You Won't Believe This Town Is In Louisiana

According to National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), 32% of Louisiana is wetlands, and another 25% is water, giving the state its well-earned reputation for being wet. However, some towns defy this stereotype, exchanging swampy bayous for rolling green hills and hardwood forests. St. Francisville, just a half-hour from Baton Rouge, is the perfect example of this diversity. Here, travelers will discover not only rolling hills but also distinctive natural features such as ravines and bluffs. Attractions like the Afton Villa Gardens make the town even more impressive, offering oak-lined avenues and daffodil valleys. If you are looking to explore a different side of Louisiana this year, you will find it in St. Francisville. You won't believe this town is in Louisiana!

The Story of St. Francisville’s Unique Topography

There is no doubt that the terrain surrounding St. Francisville is unique. But how did it get to be this way, in the middle of a state otherwise largely known for its swamps and bayous? To understand the town’s topography, it is necessary to first travel back in time to the last Ice Age. During this period, sediment from the Mississippi River spread across the Midwest, carried by winds along the river’s eastern banks. These deposits eventually settled in what is now West Feliciana Parish, creating the rolling hills and fertile soil that define the area today. These soils also supported the growth of hardwood forests and the formation of deep ravines.

Later, Native American tribes would create trade routes and roads throughout the hills, many of which continue to serve travelers today. Pine trees, oak trees, and other hardwood species form canopies over these roads, creating the mystical, forest-like scenery often captured in photos of the area.

Tunica Hills Wildlife Management Area

One of the best places to experience the parish’s rolling hills is at the Tunica Hills Wildlife Management Area. This area, covering over 6,000 acres, features rugged hills, ravines, and bluffs. It also sits along the southern edge of the “loess blufflands,” an escarpment along the Mississippi’s eastern banks. Tunica Hills is primarily filled with upland hardwoods, with the occasional eastern red cedar and loblolly pine scattered along the creek terraces and ridge tops. A few of the hardwood species you will find here include American holly, American beech, flowering magnolia, water oak, cow oak, cherrybark, hickory, sweetgum, hackberry, elms, and maples. There are three hiking trails and a nature trail that travelers can use to explore the reserve, along with a primitive camping area. It is also a popular spot for birdwatching, home to rare species like the Cooper’s Hawk and the worm-eating warbler.

Clark Creek Natural Area

Just across the state line in Mississippi, Clark Creek Natural Area lies only a half-hour from St. Francisville and is a worthwhile destination to add to your itinerary. Established in 1978 and consisting of 700 acres of land, visitors will find roughly 50 waterfalls in the area, ranging from 10 feet to 30 feet tall. Loess Hills and steep bluffs can be found throughout, along with hardwood and pine forests. Beeches and magnolias are two of the most common tree species, although southern sugar maples, umbrella trees, serviceberries, chinquapin oaks, silverbells, big leaf snowballs, and witch-hazels are also less commonly present. Travelers wanting to visit the reserve can spend the afternoon hiking or birdwatching on the area’s established trail system.

Afton Villa Gardens

Few places in St. Francisville are as magical as the Afton Villa Gardens. These gardens, which are just an eight-minute drive from the downtown district, date back to the mid-19th century and were once part of an elegant estate. Although the estate was destroyed by fire in 1963, its gardens remain intact, preserving both its beauty and heritage. Two decades later, in 1983, the Afton Villa Gardens were placed on the National Register of Historic Places.

As visitors enter the property, they will be greeted by a half-mile avenue shaded by a canopy of oaks. Inside, 20 acres of formal gardens await, including the iconic ruins gardens, a refined parterre garden, a daffodil valley, a music room, and a historic family cemetery. Throughout the gardens, you will find plenty of azaleas, tulips, daffodils, spirea, camellia, wisteria, foxglove, larkspur, delphiniums, and many annuals and perennials.

Just when you think you have seen all that Louisiana has to offer, St. Francisville steps in, showcasing a lesser-known side of the state. Rugged terrain such as ravines and bluffs is just a short drive away, and if you skip across the Mississippi border, you will also find unique landscapes like waterfalls and Loess Hills. Travelers wanting to stay closer to town, meanwhile, will find Afton Villa Gardens just minutes away from downtown. Prepare for surprises as you experience a whole new side of Louisiana with a visit to St. Francisville.