Caroline Dormon Trail (Kisatchie National Forest) Hiking Guide
The Caroline Dormon Trail runs from the Longleaf Trail Scenic Byway toward Kisatchie Bayou through the hills of the Kisatchie Ranger District. It honors Caroline Dormon, the Louisiana naturalist the Forest Service credits with pushing for the legislation that created Kisatchie National Forest. It is a long, quiet day in the pines, shared with riders and cyclists, and it starts from the same lot as the Backbone Trail.
How Long It Is
The Forest Service's trail page and map give 10.5 miles, not a loop; its older scenic byway brochure says 12. Hiking Project maps 11.0 miles point to point with about 411 feet of climbing and 288 of descent, between roughly 163 and 342 feet of elevation. Plan to shuttle a car to the Kisatchie Bayou end, or walk out and back from the byway as far as you like.
Getting to the Trailhead
From the I-49 and LA 6 interchange at Natchitoches, go west on LA 6 for 4 miles, turn south on LA 117 for 16 miles, then east on Forest Highway 59 to the signed lot on the right. The trailhead has vault toilets and an information board, no drinking water, and no fee; leashed dogs are allowed. The southern end stops just short of the Kisatchie Bayou Recreation Complex, which charges $2 per vehicle for day use and has walk-in tent camping by the bayou.
Sharing the Trail
This is a multiple-use route for horses, hikers and bikes, and the Forest Service points horse trailers to this trailhead for its parking. Step off to the side and speak up when riders approach, and listen for bikes on the descents.
Fire, Hunting and Heat
During the August 2025 Backbone Fire the forest closed this trailhead's parking lot along with the wilderness trails; the site is listed as open again. Deer hunting is allowed across the national forest. On this district the buck-only firearms days this year start Nov. 7 and run through Nov. 26, pick up again Nov. 28 and 29, and return from Dec. 12 through Dec. 27, so wear orange then. Summer here brings the extreme heat that forest officials cited during the 2025 fire, so the cooler months are the time for a long day.
Who Caroline Dormon Was
Known as Miss Carrie, Dormon is named by the Forest Service as the person who tenaciously encouraged much of the enabling legislation behind Kisatchie, which remains the only national forest in Louisiana. Her trail runs through the kind of longleaf pine country the forest now works to protect; it estimates longleaf forests survive on less than 5 percent of their historic range.
Hiking tips for Caroline Dormon Trail (Kisatchie National Forest)
- Arrange a car at the Kisatchie Bayou end or turn around at your halfway point.
- Bring all your water; the trailhead has none.
- Give horses room and announce yourself on blind bends.
- Wear orange on November and December gun-season days.
- Keep $2 handy if you finish at Kisatchie Bayou's day-use area.
Nearby trails to explore
- Backbone Trail (Kisatchie Hills Wilderness)
- Longleaf Vista Interpretive Trail (Kisatchie)
- Wild Azalea National Recreation Trail
Hike this trail with TrailMates
A one-way Caroline Dormon hike needs two cars, which is easier to sort with a crew. Post it on TrailMates, plan the shuttle between FH 59 and Kisatchie Bayou in the event's group chat, and meet at the shared trailhead. Download TrailMates on the App Store or Google Play.