Trail

 6 Easy Trails In Louisiana Where You'll Probably Have It All To Yourself

6 Easy Trails In Louisiana Where You'll Probably Have It All To Yourself

 7 Beautiful And Scenic Trails In Louisiana That Are Perfect For Beginners

7 Beautiful And Scenic Trails In Louisiana That Are Perfect For Beginners
From rocky hills to scenic overlooks, you’ll encounter a bit of everything along the trail.
Dusty G./All Trails
As far as Louisiana trails go, this one is slightly more challenging. Keep in mind that the trail may get a bit muddy if you hike it shortly after it rains.
If you’d like to make a weekend out of it, there are plenty of places where you can stop off to pitch a tent and enjoy the scenery during an overnight stay.
Aubrey B/TripAdvisor
Just remember, leave only footprints!
The scenery is along the Backbone Trail and throughout Kisatchie National Forest is truly spectacular.
Arthur Felscher/All Trails
The overlooks will make you feel like you’ve left the Bayou State, and you simply won’t find many views like this in Louisiana, so be sure to put this trail on your bucket list!
Jay Miney/All Trails

Have you ever hiked the Backbone Trail? Let us know in the comments below!

OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.

Related Articles

Explore Louisiana