Ride the hills

With its quaint pre-war architecture, gorgeous plantation homes and hill top roads that wend through lush wooded glades, St. Francisville is a boon to the topography-starved masses in the city. As such, our neighbor to the North makes an ideal location for biking enthusiasts of all stripes. Our favorite route is a 30-mile stretch that starts at the Starhill Fire Station on LA 966. From Baton Rouge take 1-110 to LA 61 toward St. Francisville. After crossing Thompson Creek, take the first right after the Chevron station onto Folkes Road. Drive to the end of Folkes Road and take a right onto LA 966. Drive about half a mile, and the fire station will be on the left. There is plenty of parking at the fire station. Follow these directions for a gorgeous ride.

1. From the fire station, take a LEFT onto LA 966.

2. RIGHT onto Freeland Road, toward the Bluffs.

3. At the end of Freeland Road, take RIGHT onto LA 965.

4. At the End of LA 965, RIGHT on Hwy 10 for 1.2 miles.

5. LEFT on LA 421 for 13.8 miles.

6. LEFT onto Jones-Vaughan Creek Road for 0.6 miles.

7. RIGHT onto Sage Hill Road.

8. At the end of Sage Hill Road, take a LEFT onto Bains Road.

9. At the end of Bains Road, take a LEFT onto Hwy 10 then an immediate RIGHT onto Joe Daniels Road.

10. At the end of Joe Daniels Road, take a LEFT onto LA 965 for 0.5 miles.

11. RIGHT onto Audubon Lane.

12. At the end of Audubon Lane, take a LEFT onto LA 966. End at Starhill fire station on the left.

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