Clark Creek & Port Hudson

A few weeks ago, my little ones stayed at a friends house for some swimming fun. Therefore, DH and I (along with DQ and The Teen) decided to get out and enjoy some nature like we used to do a long time ago. We chose to visit the Clark Creek area just over the Louisiana/Mississippi border northeast of St. Francisville. This is a beautiful little area that I advise you hike in when the weather gets a little cooler.

It's more than 2000 acres of natural beauty that boasts nearly 40 waterfalls that range from 10 feet to 25 feet in height! If you stay on the established trails you'll only get to see 6 - 8 of these waterfalls. All along the trails you will see a mixed hardwood and pine forest with beech and magnolia trees throughout. As you stroll, hike, or huff/puff along you might also see birds, snakes (some poisonous!), a snail or two, and maybe, just MAYBE a black bear since this area provide excellent habitat for it.

If you plan to hike this area, go at your own risk. It's a pretty strenuous workout. It's also located in a remote area so any medical assistance is quite a distance away. However, across the street from the parking lot there is a home on a bluff where a man has a 6 wheel ATV for emergency recoveries.

There is no drinking or potable water avialable at Clark Creek so be sure to pack a cooler full of iced water. Take a few bottles down into the trail with you.

As you approach the parking area you will prob'ly see the greeting crew as shown in the photo below.

Stop in the pond store to pick up a trail map. Be sure to take a peek at the original cash register that the store aquire in 1903. The owner has the original box it was delivered in sitting up on a top shelf behind her. Ask her to point it out to you. Also, peek at the doll house in the store.

Once you get on the trail, there is a bluff where most vistors carve their names as my hubby is doing here.

Here is the first waterfall of the Clark Creek area. Isn't it pretty?
DQ and The Teen slowly approach an ambush! DH is such a kid!

They have no idea what they're about to walk into.

The 2nd waterfall. You can actually hike right down the stream from waterfall #1 to this one. Just don't go OVER it!

Time for the long climb out of here!

And the MANY stairs!

On the way back out past the old store, you will see these 2 little cabins on your right. They can be rented on a nightly basis. For more info, talk to the lady in the store.

Leaving the Clark Creek area and heading south we found a historical marker in front of someone's house. Seems that Oliver Pollock was an Irish merchant in Spanish N.O. he also served in that city as a Commercial Agent for the Continental Congress & helped finance the American Revolution with his fortune. He died at Pinckneyville, MS in 1832 and is buried here.

Continuing our southerly trek, we decided to stop at Port Hudson for a visit and lunch. The Teen looks real excited huh!?

I wondered what the inside of a cannon looked like and since I couldn't see all the way down into it, I just stuck my camera in the end of it and turned the flash on. Looks like a cannon.

Aaaannnnd, this concludes our Field Trip to Clark Creek and Port Hudson. Next time I'm taking geocache coordinates to hunt for a different kind of treasure! There's a bunch of them at Clark Creek and 2 at Port Hudson. I WILL find them!!!