More About Driskill Mountain

Of course, we call it a mountain in Louisiana, but I think something has to be at least 1,000 feet high to be a mountain. Driskill "Mountain" is actually only 535 feet above sea level. I guess Driskill Hill doesn't sound so impressive for the highest point in the state. It really sounds like a runt when compared to Mount McKinley in Alaska at a whopping 20,320 feet above sea level, 17,000 of that being actual slope and not base altitude.

For those of you interested in seeing our state's highest point for yourself, take Hwy 80 or I-20 west to Simsboro and then turn south on LA 507. If you take Hwy 80 then don't speed through Simsboro, especially through the 2-4 PM school zone, unless you feel like making a hefty donation to the local coffers since a cop just sits there waiting for the next kill.


Follow 507 south out of Lincoln Parish and into Bienville Parish, and watch out for a lazy curve to the right that conceals a highway number change. A Louisiana tradition, we seem to be the only state where going straight changes the highway number and turning keeps you on the same one. Right after the parish line and the curve to the right you'll need to turn left to stay on 507. Take that for a few miles, cross the highway at the 2-way stop sign, and keep going. You'll now be in a fairly hilly area where the road curves a good bit. Look for the very large antenna sticking up in the air. You won't see it for a while, but your first good glimpse of it will be directly ahead so don't worry about missing it. That's Driskill Mountain. You can't get to the summit by car, but the closest point to the summit that you can reach by car is a small brick church with an adjoining cemetery on the right side of the road.

quoted from Edwin Alexander, Tuesday, November 09, 2004

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