The Louisiana Hiking Club
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Download the Louisiana Trail Blazer, the LHC Newsletter.
Updated 04/29/2008
Page Designed and Maintained by:
Brian J. Mull
TRAIL INFORMATION
Clear Springs Trail
Trail Notes
The Clear Springs Recreation Area is about a 2 hour drive from Baton Rouge. It is nestled in a secluded area of rolling hills. The area, surrounded by tall stands of pines and mixed hardwood trees, provides the visitor with a shady forest atmosphere. There are camping, picnicking, a pavilion and RV facilities on the site. The trail is a 12 mile loop used for hiking and mountain biking. Restroom facilities are available at the recreation area.
The trailhead parking lot is located near the enterance of Clear Springs Recreation Area. The trail can be accessed from the trailhead and from the road (county road 104) that dissects the area. Features of the trail include clear running streams, huge pine trees, magnolias, oaks and beech trees.
The hiker has the option of hiking the entire 12 mile loop or lesser loops, which take some planning and car spotting. County road 104 dissects the area and leaving one care where the trail crosses the highway creates about a 9.5 mile hike if hiked counter-clockwise from the trailhead, and about a 3 mile clockwise hike from the trailhead. For another shorter hike, spot a car on Road 186 at a location where it crosses the hiking trail. Get a map at the recreation area to see where Road 186 crosses the trail. From the trailhead, this counter-clock hike is about 6.3 miles long.
This is a beautiful area to hike and offers some CHALLENGING climbs for the hiker. Another trail, called the Mill Branch branches off the main trail shortly after leaving the trailhead, it is another interesting hike, but somewhat shorter.
User Groups:
Hiking/mountain biking
Permits:
There is a day use fee to enter the area.
Directions:
To get there from Baton Rouge, take Hwy. 19 through Baker/Zachary and proceed into Mississippi where it becomes Mississippi Hwy. 33 and eventually meets Hwy. 84/98. Turn right on Hwy. 84/98 and go toward Meadville. Look for County Road 104 (about 4.5 miles before reaching Meadville) and turn right onto that road. Go 4.1 miles to the recreation area enterance.
Maps:
Current Weather & 10 Day Forecast:
Additional Links:
Clear Springs Recreation Area
GORP nominates Clear Springs as a Top Ten Best Camprground in the U.S.A.
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