Tickfaw State Park is Worth the Drive {Hiking With Kids}

While there is no shortage of things to do in Baton Rouge with kids, sometimes you just want to escape the hustle and bustle! Whether you are looking for a family-friendly road trip from Baton Rouge or an adventure in the great outdoors, Red Stick Mom has dozens of ideas for keeping your family entertained. One of our favorite outings with kids in Baton Rouge is hiking, and we are lucky to have some great options nearby like Tickfaw State Park!

Tickfaw State Park is Worth the Drive {Hiking With Kids}

**8/30/2024 NOTE :: All boardwalk trails at Tickfaw State Park are currently closed due to severe damage caused by Hurricane Ida.  Two trails are currently open to the public – the hardwood trail and the trail around the fishing pond.** 

If you are looking for a family-friendly day trip from Baton Rouge, look no further than Tickfaw State Park! Tickfaw State Park is a welcome surprise just 40 minutes from the center of Baton Rouge and only 20 minutes if you live closer to Prairieville. For our family, Tickfaw State Park is where we go for a day of hiking, exploring, and letting our kids experience nature. My 3-year old loves hiking “in the forest” and seeing the river, and we love that a quick drive in the car can get us a day of adventure.

After driving 9 miles off the interstate down a winding, tree-lined road, you reach the entrance to Tickfaw State Park. You are greeted and asked to pay $3 cash per adult and children over the age of 3. Be sure to grab a map and ask any other questions you may have. Once you enter the park, there are several different areas to explore. Your first stop may be the Nature Center, where you can get an up-close look at snakes and alligator skulls and browse the souvenirs in the gift shop. If your kids need to get some play in, Tickfaw State Park has a great playground (open year-round) and a splash park (open in the summer). You can drive by the three camping areas on your way to the trail heads, and when you are ready, pick one of the three main hiking trails and start exploring!

Each hiking trail has its own parking area, clean restroom/drink facilities, and a covered pavilion. This is a great place to stop, eat, and potty before venturing on the Tickfaw State Park trails. Much of the trails are gravel or wooden boardwalk and can easily accommodate a stroller (although we always make our kids walk or ride in a back carrier). The trails are easy to navigate and as quick as you make them! The trails loop around and range from 20 minutes to an hour length and even include benches here and there. For younger children new to hiking, I would start with the Gum or Pine trails, which are short and easy. Older children or those up for more of a walk would enjoy the Bottomland and River trails at the very end of the park. These trails are longer and even venture off into natural, dirt trails. Whichever trail you choose at Tickfaw State Park, you are guaranteed beautiful scenery, some small animal/bug sightings and Baton Rouge kids having fun!

Before You Hike With Kids

If you’ve never hiked with kids before, believe me YOU CAN! We are not “outdoors experts” by any means. All you need is a love of nature and some or most of the following items. We found all of these very useful for our adventure to Tickfaw State Park. If your family gets the hiking bug like we did, you may also want to consider Tunica Hills!

• good, closed-toed shoes with socks ON
• bug spray (especially in the warmer months)
• a bag for leaf/pinecone/rock collecting
• water bottles (you can fill up at the water fountains at each trail head)
• layered clothes for cooler weather
• a camera (it is a memorable experience)
• a change of clothes/shoes in the car (because the kids will probably get dirty)

Exploring in and around Baton Rouge with kids is one of the best parts of living in Louisiana! To learn more about Tickfaw State Park, visit the website.