Mary K. Hamner
Journal Correspondent

Driskill Mountain located in a Northeast corner of Bienville Parish off Louisiana Highway 507 is open to hiking. A walk to the top on a well-defined trail is an adventure through history chronicled on kiosks located along the way, and a close up look at the beauty of North Louisiana flora. Butterflies working the buckeye and other native flowers won't stand still long enough for a photo shot. Grasshoppers jump from the trail into carpets of wood fern and mayapple. A variety of birds high above in oak, sweetgum, and pine and other trees add their bird calls to an otherwise quiet ascent to the top of the highest point in Louisiana.

The Trail, through property privately owned, has not always been open to the public. On an earlier trip up to the site, a gate barred the way. A gate still eliminates vehicle access but an opening at the side of the gate welcomes any visitors willing to walk the round trip of 1.6 mile " at your own risk".

A kiosk erected by the Logan Blackwell Eagle Scouts of Arcadia, Louisiana at the entrance to the Trail tells this story: The mountain was named for James Christopher Driskill, born in Hancock county Georgia in 1817. In 1840, Driskill sold his land in Georgia and moved his wife, eight sons, and one daughter to Louisiana. In 1859, he bought approximately 320 acres of land from Nathan P. Smith, which included Driskill Mountain. On these 320 acres, James and his wife Eugenia raised their large family. One son was killed in action at the "Battle of the Wilderness" on May 5, 1864. Another son, James B. disappeared after he left to fight in the Civil War. Many of James Driskill's descendants still live in the area today.

The pathway, dappled with sunlight and shadows, extends upward through trees dressed in the many-hued springtime shades of green. Flowers on trumpet vines, native azalea, fringe trees, and dogwood are works of art planted by God. Many varieties of butterflies and bees are doing their ordained work. Hikers are free to watch and look as they work their way up to the top. Kiosks along the way give information about owners of the land you are walking through and request that you not litter.

The top is wooded with a limited view of surrounding hills and valleys. A path to the right leads to a benchmark marking the location at the corner of Sections 29/28/32/33 in Township 17 North, Range 5 West. Another path leads to the overlook of Jordan Mountain with an elevation of 492 feet. Central to the top of Driskill are a mound of stones with a Louisiana flag, and another information kiosk. A metal box houses a guest register with names of visitors from all over the USA- North Carolina, Ohio, New Hampshire, Florida, Iowa, Missouri, Minnesota, Virginia, California, Mississippi, Wisconsin, New Mexico. One visitor from Ft. Walton Beach, Florida commented on the spectacular sunset he had enjoyed from the top of Driskill Mountain.

The descent was a rerun of all the things seen on the way up with a few exceptions. Only one pedestrian was encountered and he was a local landowner checking out his own holdings. He mentioned that vehicle access to the trail had been curtailed because of the problem with people dumping their trash along the way. The Mt. Zion Church and Driskill Memorial Cemetery, on land sold to them by James Driskill, sits at the bottom of the highest point in Louisiana.

Back