Wild Azalea Overnight

Welcome to the Wild Azalea Overnighter, a route designed to be beginner-friendly while still being enjoyable for experienced bikepackers. This route starts and finishes in the small central Louisiana town of Woodworth.

The route through the Kisatchie National Forest traverses a mix of singletrack, gravel, and paved roads with small rolling hills and a couple of short, punchy climbs. The Kisatchie is home to a mix of hardwood and pine forests with small pockets of swamp and beautiful native cypress trees.

This route is open year-round but is best suited for Spring, Fall, and Winter riding, with the Summer months being hot and humid. This is a quiet and remote backpacking ride. Part of the fun and challenge of this 45-mile route is proper planning and outfitting yourself before starting.

Be sure to start with enough water to get you to the Valentine Lake North Campground for the night. Several stores are located near Castor Plunge Road and US 165 for supplies just before arriving at the route’s start. After you are on route, and nearing the campground, there is a small convenience store one mile off route and 2.2 miles from the campground, for resupplying if needed. Bring $10 cash for the drop box to pay for your campsite, where water, restrooms, trash bins, tables, and fire rings will be available. You may encounter other cyclists and hikers along the trails, and the odd car on the paved and gravel sections of the route.

This terrain is pretty forgiving in terms of bike setup. A wide range of tire sizes should be able to handle the route; full suspension is not necessary. You’ll encounter areas that are rooty, but nothing excessive. The gravel is usually in good shape, but this is dependent on maintenance by the Forestry Service. There will be a few spots on the trail where hike-a-bike will be necessary to get up and over some bridges that simply were not designed for bikes.

The route starts at the Wild Azalea Trailhead on Castor Plunge Road where you’ll be immediately treated to your first section of singletrack. The trail wanders through the trees and underbrush until you pop out onto a quiet paved road. This pavement, which will last for several miles, gives you nice views of the forest and some pockets of swamp before you cut through a small, populated area. Soon after, you’ll find yourself on a gravel road that winds through the forest and takes you along the boundary of the Claiborne Bombing and Gunnery Range, the remaining part of the WWII army training area called Camp Claiborne. The Air Force Reserve occasionally uses this area as an air-to-ground training range.

Back on pavement, you’ll make your way to the Valentine Lake Campground for the night. The campground has various spots ranging from amazing lake views to those bordered by towering trees. Take a spin around the campground and find a site to your liking to spend the night and enjoy the evening by a campfire.

On the second day of the overnight, you’ll ride a different route back to where you started. You’ll experience new trails, gravel, and roads while enjoying the views. After a brief ride on pavement leaving the campground, you’ll find a lookout tower, the landmark for the beginning of the longest singletrack on the ride. You’ll ride through rolling hills and creeks, and over a couple of bridges you may need to walk. Keep your eyes open for wildlife, as you may see deer, raccoons, rabbits, turkeys, and maybe even wild horses. A small section of pavement will take you to the first of a few gravel roads that meander through the forest. You’ll wind your way back to the outskirts of Woodworth, where the gravel will fade into pavement, and soon, the conclusion of your overnight adventure.

• Paved: 44%
• Smooth Gravel: 46%
• Rough Gravel: 0%
• 4×4 Road: 0%
• Singletrack: 10%

• Have a full supply of water for the day before arriving at the starting point for day one’s approximately 22-mile ride.
• Less than two miles from the trailhead, you can find a convenience store, a Dollar General, and a grocery store.
• Water will be available at the Valentine Lake Campground that evening, but note there are no reliable public potable water sources along the route. I suggest having a filter for water in the event of an emergency. A convenience store is approximately 1 mile off course before arriving at the campground in the event anything is needed.
• Camping will be at Valentine Lake North Campground. A campsite costs $10 per night (Cash only) and includes a picnic table, lantern post, and grill/fire ring. There is a restroom on site but no showers.
• No permits are necessary for the ride. The portions of the ride on the Wild Azalea Trail are multi-use, so be kind and courteous to hikers. 
• Additional safety considerations
  • The Summer months in Louisiana are very hot and humid. If deciding to ride during this time, please consider the effects and plan accordingly.
  • Please be aware, and possibly wear bright colors, during hunting season
• Regarding tire size
  • Some of the singketrack can be mildly rooty. Outside of the single track, any gravel bike to fat bike sire size can work. More experienced and skilled riders can probable do all of it on any tire.

• Kisatchie National Forest – Home (usda.gov)
• Kisatchie National Forest – Valentine Lake Recreation Complex, Camping/Day Use (usda.gov)
• Kisatchie National Forest – Alerts & Closures (usda.gov)
• Kisatchie National Forest – Hunting (usda.gov)

Adam Rouillier created and stewards this route. Here is a little about Adam:

Adam (he/him, Gonzales, LA) was raised showing horses and riding bikes, and has always been drawn to adventure, fitness, and the great outdoors. Time spent camping, stargazing, kayaking, going to Cardinal’s baseball games, and fun family vacations with his wife and daughters is important to him, as is biking. A proud ambassador for Pactimo, Picky Bars, and Bike Law, Adam is also the creator of @AdventurePacking on Instagram and Facebook, and the current Vice President of NOMAMBO, the New Orleans area mountain biking group that build and maintain the trails in the Mississippi River’s Bonnet Carré Spillway. He likes to work hard, play hard, and spread the joy of bikepacking by bringing fellow cyclists together.

Adam has offered to be available to answer questions if you are planning a trip on this route. Please also get in touch with any updates on route conditions that may be relevant to other riders.

Please submit your questions and comments on the route via the contact form below.

• This route traverses the traditional lands of the Koasati (Coushatta), Avoyuel, Ishak (Atakapa) and Natchez.