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Driskill Mountain"535 ft.
The highpoint of Louisiana
I had this conference to attend in Tulsa. Afterwards, I had planned to go see my folks in south Texas. I have never driven through Arkansas or Louisana really, so I decided to drive this new & different route....
one that would allow me to go for some new highpoints!
From Tulsa, I drove south-east to Arkansas where I climbed Signal Hill. Signal Hill is the highest spot on Mount Magazine. After climbing the highpoint of Arkansas, I headed straight south for Louisiana. This portion of the drive was a little over 4 hours; all of which was on back-country, 2-lane roads.
I crossed over into Louisiana on US Hwy 79 where the first town you come to is Haynesville. From here it's about a 45 more minutes south to Arcadia, LA which is a town you can find along I-20. (Arcadia is about 50 miles east of Shreveport.)
Here are the directions from Arcadia, LA to the trail head for Driskill Mountain:
-In the center of town at 1st St. and Hazel St., head south on Hazel St which is Hwy. 9, for .6 mile.
-Turn left on Jonesboro Rd. which is Hwy 147, and drive 9 ½ miles.
-Turn right on Hwy 507 and head southwest for 2 3/4 miles.
-At 2 ¾ miles look for the Mt. Zion Presbyterian Church on your right.
-Now look south on down Hwy 507 a bit, and you'll see this sign for Driskill Mountain. Turn right on the road just past this sign.
-This is what it looks like looking back at the church. You are going to drive up the road, just to the left of the cemetery. (Notice the radio tower. That's a good land mark that will be on the map you will see ahead.)
The closed gate ahead is the trail head. You can park anywhere along this road adjacent to the cemetery.
There is some interesting history on a mounted sign at the trail head....
...along with the map to the mountain. Here's where you can see the radio tower for orientation.
A short ways past the first gate, you come to a fork in the road/trail. The right fork has a gate and the left fork is obvious...as long as someone doesn't steal this nice green sign!
A short ways further around the corner you encounter another gate. But these arrows mark the way and tell you to hike around the gate.
Again after a short walk, you come to another fork.
It's marked high up on a tree to take the right fork.
The trail is wide and obvious. However, if you want to be more adventurous, you could take a bush-wack trail up to the right which takes you up and over a false summit. This trail is actually marked by blue circles on the trees.
Welcome to the piney woods!
There is a sharp right turn ahead, but not to fear...it's marked for your route finding pleasure.
However, you will have to dig down deep for that extra needed stamina to get up this steep terrain.
At the top of the hill, they help you out again with some route finding assistance. Whew!
Somebody's even cleared the trail of the downed timber for us.
And I even think someone came out with a leaf blower and groomed the trail!
And before you know it, your target is in your sights as you realize all your hard work has paid off. This summit is going to submit!
In with the new and out with the old.
This plastic bench looked just like the one in Arkansas. Now I know why.
All in all, in took a whopping 14 minutes to hike the ¾ mile to defeat this grueling summit with it's staggering vertical gain of 97 feet. But what a reward to reach this carined high point in Louisiana.
The official above sea level is right there on the sign.
So, this required an official selfie.
On that sign was this bit of history about Jack. I didn't know that about him.
If you hike just off to the west, you can get this overlook view. The only view to be found since this summit is well below treeline. Off in the distance is Jordan Mountain.
Now a word of warning....just as we have to evaluate the avalanche conditions and weather during winter in Colorado, I would suggest the same here. If you are going to climb this peak in summer, evaluate your fate! I climbed in early April and even then it was a hot muggy day. I doubt I would risk my life in July or August with 100 days with 100% humidity!
Who knew there was anything called a "mountain" in a state where the landscape is pretty much only known for it's bayous.
Get out of the swamp and climb on!
Thumbnails for uploaded photos (click to open slideshow):
I grew up about 3 hours south of there, and got bonus points on a test in 5th grade answering the question, ”what is the highest point in our state.” Always wanted to go there but never got the chance. Looks like a beautiful little hike, but not nearly as alpine as I pictured every ”mountain” to be when I was a kid!
On getting another tough summit! I drove through there many times going to AR, but of course I never stopped. Deliverance always seemed to come to mind on what could happen to a cajun in redneck country! But I did climb a peak in Hot Springs, AR in the early 80's!
So when are you going after Nebraska and Oklahoma high points?
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But I did climb a peak in Hot Springs, AR in the early 80's!