The Louisiana Trail Through The Wilderness That You Just Can’t Beat

Tunica Hills Wildlife Management Area is one of the best places in Louisiana for epic hiking. Now, I’m not talking about casual nature trails where you can wear flip-flops and be back in your car in 30 minutes. These trails are primitive and often muddy and will have you trekking through some of Louisiana’s most rugged terrain. For those that want to take the path less traveled, this is one of the best hiking trails in Louisiana.

First thing’s first: you’ll need to plan ahead.

Unlike other natural areas in Louisiana, you’ll need one of the following to enter the WMA: a Wild Louisiana Stamp, a Louisiana Fishing License, or a Louisiana Hunting License, all of which can be found on the Louisiana Wildlife & Fisheries website. Folks under 16 and over 60 are exempt, and those that dare to defy the regulations can be fined. Don’t be that person.

There are a few different hiking trails within Tunica Hills, but today we’re focusing on Trail C.

Tunica Hills has two different areas, the North and South Tracts. The North tract is the one that’s right next to the Louisiana State Penitentiary, but that’s not the area this trail is in. Trail C is in the South Tract, and it’s about a 3.5-mile loop.

For about 1/3 of the trail, you’re hiking through a dry creek bed.

Make sure you’ve got on some sturdy boots that you don’t mind getting a bit dirty.

It's not always dry, though... and there are parts where it'll have some water in it.

This is a good hike to check the forecast a few days before, since it can get pretty muddy. We told you, this hike is not like other Louisiana trails!

Now, we usually don’t have to talk about elevation gains on Louisiana hiking trails, but we’re making an exception here.

Don’t worry, it’s nothing too crazy, but the elevation gain along this trail is around 300 feet, which is pretty impressive by Louisiana’s standards!

The rugged terrain does make for some cool photos, though.

Just be careful! Cell phone coverage is hit or miss, and it's not a heavily trafficked trail, so you wouldn't want to end up in a situation where you couldn't hike back to your car.

The trail is well marked with orange blazes, and it's just dreamy this time of year when everything is so green.

Check out what our friends at AllTrails had to say about this hiking trail and start planning your outdoor adventure today.