BATON ROUGE, La. – The Bogue Chitto State Park mountain bike trails started as an ambitious outdoor recreation investment. Today, they continue to grow into something far more profound. The mountain bike trails now serve as a powerful source of healing and reconnection for veterans across southeast Louisiana – offering therapeutic benefits that reach well beyond physical fitness.
Mountain biking is increasingly recognized as a form of adventure-based therapy. The sport demands present-moment focus, controlled risk assessment, and sustained physical engagement – elements that closely mirror evidence-based strategies used to manage stress, anxiety, PTSD, and the complex challenges veterans often face when transitioning back to civilian life.
Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser said the transformation reflects the broader mission of Louisiana State Parks. “Our State Parks are places of renewal – for families, for communities, and for those who have served our country,” said Lt. Governor Nungesser. “Seeing veterans find healing and strength on these trails is exactly why we invest in outdoor recreation. Bogue Chitto shows that when we build world-class amenities, we’re also building opportunities for hope, resilience, and recovery.”
The trail system was developed through a long-term partnership between Louisiana State Parks and the Northshore Off-Road Bicycling Association (NORBA), a nonprofit dedicated to building and maintaining world-class mountain bike trails. From the outset, the goal was to create a premier riding destination. What has emerged is a community-driven initiative that uses mountain biking as a tool to help veterans rediscover purpose, rebuild confidence, and reconnect – without the stigma often associated with clinical treatment settings.
Veterans riding at Bogue Chitto include those managing visible injuries as well as those carrying invisible wounds. The park’s progressive trail design allows riders to choose routes that match their physical and mental readiness, creating a sense of agency and control that many veterans say is difficult to access elsewhere.
“When I’m on these trails, my mind finally slows down,” said Carlos Pearce, a Marine Corps veteran from Covington. “I’m not replaying the past or worrying about what’s next – I’m just focused on the line in front of me. Bogue Chitto gave me a place where I can breathe again, push myself physically, and feel normal for a while. That’s hard to find once you leave the service.”
For Toby Cortez, founder of the DIRT OPS veterans riding initiative under NORBA, the veteran impact has become the park’s most meaningful outcome. “We set out to build trails that were world-class,” said Cortez. “What we didn’t fully understand at the time was how deeply this place would matter to veterans. When you hear someone say the trails help quiet their mind or give them something to train for again, you realize you’ve built more than recreation – you’ve built a sanctuary.”
Located within Bogue Chitto State Park near Franklinton, Louisiana, the mountain bike park features a professionally designed trail system with progressive skill development, flow trails, technical features, and jump lines that serve riders of all ages and abilities. The park has become one of the most visited outdoor recreation assets in the region.