Thursday, March 8, 2018

over the hills and (not so) far away

The hilly trails and waterfalls of Clark Creek are a nice getaway for those looking to get away from the flat streets of Baton Rouge. You'll find it along a rural highway and about ten minutes north of the Louisiana/Mississippi border. You know you've arrived when parked cars begin to line both sides of the road.


A Clark Creek Waterfall

Payment is basically the honor system. No one is there taking payment. This is all DIY (except bathrooms; they have those). However, someone is watching. I don't know if they're lurking in the bushes or hiding in a tree, but they're there. If you don't pay, or forget to display your tag, then you're sure to return a friendly sticky note reminder on your window.


A view from the trail.

A backpack with water and some snacks and you're good here. If you forget something then hit the Pond Store. It's your last (and only?) chance. It's also a good idea to bring some water (or water friendly) shoes, because the park is best experienced off the hiking trail and down along the creek bed. The terrain isn't really suitable for bare feet, unless your feet are like leather or you enjoy the feeling of Legos under your feet. We arrived in sneakers, so we mostly stayed on the trail. The hiking trail is elevated from the creek, so it is nice to have the creek view below along the hike. However, do not fret. There are spots to get down to the banks and climb around on some rocks in the creek. You won't totally miss out.


Clark Creek is fab-u-lous!

The people along the trail are friendly. After all, we're all there to have a good time. Everyone's in a good mood. Or just winded, out of shape and just too tired for foolishness. Don't get me wrong though. It's not a difficult place to hike. It really just depends on how far you're wanting to go. The hike is mostly shaded, so it makes for a pleasant hike. It is the south though, so the humidity will still get you sweating.


No Darwin finalists here.

Pro tip: be on the lookout for children seeking Darwin Awards. They're typically found standing at the edge of waterfalls. If you're not sure you've spotted them then look for their parents. Not to be found? Congratulations! You've located a finalist! Seriously though, if you are a parent and bring your children then please don't be THOSE parents. A foot of creek water isn't going to be a gentle landing. It's a wonderful spot, but not exactly a Costa Rican cliff diving kinda spot (or wherever they cliff dive; research-smesearch).


We pretend we're cool.

Do you have a favorite spot to hike? Please let us know. We're always looking!

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