Poverty Point Adventure! - Delta Chapter Spring Retreat

Exciting news friends!  The Delta Chapter of the Sierra Club will be making the trek up to the Poverty Point World Heritage Site for the Spring 2017 Retreat. This weekend long retreat opens runs April 7-9. Hiking, biking, canoeing, camping, camaraderie, and shared learning opportunities abound. Follow this link ---> to the Delta Chapter website to get all the details. Register today to let our Chapter Conservation Coordinator know you'll be attending. Explore, Enjoy, and Protect!

TAKE NOTE! We are transitioning Outings and Events Reminders on the web to our parent Delta Chapter's Meetup group. Please visit and join it today to get all the upcoming Sierra Club activities of interest to you from throughout Louisiana. These events will be easily added and sync-able to your common iCal, gCal, and Outlook formats.

Delta Chapter Retreat - Fall 2016

Exciting news friends!  The Delta Chapter of the Sierra Club will have its Autumn 2016 Retreat near our region again, on the shores of Lake Pontchartrain at beautiful Fontainebleau State Park beginning Friday, October 28.  Hiking, biking, canoeing, camping, camaraderie, and shared learning opportunities abound. Follow this link ---> to the Delta Chapter website to get all the details and register to let our Chapter Conservation Coordinator know you'll be attending. Explore, Enjoy, and Protect!

Kisatchie Hills Wilderness Area Day/Overnight Hike

Kisatchie Hills Wilderness Area

Day/Overnight Hike

Saturday, February 27, 2016

Kisatchie Hills Wilderness Area, is a rugged 8,000-acre wilderness area between Alexandria and Natchitoches. There are tens of miles of hiking trails snaking through this section of National Forest, with the best option being the Backbone Trail, an 8-mile hike traversing hills and long leaf pine savannahs.

For more information about the Wilderness Area see  http://www.backpacker.com/trips/louisiana/weekends-kisatchie-hills-louisiana

For more details about this hike see our facebook page www.facebook.com/BatonRougeSierraClub
Event Page: http://facebook.com/events/496067633898072

Head to the Hills! - Kisatchie Hike November 7th

Kisatchie Hills Wilderness Area Hike

Weather Update 11-5-2015 ***Due to rainy weather this weekend, the Kisatchie Hills Wilderness hike is postponed. At this time there is not another date set, but it will likely take place during January. We'll keep everyone up to date as best as possible.*** 

Join the Baton Rouge Group of the Sierra Club on November 7, 2015 for the second hike in a series of outdoor excursions this fall and winter. Members and non-members alike are welcome to tag along for a hike on the Backbone Trail in Kisatchie National Forest's Kisatchie Hills Wilderness Area, one of only three wilderness areas in Louisiana. The region is home to rugged hills and a large swatch of longleaf pine, a species of tree that once spanned millions of acres of the Southeast before they were destroyed by logging.

The Backbone Trail is 7.6 miles and runs through the heart of the wilderness area, offering a secluded view of the longleaf pine forest and various sandstone outcroppings.

October Hiking Trip Postponed

POSTPONED

Kisatchie National Forest Hiking Trip scheduled for this weekend, October 10 & 11 has been postponed.  More details soon.

Go Take a Hike, to Clark Creek

Join the Baton Rouge Group of the Sierra Club for the first in a series of outdoor outings this fall and winter. Members and non-members alike are welcome to tag along for a hike at Clark Creek Natural Area in Mississippi, right across the Louisiana state line. The area is known for its rugged hills and stunning waterfalls.

DETAILS: We'll be hiking the primitive loop trail, which is 4.7 miles through the heart of the hills, offering an up-close and at times secluded view of the several waterfalls that dot the area. The path traverses several rugged hills through a diverse and stunning mixed hardwood and pine forest just a stone's throw from the Mississippi River.  DIFFICULTY: Intermediate to Advanced

Wildflower Hike Rescheduled

WILDFLOWER TRIP RESCHEDULED

Due to rain predicted for the weekend, the trip is rescheduled for Sunday, March 29 at the same time.

Tunica Hills Spring Wildflower Pilgrimage

CANPS Wildflower Trip

Tunica Hills Spring Wildflower Pilgrimage
with Capital Area Native Plant Society
SUNDAY, MARCH 22 to the Tunica Hills Wildlife Management Area in West Feliciana Parish

Leaves from  College Drive Albertsons parking lot at 8:00 am. Hike begins around 9:15am at Nature Trail Head (30.934704, -91.509770).
 IMPORTANT NOTE: You must have either a Wild Louisiana Stamp or a fishing/hunting license of some sort to enter any state Wildlife Management Area (WMA). The Wild Louisiana Stamp costs about $10 and is valid for all WMAs throughout the state for the entire year.

We will try to finish our morning hike in Tunica WMA at around 12:30 or 1 and perhaps stop in St. Francisville for a bite to eat (at the Magnolia Cafe perhaps?). Anyone needing to get back quickly can make those arrangements before we leave. The option to stick around for further exploration in the area is also available, with possible stops at the MaryAnn Brown Preserve or the Audubon State Commemorative Area. Let us know if your interested via the RSVP link above.

Be advised - this is some of the hilliest country in Louisiana, and you will be walking up and down slopes - some of them quite steep if you're feeling adventurous.

Click the above link for more information. 

Clark Creek Hike for February 28, 2015

Clark Creek Hike

Saturday, February 28, 2015

Eating all those King Cakes & chocolate candy have you feeling a bit guilty?

If so, you should join us next Saturday for a hike at Clark Creek in Pond, Miss.

