Backbone Trail Kisatchie NF

Kisatchie National Forest is truly a gem in the
setting of Louisiana. So often we think of only alligators and swamps when Louisiana comes to mind, but as Kisatchie NF shows, there is much more to the state than that.

Kisatchie sports limstone outcroppings, a beautiful
waterfall, and views that would make one think
Louisiana actually had mountains. Wildlife including Louisiana black bear also make this an area worth experiencing. And of all the trails in this forest, my favorite is the 7.5 mile Backbone Trail.

There are 2 trail heads with which you can access the Backbone Trail. I will be giving instructions for hiking the trail from
FS Road 339 to the Longleaf Trail Scenic Byway. You get to the trail head at FS 339 by exiting I-49 at the Derry exit (119)
and take Hwy 119 South for 5.1 miles to the Longleaf Trail Scenic Byway. Turn right on the Byway and travel 7 miles to
FS 339 on your right. Turn right and the trail is the first turn off on your right (about 200 yards).

This trail, like most in Louisiana, is a pretty easy trail to hike. But it is, unlike many Louisiana trails, a dry trail. You will not
cross water for the first 4 miles of the trail, so bring plenty with you. You can link this trail with the Caroline Doorman Trail
at the Longleaf Trail Scenic Byway for an 18 mile overall hike ending at Kisatchie Bayou Recreation Area. Any water
along the trail must be filtered before drinking.

The trail starts as a narrow sandy trail through tall pines. It continues for about 3/4 of a
mile until you come to a trail that goes off to the left. It you pay attention to the trees on
either side of you, you will notice that every so often a pine tree has a section of bark
(roughly square) removed at about head level. This is how the trail is marked at this time
(April, 2009). Later down the trail you will see some pines with orange paint marking them,
but the orange paint can be hard to see on the pine bark. When you get to the trail to the
left, it would appear that the Backbone Trail goes straight and that this is a side trail, but
the left turn is the Backbone. The straight trail will take you to a small creek, across it
and then aburtly end.

After going left, the trail will start to make some curves, first to the right, then back left,
then right again. It is in this area you will begin to notice that there are large rocks, some
actually boulders in the enbankment to the left. You will also realize that you have been
gently going downhill since entering the trail. Soon you will take a more steeper downhill
hike on a section of trail which seems to always have water seeping down it.

At the bottom of this section you will rise on the trail a short (few feet) distance and find yourself on a ridge. This ridge, that
you hiked down to, is the orginal elevation of Louisiana. The state has dropped over the centuries and is still sinking today.
You will begin to see small valleys fall away from the ridge now, and they can be pretty with rock formations strewn about
them. The terrain to the sides of you here are reminicent of Mississippi hill country.

The hiking here is pleasant with gentle ups and downs along the trail. The views will begin to get wide to each side, with a
feel of looking from a mountain ridge out to other ridges in the distance. The smell of pine will be in the air in spring, as well
as wild Azelea and Dogwood. Keep an eye out for the gifts of the many horses which use the trail. Some sections of this
trail will be muddy in periods of rain and the tracks of many animals will appear. Deer and hog are prevalent, as well as
coyote. If you are very lucky, you could come across a bear track. I have actually seen bears on the Caroline Dorman Trail,
but it is rare to even see signs of bear in the area.

At about 1 3/4 miles along the way, the ridge widens out and you come to a beautiful area of mixed hardwood and pines with
scenery of the valleys on either side. Here you will begin to see evidence of campsites on the right hand side. These spots
are great to use when you get a late afternoon start or have small children with you. It is an easy and quick hike in, and the
view you are afforded in the spot is very pleasant and open.

One consideration of making camp anywhere in Kisatchie is food
storage. So often one is told in the Deep South that bears are not
a worry, you dont need to be real particular with your food. Well,
bears are becoming more prevalent in the area. The smell of any
food will attract them. The more likely charater that will be after
your food in the Deep South is raccoons.Whether it is from a bear
or a raccoon or any other animal, it is no fun to wake up and
discover your breakfast and luch have been swiped, or you pack
chewed through to get at the food. Hang your food from a tree.
This can be a challenge in LA and MS as pines are the pre-
domant tree, and branches hard to locate. Take the time to do
so, it is worth it in the end.