Customer Reviews

50 Hikes in Louisiana: Walks, Hikes, and Backpacks in the Bayou State, First Edition

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"50 Hikes in Louisiana: Walks, Hikes, and Backpacks in the Bayou State" is a wonderful help book in getting one started in the pleasant hobby of hiking. What I know comes from reading reviews written by people who live in California and New York and who hike regularly. They make hiking sound so worthwhile that I decided to hike, too!

My area, North Louisiana has five hiking trails listed in the book. Coincidentally, I took the first one a year ago when I took my Pretend Children to visit Walter B. Jacobs Memorial Nature Park with its Intrepretive Building and a conservationist on hand to explain and demonstrate and show.

The trail is divided into parts, designating length and time to hike. The longest is 2.2 miles and subdivided into shorter segments. We took the half mile hike because we had a three-year-old with us, who did most of the hiking on her own feet then part clutched to my side and on my two feet. What was missing and what I now know because of this book and the accoutrements to take.

1. Wear comfortable shoes like tennis, walking, or running shoes.
2. Take a water resistant rain jacket in your pack.
3. Wear two pairs of socks (described in detail and reasons why)
4. A pack which contains first-aid kit, flashlight, knife, compass, toilet paper, waterproof matches, a plastic bag for trash, and food and water.
5. Insect repellent. Wear long pants because of ticks, spiders, fire ants.
6. A walking stick to knock down spider webs when necessary
7. A poison ivy remedy
8. Sun block

Since none of the trails in North Louisiana are difficult, this set of supplies is quite complete. I plan to take the Pretend Children again this summer to Walter Jacobs and try the one-mile trail and go to Cypress Park for its Nature Trail.

The book is organized beautifully. The first chart lists the hikes, location, distance, time length, features, if the hike is good for kids and brief notes of what to look for. Next is a state map with locations numbered and marked. The introduction provides the information in my above list. Then comes the local map with ordnance points and black and white photos. Each of the 50 hikes is detailed thusly.

Happy hiking. And don't feed the bears or snakes or any other animal. They become too curious and demanding then.

Dedicated to Fritz and Bob

This author is equally a hiker, a writer, and a Louisiana lover, and a shining example of all three. With excellent pictures, maps, and information on what to expect as far as animals, plants, and anything else one might encounter, this book is by far the best book on Louisiana hiking I've ever read. The stories about the area are just good Louisiana lagniappe. I can't wait to hike the Port Hudson trail!

This is an outstanding book, which breaks down each trail with directions to trailheads, maps, photographs, descriptions of trails and the surrounding landscapes, wildlife and types of plants you are likely to see, and extra information on the history and geography of each area. If you are interested in getting to know the nature of Louisiana, 50 Hikes will get you there.

I saw this book in a bookstore over the weekend and am ordering it now from Amazon. I was impressed by the detailed information the author gives for each hike. I am a native of Louisiana but still unacquainted with some of its many parts. I know 50 Hikes in Louisiana will inspire me to get to know the state better from a peripatetic perspective.

I borrowed this book from the local public library, hoping to find some interesting hikes within an hour drive from Baton Rouge, where I live. Unfortunately the offerings within that radius are uncreative and disappointing. The local suggested "hikes" are along the nature trails at Bluebonnet swamp and Highland observatory. I wouldn't consider these hikes at all--they are light strolls of at most 15 minutes!