Tammany Trace Section – Fontainebleau Sp

Distance: 4.0 miles Elevation Gain: 0 ft Difficulty: Easy Type: Out-and-Back Surface: paved Activity: Hiking Best Season: Year-round Typical Time: 1.5–2 hours Fee: $3/vehicle Dogs: Yes, on leash Permit: No

The Tammany Trace section accessible from Fontainebleau State Park follows a beautifully converted rail-trail corridor along the north shore of Lake Pontchartrain. This paved multi-use path was developed on the former Louisville and Nashville Railroad right-of-way and stretches for miles across St. Tammany Parish. The section near the park is flat, smooth, and suitable for walking, jogging, cycling, and inline skating alike.

Mature live oaks, magnolias, and sweet gums line much of the route, providing shade and a sense of enclosure that makes the trail feel like a green tunnel in summer. The corridor passes through residential neighborhoods and stretches of natural habitat, offering a pleasant mix of community character and natural scenery. Wildlife sightings along the trace include red-tailed hawks, painted buntings during migration, and white-tailed deer at dawn. The paved surface ensures accessibility in most weather conditions, and the gentle grade along the former rail bed makes this among the most forgiving trails in southern Louisiana.