Tunica Hills
Tunica Trace, St. Francisville, LA
St. Francisville, LA
A hidden pocket of steep ravines, clear creeks, and hardwood forest in the far corner of the state, a piece of Louisiana that looks and feels like nowhere else in it.
The Tunica Hills are one of the great geographic surprises of Louisiana, a rugged landscape of steep ravines, clear creeks, and dense hardwood forest tucked into the state's far southeastern corner near the Mississippi River. In a state defined by flat delta, marsh, and swamp, this hilly, deeply cut country feels almost impossible, more like the wooded uplands of the Appalachian foothills than anything you expect to find in Louisiana.
The hills owe their unusual shape to loess, a fine windblown soil deposited here during the ice ages that erodes into steep bluffs and narrow ravines. Protected in part as a state wildlife management area, the Tunica Hills draw hikers, birders, and hunters to their trails, and reward them with small waterfalls, towering trees, and one of the richest concentrations of wildlife and plant life in the state.
What Guests Love
- Steep, wooded ravines and creek beds unlike anywhere else in flat Louisiana
- Hiking trails that wind down into shady hollows with small waterfalls after rain
- A rich hardwood forest brilliant with color in autumn
- Abundant birdlife and the feel of true backcountry
Worth Knowing
- The terrain is genuinely steep and can be slippery, so wear good boots and watch your footing
- Parts of the area are managed for hunting, so check seasons and wear bright colors when appropriate
- Bring water, a map, and insect protection, as services are far away
- Trails can be muddy after rain, which is also when the small waterfalls run best
Details
St. Francisville, LA
Learn about Tunica Hills
A landscape shaped by windblown soil
The distinctive terrain of the Tunica Hills comes from loess, a deep layer of fine, silty soil that was carried here by the wind during the ice ages, when glaciers to the north ground rock into dust and left it exposed to the prevailing winds. Piled up over thousands of years along the eastern side of the Mississippi River valley, this soft, fertile soil is easily cut by running water.
As creeks and rainfall carved down through the thick loess, they created the steep bluffs, narrow ridges, and deep ravines that give the Tunica Hills their rugged character. The result is a landscape found in only a few spots along the lower Mississippi, a rare upland island rising above the surrounding flat country, and one of the reasons the area feels so unlike the rest of Louisiana.
The Tunica people and the region's Native heritage
The hills carry the name of the Tunica people, whose ancestors lived and traded along the lower Mississippi River in this region for generations. The Tunica were known as skilled traders and became an important presence in the colonial history of the river valley, and their descendants continue today as part of the Tunica-Biloxi Tribe of Louisiana, a federally recognized nation based not far away near Marksville.
This corner of Louisiana is part of a homeland long shared by many Indigenous peoples, including the Tunica, Choctaw, Houma, and others who knew these rivers, bluffs, and forests intimately. Honoring that presence, past and living, is part of understanding the land, and the name Tunica Hills keeps that heritage on the map.
Wildlife and the hardwood forest
The cool, shaded ravines of the Tunica Hills shelter plants and animals that reach the southern edge of their range here, giving the area an unusually rich mix of life. Towering beeches, oaks, magnolias, and other hardwoods rise over ferns and wildflowers, and in the deep hollows the moist microclimate supports species more typical of forests far to the north.
White-tailed deer move through the woods, along with foxes, bobcats, armadillos, and other wildlife, and the area is famous among birders for its spring and fall migrations, when warblers and other songbirds pour through the canopy. Wild turkeys, hawks, and owls are present as well, and the streams and wet places hum with frogs, salamanders, and other small creatures.
Trails and the seasons
Hiking trails wind through the hills and down into the ravines, following creek beds where, after rain, small waterfalls tumble over ledges of packed loess and sand. The going is genuinely steep in places, and the soft soil can be slippery, so sturdy footwear and care on the descents are essential, but the reward is a sense of wildness and solitude uncommon in this part of the country.
Fall is a favorite season, when the hardwoods turn color and the air cools, and spring brings wildflowers and the great rush of migrating birds. Summer is hot, humid, and buggy, best tackled early in the day, while winter opens up long views through the bare trees. Because parts of the area are managed for hunting, it is wise to check the seasons and wear bright colors when they are open.
Closest Boutels
The closest Boutel™ stays, so you can turn this stop into an overnight. Each is an independently owned, editorially selected place to stay.
Things to Do Near St. Francisville
St. Francisville
About 12 miles south
A charming historic town on a bluff above the Mississippi, with antique shops, cafes, and grand old homes.
Rosedown Plantation
About 15 miles south
A preserved antebellum estate with famous formal gardens, its history of enslaved labor told alongside its beauty.
Angola and the Mississippi River
About 10 miles west
The great river and the bluffs above it, with a small ferry crossing and sweeping views of the water.