Find the top rated cross country skiing trails in Metairie, whether you're looking for an easy short cross country skiing trail or a long cross country skiing trail, you'll find what you're looking for. Click on a cross country skiing trail below to find trail descriptions, trail maps, photos, and reviews.
Do you like waterways? Trees and greenery? Wide open spaces? Protected traffic crossings? The Wisner Trail rolls all these together in a relaxed park setting that affords cyclists a safe, well-shaded and fun winding path connecting the Esplanade Ridge with the New Orleans Lakefront.
Expect to pass very few (if any, especially while raining) other trail users on this relatively new two-way gem, but when you do, note the mix of roller bladers, walkers, joggers, and fellow bike riders. During inclement weather, be alert for low-hanging branches and possibly slipper conditions on the tighter turns.
Your only elevation happens along the newly constructed I-610 overpass, but it passes quickly and your traversal is 100% separated from moving vehicles. Enjoy the view as, at 20+ feet, you'll be atop one of the taller points for miles around.
Descending in either direction affords you the opportunity to branch off along minor trails leading into City Park, while the trail heads invite you onto roadside paths shooting out along Esplanade and points south, or via surface streets to Lakeshore Drive and points north/west.
Bring along a picnic lunch or fishing pole if you have time to sojourn along Bayou St. John, where boaters and paddle boarders frequent. If you're looking for more adventure, cruise the Big Lagoon next to the New Orleans Museum of Art and/or take a turn with the rented canoes or paddle boats. (They also offer cabana bikes by the hour.)
Great trail! Safe, easy, nicely paved. Lots of wildlife. Stay in Mandeville at Harbor Landing Cottage. Great Place! Close to trail and lake. Fun trail and other great things to do.
Probably the nicest trail in Metro NOLA but absolutely no shade anywhere along the way. Riding alongside lake Ponchatrain makes for a very scenic ride. A little tough in middle of summer, probably much nicer in the fall. Tammany Trace is probably better in summer because it’s mainly shady. Looking forward to riding when the weather gets cooler. Enjoy.
Great landscape. Very safe. Clean.
Wonderfully flat, we rode from the Koop road trailhead (lots of parking) to the end in Slidell. LOTS or road crossings but the locals err on the side of caution and most stop even when not required. Round trip was more than 40 miles and every mile is beautiful. Cool drawbridge that we crossed and then got to watch operate for a boat heading upstream. The rest benches are plentiful at first but thin out further on.
We rode on 2/1/2020. Original plan was to start at Audubon Park, but was a big traffic backup heading that way. Turned around and parked at Jefferson Park and rode east toward Audubon Park. Plenty of parking on both sides of the road at Jefferson midmorning on cool Saturday.
Nice views over river, mostly flat, with occasional changes from top to bottom of the levee. Steady stream of walkers and bikers, but was not overly crowded. Occasional service road crossings, and one interesting spot were a small number of houses over the river share the bike path as their driveway.
There are many miles to the west that we did not explore due to the stiff wind. As a bonus, some nice restaurants nearby on Oak Street to refuel.
Rode this trail 27 miles from Slidell to Covington to take advantage of prevailing winds. Trail is very flat, mostly tree lined, in good condition, and very scenic. There are many streets/roads to cross...be careful!
Pleasant 3-day trip starting in Covington to Fontainbleau State Park campsite. Trips from there both ways to Slidell, Mandeville, and Abita Springs. Ate a lot of meals in Mandeville which were very enjoyable. The ride to see the old oaks along Lakeshore Dr. is a must. Nice trailheads.
Best roller blading is from Covington (Harbor Freight) to Mandeville Trail head, be careful at the crossings. Do not cross 190 into old Covington it isn’t paved and is very difficult on roller blades. Also it is hard blading from Fontainebleau State Park to Slidell due to the old asphalt, very rough and fatiguing on the feet.
Trail was very well maintained and pretty much flat with no turns. Only complaint would be no markings along the trail at all. You better have a map or you’ll be wondering where you are and missing lots of sights.
It should really be noted somewhere that pets are not permitted on the trail. It was rather disappointing to get off the highway, find somewhere to park my RV, and walk down to the trail, only to find that I could not walk my dog.
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