Driskill Mountain (Louisiana State Highpoint)

Louisiana

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Trip Date: Friday, June 19th, 2020
Last Updated: Monday, June 29th, 2020
By Ricky Holzer

Hike Information

Rating ★★☆☆☆(2/5)
Overall Difficulty Easy
Navigation Difficulty     Easy
Distance 1.8 miles roundtrip
Time 1 hour
Terrain Hilly, 200 feet of elevation gain
Best Seasons All
Family Friendly Yes
Dog Friendly Yes
Accessible No

Highlights

Hike Summary

Driskill Mountain is yet another unique stop along the journey to visit every state highpoint and is the third lowest of all state highpoints after Florida and Delaware at a mere 535 feet above sea level. Of the 4 Gulf Coast highpoints, Louisiana's is the only one that requires a hike -- for the others you simply drive to the top and walk a few feet to the monument. The coolest part of Driskill Mountain is the history, namely the fact that much of the land on the hike is still in possession of the Driskill family.

Once you park next to the church, the trail to Driskill Mountain is clearly marked on the left side of the cemetery. Follow this dirt road for a while until a sign directs you to a trail on the left side of the road. At a couple places during the hike, watch for small signs that let you know more about the area's history. You'll learn that the land here has been owned by the Lou Jones Family for over 130 years, dating back to a Bienville Parish tax assessor in 1883. Another sign recognizes Melba Driskill-Krejsa, the great-great-grandaughter of James Christopher Driskill who is the namesake of the mountain, for contributing a portion of the trail.

Wildflowers blooming alongside the dirt road where it intersects with the trail

Wildflowers blooming alongside the dirt road where it intersects with the trail

Navigation is surprisingly easy for a hike on private property, with solid signage throughout the hike, as shown in the first picture below at the main fork in the trail. At this fork, you can choose to take a shorter but more difficult route over the top of False Mountain to create a loop hike, or you can take the standard route up and down by going to the left. On the route via False Mountain, there are blue dots on trees for you to follow, as shown in the second picture below.
The well-marked fork in the trail

The well-marked fork in the trail

Spray-painted blue dots on trees mark the trail over False Mountain

Spray-painted blue dots on trees mark the trail over False Mountain

The False Mountain route is a more rugged and narrow trail with about 50 feet more of uphill than the main trail -- with such a negligible difference, I highly recommend taking this route. The trail better represents the mixed forest found in Northern Louisiana is more fun to navigate. This trail is on the shady, north side of the mountain, and you may encounter such sights as a giant fallen tree. The exposed root system pictured below was over 6 feet in diameter!
The massive root system of a fallen tree adjacent to the trail

The massive root system of a fallen tree adjacent to the trail

Once you reach the top, you can take pictures with the marker shown in the image below. You will also learn the interesting fact that the founder of the Highpointers Club, Jack Longacre, had his ashes scattered here in 2003.
The summit marker on Driskill Mountain

The summit marker on Driskill Mountain

If you were hoping for a view from this very low highpoint, the best you can hope for is a glimpse of nearby Jordan Mountain through the trees at the "overlook" just beyond the summit marker. Winter may yield a better view once the trees lose their leaves. As pictured below, there are several benches for you to sit and enjoy this view as you mentally prepare for the long, arduous descent of the mountain.
Benches near the overlook of Jordan Mountain

Benches near the overlook of Jordan Mountain

No matter which way you came, signs encourage you to take the standard route back. In contrast to the False Mountain Trail, the main trail is much wider and sunnier since it's on the south side of the mountain, as pictured below.
The forested main trail on the descent

The forested main trail on the descent

When you're done, you can check off another state highpoint! Which one is next? Connect with me using the social media links below and share your adventures!



Important Information

The entirety of this hike is on private property. Please ensure we can continue to enjoy access to this state highpoint by picking up after yourself and your pet and remaining on the designated trails. While there are no rules about dogs on the trail, using a leash is preferable to keep your dog from wandering off the trail.

Directions

From Shreveport, take Interstate 20 east and take the exit for Louisiana Highway 9 towards Arcadia, then turn right. Turn right to stay on Louisiana Highway 9, then turn left onto 2nd Street at the T-intersection. Turn right onto Hazel Street, then turn left onto Louisiana Highway 147/Jonesboro Road. Make a slight right onto Louisiana Highway 797, then turn right onto Louisiana Highway 507. Park in the dirt lot for Mt. Zion Presbyterian Church on the right side of the road.

Google Maps Directions

Parking, Fees, and Facilities

Parking is free! There are no facilities here.

External Links