Backbone Trail (Kisatchie Hills Wilderness) Hiking Guide
The Backbone Trail is the main route through the Kisatchie Hills Wilderness, 8,700 acres of steep, rocky ground in Natchitoches Parish that locals call the Little Grand Canyon. Congress designated it in 1980, and it is the only Forest Service wilderness in Louisiana. The trail starts in tall longleaf pine, and its mapper says the second half reveals the scenery the first few flat miles keep hidden.
Distance and Shuttle
Hiking Project maps the Backbone at 7.4 miles point to point with about 315 feet of climbing and 289 of descent, between a low near 148 feet and a high near 356; the Forest Service's wilderness map calls it 7 miles. Leave a car at the far end or plan on roughly 2.5 miles back along the Longleaf Trail Scenic Byway, as the mapper suggests. Grades top out near 8 percent, so the hike rates moderate rather than hard.
Trailhead and Route
Start at the shared Caroline Dormon and Backbone trailhead on Forest Highway 59, which has parking, vault toilets, trash cans and a bulletin board but no drinking water. From I-49 at Natchitoches, take LA 6 west 4 miles, LA 117 south 16 miles, then FH 59 east to the signed lot. The first half runs fairly flat through longleaf pine; about 2 miles in, the High Ridge Trail spur branches off along a ridge with views down into the wilderness, and the Turpentine Hill Trail joins from the byway. Bayou Cypre crosses the trail near mile four.
Water and Wilderness Rules
The Forest Service says water is not readily available in the wilderness: carry what you need or a filter and purification tablets. Bayou Cypre is the main source, and it needs treating. Dogs are welcome on a leash, there is no fee, and horses share the trail. Motor vehicles are prohibited in the wilderness, and Hiking Project notes bikes are not allowed either. The two smaller trailheads have traveler forms and a drop box, so leave your plans there or with someone at home.
Fire History
Lightning started the Backbone Fire in the wilderness in early August 2025. It grew to about 2,400 acres before it was contained later that month, and the forest closed the Backbone, High Ridge and Turpentine trails, Longleaf Vista and the Caroline Dormon trailhead lot while crews worked. Those sites now show as open on the forest's pages. A large wildfire also burned 7,500 acres here in 1987, and the Wrangler Fire about 6,000 in 2010; check the forest's alerts and fire danger status before you go.
Hunting Season
Hunting is allowed inside the wilderness. On the Kisatchie Ranger District, the 2026 buck-only gun season for deer covers Nov. 7-26, Nov. 28-29 and Dec. 12-27, with an either-sex day on Nov. 27 and archery from Oct. 1 to Jan. 31. Louisiana's orange rule applies to hunters, not hikers, but wearing hunter orange on those dates is the smart move. Spring brings wild azaleas along the trail and cooler days than summer.
Hiking tips for Backbone Trail (Kisatchie Hills Wilderness)
- Stage a shuttle car or budget the 2.5-mile byway walk back.
- Carry all your water, plus a filter if you plan to use Bayou Cypre.
- Wear hunter orange during the November and December gun seasons.
- Take the High Ridge spur for the best views of the wilderness.
- Check the forest's alerts page for fire closures before driving out.
Nearby trails to explore
- Caroline Dormon Trail (Kisatchie National Forest)
- Longleaf Vista Interpretive Trail (Kisatchie)
- Wild Azalea National Recreation Trail
Hike this trail with TrailMates
The Backbone is a point-to-point hike, so it works best with a group that can split cars. Post it on TrailMates, sort out who parks at which end in the event's group chat, and meet at the Caroline Dormon and Backbone trailhead. Download TrailMates on the App Store or Google Play.