This Canyon Trail in Louisiana’s Kisatchie National Forest Looks Like Something From Another Planet

If you ever find yourself wanting to get away from it all, the Kisatchie National Forest is the place to be. Louisiana’s only national forest clocks in at over 600,000 acres, sprawling across seven parishes with hundreds of primitive trails to explore. The epic Wild Azalea Trail (the longest primitive hiking trail in the state) is probably the most well-known hiking trail in this region, but there are over a hundred incredible hiking trails in the Kisatchie that are worthy of an adventure. One very special trail is hidden away in the tiny town of Forest Hill, just outside of Alexandria, and it’s one of the most unique hiking trails in Louisiana.

Did you ever imagine a hiking trail in Louisiana could look like this? We tend to have mostly flat terrain here in Louisiana, but the Tim's Canyon Trail breaks all the rules.

The Tim's Canyon Trail is a 2.5-mile out-and-back trail that's relatively easy to navigate. There's very little elevation gain (98 feet), but there's a lot of sand, which can really give your legs a workout.

It's likely you'll find yourself the only one on the trail. While it's pretty easy to navigate, there are other trails that cross through, which can quickly get you off the trail. I always recommend having a trail map from AllTrails handy.

It's pretty well hidden, but the trail is well-marked once you're on it. The trailhead is very close to the Ahtus Melder Campground, and that's the easiest location to plug into your GPS to get to the trailhead. As we said, it's very remote!

The trail runs along a dried-up riverbed, winding its way across Rapides Parish.

I love finding trails where I'm probably the only one around, and this trail certainly fits the bill! Just you and the symphony of sounds from the surrounding songbirds! You may even catch a glimpse of a white-tailed deer, fox, or any other woodland creature that calls the forest home.

The trail is soft sand for most of the journey, so you'll be getting a nice little calf workout along your hike.

It's so rare to have such a drastic landscape change when you're hiking in Louisiana. Getting the opportunity to hike along this trail is like experiencing another world. It will definitely give you an appreciation for the various landscapes in the Pelican State.

It's a great trail to bring your gentle giant along for a ride. It's actually a popular area for horseback riding and mountain biking.

Because of how remote the trail is, you may run into a fallen tree along the trail. It's just part of the adventure, especially when you're dealing with primitive trails like this one.

The Tim's Canyon Trail is one of the most unique trails in Louisiana, and I think it's worthy of a road trip from any corner of the state. Share this article with someone you want to hike the Tim's Canyon Trail with and start planning your adventure today!

Caroline Dormon played a significant role in the history of the Kisatchie National Forest. She's one of my favorite Louisiana figures, and her story is incredible. Read on to learn about Caroline Dormon and her family home, Briarwood.