The Kisatchie National Forest is full of surprises. From the labyrinth of hiking trails to the hidden lakes, streams, and swimming holes, the forest is definitely an explorer’s playground. Speaking of surprises, you may be surprised to learn that the forest is home to one of the most unique attractions in Louisiana: Wolf Rock Cave in Leesville. It’s one of the only caves in Louisiana that we know of, and finding it makes for one of the most unique day trips in Louisiana you can take. Check out this little-known natural wonder that we believe is worth seeing at least once.

The cave is located in Leesville, and it’s actually pretty easy to get to.

You'll see markers for it as you pull into the parking lot.

There’s a parking lot near the entrance to the trail. The trail isn’t long - in fact, it’ll take you less than 10 minutes to get to the cave from your car.

The terrain is pretty rugged, so you'll want to wear shoes with a good grip. That being said, we'd still consider this an easy trail - just watch your step once you get closer to the cave!

The 30 million-year-old cave is the only one of its kind in Louisiana.

Historians and archaeologists have unearthed stone tools, spear points, and other things that suggest the cave was first occupied as far back as 2500 BCE.

The cave overlooks Bundick Creek, so you can see how it would be a perfect spot to set up camp.

It's also very possible that this creek looked much different hundreds of years ago, and was possibly much larger, perhaps even giving boats the ability to navigate it. Access to fresh water and food makes this cave a perfect location for shelter, so it's easy to see why it was used by so many different people over the years. Fish hooks and fish bones have also been discovered, so it's clear that this was a hospitable environment for some time.

But early inhabitants weren't the only ones to use to cave.

The cave has been used for many different purposes over the years. During the Civil War, the cave was used to hide supplies from the Confederate soldiers. In the late 1800s, it is believed that the infamous outlaw Jesse James used the cave as a hideout. In the 1950s, hunters and fishers used it as a campground. It wasn’t until the 1970s that the cave became part of the United States Forest Service and efforts began to make it a historical marker.

The cave also used to be much larger.

There were actually two larger caverns within the cave, but when the US Forest Service took over, those rooms were believed to be too dangerous and were sealed off with explosives.

If you aren't put off by tight spaces, you can still venture into the cave's entrance.

You might want to knock first - you never know what forest critters have moved in.

It's certainly one of the most unique natural attractions in Louisiana.

It's not every day that you get to explore a cave in Louisiana, after all.

While this area is filled with wonder and history, keep in mind that digging, excavating, and disturbing the site or structure is strictly prohibited!

Anyone caught looting will be heavily fined.

The Kisatchie is home to so many surprises. Once you've explored Wolf Rock Cave, maybe you'll be inspired to tackle Driskill Mountain, the tallest natural summit in Louisiana. If you've ever visited Wolf Rock Cave, let us know in the comments. We love pictures, too, of course! Also, we encourage you to download AllTrails before you leave for this or any hike in Louisiana.

https://www.onlyinyourstate.com/louisiana/best-hikes-in-louisiana/