The Baton Rouge Levee Bike Path links several downtown attractions along the Mississippi River and serves as one of the city's most popular outdoor recreation assets. The Farr Park Equestrian Center, the USS Kidd Naval Museum, the Louisiana Art & Science Museum, and the beautiful castle-like Old State Capitol building can all be accessed from the paved pathway. The trail also flanks the western side of the Louisiana State University campus.
Outside of the city proper, the trail meanders along the elevated levee through open fields and farmland, with the crowds of trail users thinning out as the landscape opens up. The paved path comes to an end at a trailhead located at the L'Auberge Casino complex, over twelve miles away from its northern terminus.
The path continues on an unpaved surface, ideal for runners and bikes with appropriate tires, heading east from the casino and following the bend in the river that forms the pleasantly-named neighborhood of Sunshine. This section of the bike path continues for around fifteen miles before coming to a halt at the Willow Glen power station - the preceding mile of trail to the west is nicely paved for a change of pace, with a trailhead located at St. Gabriel's Sunshine Park.
After a gap in the trail by the power station, the path resumes along the levee top with an unpaved surface, heading south into the residential heart of St. Gabriel before entering a surrounding mixture of farmlands and industrial plants. This segment spans another twelve miles, coming to an end in the neighborhood of Carville with another section of paved trail, with the end of the pavement marking an end to the trail route. The levee continues further south and east to New Orleans, and perhaps one day the entire route will be a finished trail.
For now, however, the Levee Bike Path offers a great, smooth pathway with traffic-free views of the mighty Mississippi River in the Baton Rouge area, and a rougher, more remote experience for those who venture out further south to St. Gabriel.
Trailhead parking is available under the Mississippi River Bridge (off S. River Road) on the trail's northern end.
Parking is also available to the south off of L'Auberge Avenue, off of River Road/LA-327.
Several trailheads along the route provide access to the path from adjoining areas, although the trailheads do not have accompanying parking lots. Access is available from Farr Park and Brightside Drive south of the city, and from the LSU campus at Skip Bertman Drive. In Baton Rouge, trailheads are located at Water Street and South Boulevard, and at the city's Riverfront Plaza near the old State Capitol.
In St. Gabriel, a trailhead with parking is located at Sunshine Park, on Ravier Lane just off of LA-75. A set of stairs leads up the hill from the parking lot to the path, with no accessible ramps provided. An additional trailhead is located at the end of the trail in the Carville neighborhood, with a small parking lot at the intersection of Morris Street and Point Clair Road/LA-75. This trailhead also utilizes stairs to reach the trail.
Trailink needs to update the info on this trail. As of 10/30/2021 the levee path runs north from L'auberge Casino in to downtown Baton Rouge. Path is fully paved for 12.5 miles one way. Once you're south of Brightside Dr. the walker, jogger traffic thins out and the only area to use caution is between the cattle crossings.
You can access the path from several locations. Parking at L'auberge Casino, Farr Park, LSU Vet School or downtown. You can add some miles and scenery by hopping off at the Vet School and take a spin through campus, around the lakes and back. Hit one of the restaurants across from the football stadium and then finish your ride.
Great for kids or those that don't want to deal with vehicle traffic.
Took a nice ride Sunday. The paved trail actually goes about 8 miles down river from Equestrian Center that is not shown on map here. All the way to the L’Auberge Casino. The trail head at the BREC Equestrian Center has plenty of free parking, restrooms, drinking water fountain and a free air compressor.
Road my bike on the Trail yesterday ... The weather was beautiful and I enjoyed the trail . Other bikers and walkers were friendly .... ********Would like to see a mile marker ,unless I just missed it .. Beautiful scenery ..The Mississippi water is really high...
Couldn't find a place to park at either end. Didn't want to pay to park. Trail was nice and very good views of the river. Allot of children on field trips by U.S.Kidd. Overall OK for a beginner.
Started at Farr Park and ended with pizza at Schlitz & Giggles. 10 or 11 y.o is probably youngest child who'd enjoy this, esp if they have a decent bike. It was a warm Labor Day, but always a nice breeze in the levee path.
Paved on the levee for 10 miles round trip from Farr Park to downtown Baton Rouge. Has a pier that goes over the river you can bike to the end of it.
Easy quiet trail with nice views of river, LSU campus and downtown BR
Was a great easy trail for beginning riders!
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