Louisiana State Arboretum Forest Road 59 Tunica Hills Extension
Louisiana's hidden mountain forest
Forest Road 59 cuts through the Tunica Hills, Louisiana’s geological oddity where loess bluffs rise 200 feet above creek bottoms filled with beech, magnolia, and mountain laurel—species that shouldn’t exist this far south. The route follows abandoned logging roads from the 1940s, dropping through narrow ravines where Little Bayou Sara has carved limestone into small waterfalls and swimming holes. You’ll navigate rutted clay tracks that become impassable when wet, cross multiple creek fords, and climb technical sections where roots and rocks create natural tire steps.
This is difficult terrain that punishes overconfidence—the clay soil becomes slick as grease when wet, and several creek crossings can flash flood during heavy rain. High-clearance 4WD with good traction control is mandatory, along with a winch or recovery gear for the steeper clay climbs. Avoid completely during winter rains; late spring through early fall offers the best conditions. You’ll discover Louisiana’s most unique ecosystem, feeling more like driving through Arkansas than the typical bayou country, complete with rare ferns and wildflowers found nowhere else in the state.
Trail Specs
| Difficulty | Difficult |
|---|---|
| Trail Type | Technical 4x4 |
| Surface | Mixed |
| Features | Historic, Scenic, Water Crossings |
| Length (miles) | 12 mi / 19.3 km |
| Duration | 1 day |
| Max elevation (ft) | 298 ft |
| Best season | April-October |
| Minimum vehicle | High-clearance 4WD |
| Nearest town | St. Francisville, Louisiana |
| Land manager | Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry |
| Permit required | No |
| Cell service | None |
| Water crossings | Yes |
| Dispersed camping | No |
| Start coordinates | |
| End coordinates | |
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Location
Trail Conditions
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Frequently asked questions
Can a stock Tacoma or 4Runner handle Forest Road 59, or do I need a built rig?
A stock high-clearance 4WD with all-terrain tires can manage it, but the limestone bluff descents and creek bottom approaches will punish anything with a front air dam or low-hanging skids. Lockers help significantly on the wet clay sections after rain.
When is this trail actually driveable — does it close in winter?
It stays open year-round but the clay-heavy creek bottoms turn into a greasy mess from November through March. April through October is the legitimate window; summer humidity is brutal but the trail is at its most stable.
Do I need a permit or is there a fee to run FR 59 through the Tunica Hills?
No permit required and no fee to access the forest road sections. The Louisiana State Arboretum proper has a small day-use fee, but the FR 59 extension managed by the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry is free to drive.
What's the hardest section of this trail and what makes it technical?
The steep limestone bluff descents into the creek bottoms are where rigs get in trouble — loose rock over slick clay on a downhill pitch with a water crossing at the bottom. Momentum management matters here; one bad line on the descent and you're stuffed into the creek bank sideways.
There's zero cell service on this trail — how far is the nearest gas and is there any camping nearby?
St. Francisville is your last fuel stop, roughly 15-20 minutes from the trailhead — fill up there, no exceptions. Dispersed camping on the forest road corridor is limited; your best option is nearby Cat Island National Wildlife Refuge or private campgrounds outside St. Francisville.
Trail track
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