Peg Reilly & her husband, Barrett Kennedy, will lead a Sierra Club hike on the primitive trail. The primitive trail hike is challenging, particularly depending on whether there has been a lot of rain. The trail then becomes quite slippery when going downhill or uphill.

However, you can still see most of the waterfalls by sticking to the improved trail.

We will leave the parking lot at Trader Joe's at 9 a.m. with plans to start hiking at 10:30 a.m. Rain Date is Feb. 28.  Last-minute notices will be posted on http://brsierraclub.blogspot.com/

Boots are recommended for the primitive trail. Bring water & snacks. After the hike, St. Francisville has some good eateries, most notably the Magnolia Café.

For more information, contact Nancy Grush at (225) 938-9353 or nancygrush@gmail.com.

You can also get more info at http://www.mdwfp.com/parks-destinations/ms-state-parks/clark-creek.aspx

Meetings and Outings - 1st Quarter of 2015

Here are several of our upcoming events. Hope to see you at any or all of these. No RSVP required for General Interest meetings, though appreciated for ExCom meetings and sometimes necessary for Outings.

Saturday, Jan. 24, Hike at Port Hudson State Historic Site. Carpool from Coffee Call on College at 9 a.m. There are about six different trails that allow one to hike about a mile to as long as 6 miles. Some of the trail can be slightly hilly, but it's worth it. There are also two lookout towers. Admission is $4. For those 62 and older, admission is free. For more information, contact Nancy Grush or call 938-9353. Rain date is Jan. 31.

Thursday, Jan. 29 at Backpacker at 7 p.m., Dan Favre of the Dogwood Alliance will speak on Save Our Southern Forests. Refreshments provided. 

Wednesday, Feb. 4 at La Madeleine at 7 p.m., BR Group Executive Committee Meeting. All members welcome to attend. Dinner at your option prior to the meeting. 

Saturday, Feb. 21 Hike at Clark Creek Natural Area. Carpool from Trader Joe's on Perkins and Acadian at 9 a.m. Hiking the Primitive Trails with Peg Reily and Barrett Kennedy. Rain Date of Feb. 28. Nancy Grush or call 938-9353. 

Thursday, Feb. 26 at Backpacker at 7 p.m., Mathew Herron from Capital Area Native Plant Society ("CANPS") will speak about native plants (some of which are endangered) in the Baton Rouge area. Refreshments provided.  

Wednesday, Mar. 4 at La Madeleine at 7 p.m., BR Group Executive Committee Meeting. All members welcome to attend. Dinner at your option prior to the meeting.  

Friday-Sunday Mar. 13-15 at Chicot State Park - Delta Chapter Members Retreat. All members of Sierra Club in Louisiana are invited to this annual Chapter Retreat filled with outdoor excursions, outdoors skill trainings, meals, music and camaraderie. RSVP and Prepayment required. Contact Chapter Chair Woody Martin to reserve. More info on the Delta Chapter website. 

In late March, we'll hear Kevin Nee talk about cycling the Natchez Trace from start to finish. Location T.B.A.

Also, if anyone's interested in visiting Grand Isle the last weekend in March (3/28-3/29) to ooh and ahh at all the beautiful migratory song birds on their way up the great Mississippi Flyway, please email Nancy Grush.  We are in the process of planning an overnight beach camping trip.

Tunica Hills / Clark Creek Outing

GOT A SUMMERTIME HIKING ITCH THAT NEEDS SCRATCHING? 

BATON ROUGE GROUP OF THE SIERRA CLUB CAN HELP WITH THAT. WE'RE LEADING A HIKE AT THE CLARK CREEK NATURAL AREA ON JUNE 14. MEMBERS AND FRIENDS THROUGHOUT LOUISIANA ARE INVITED TO PARTICIPATE.

Clark Creek Natural Area in the Tunica Hills is a member favorite hiking destination located just across the state line in Mississippi which was a part of the Delta Chapter in our founding years. This area has waterfalls and hiking trails deep in the Tunica Hills. There are improved steps on the hillsides, on some waterfalls, and most trails are maintained with primitive trails also available.

Difficulty: Clark Creek can be a challenging hike. Due to summertime afternoon heat conditions, please come prepared with PLENTY of WATER, good hiking shoes, nutrition, bug and sunblock, a hat and anything else experienced hikers would require. Some hikers prefer to carry poison ivy neutralizer to wash off with after a hike. Rain may be expected and a change of shoes is advisable as well as optional swimwear to splash in the waterfalls.

Parking: Trail-head parking is limited and may require parking on side of road. Bring cash for honor system visitor fees. Carpooling strongly encouraged. (See links below for details.)

Some supplies may available at POND GENERAL STORE near the trail-head which is a local tourist point of interest, otherwise plan ahead for needed provisions before departing Baton Rouge. 

Questions? - RSVP? Where are we meeting to carpool?

Persons requesting carpooling may RSVP as a courtesy before the hike, leaving your name, # of hikers, and phone number with the contact persons listed below for your area. All participants arriving on their own must check-in with a Chapter Outings Leader at the trail-head! We won't leave anyone behind on the trail!

Contact: Nancy Grush - nancygrush<at>gmail.com
Meet: 11:00 AM - Campus Federal Credit Union Perkins near Quail. 

6230 Perkins Rd. Baton Rouge, LA 70808

Keep up with your friends before and after the hike, post pictures and share experiences on our Facebook Event Page

Refer to below sites for more info:
http://www.mdwfp.com/parks-destinations/ms-state-parks/clark-creek.aspx
http://alltrails.com/trail/us/mississippi/clark-creek-primitive-trail
http://www.hikelouisiana.org/detailsclark.html