The Palmetto Trail on the Bayou Teche National Wildlife Refuge will be closed from Oct. 1 to Jan. 31 during the refuge’s hunting season.

The hiking trail, developed by the Friends of Bayou Teche National Wildlife Refuge and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, is about 2.5 miles in length. It is located on Janet E Road just off of U.S. 90 and the service road near Franklin. The current trail was once an old oilfield location that was returned to the wild. There is parking at the trailhead, and orange trail markers guide the way through a beautiful wetland forest. It is an excellent resource for outdoor enthusiasts and can be used for hiking, photography, birding, recreation and exercise. Please note that the trail is often wet and knee boots and insect repellent are recommended.

Don’t miss your opportunity to walk the trail before the season is over. For more information on the trail e-mail the Friends of Bayou Teche National Wildlife Refuge at btrfriends@yahoo.com or visit the U.S. Fish and Wildlife website at www.fws.gov/bayouteche.