Forest Information
The Kisatchie National Forest, divided into eight sections, is located in central and northern Louisiana. It is 602,308 acres. There are about twenty-seven developed campgrounds, seven of which met the selection criteria.
It is hard today to see the ravages of earlier logging practiced and heavy agricultural use on the land in the Kisatchie National Forest. Today, reforested and recovering, the Forest is composed of six separate districts. Each district shares a common history and offers a healthy and vibrant forest, variety of recreational opportunities and delightful camping locations.
The south end of Kisatchie National Forest has had a long association with the Army. Where once the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) efforts had impact on the area, today Fort Polk influences the Forest. This area is crisscrossed with numerous trails for hiking, mountain bikes, horses, and ORVs. Most of the trails wind over, on, and through hills and dales are considered challenging.
In this area the car and tent-friendly camping location of Kisatchie Bayou campground. The only walk-in campground in the Forest, all sites are along the Kisatchie Bayou. The heavy vegetation and "easy" flowing water provide campers with a sense of wilderness camping but without the inconvenience having to backpack in. Hiking, fishing, and canoeing are just some of the activities found at this campground. (Check with Forest Service for water level information.)
Not far away in miles, but providing a completely different camping experience are Kincaid and Valentine Lake campgrounds. Nestled in mixed hardwood-pine forest and rugged terrain are Kincaid Lake and Valentine Lake. Both are outstanding locations for family camping vacation but only Kincaid, on the shores of Kincaid Lake, has electric and water hook-ups, flush toilets, hot showers, dump station, numerous hiking & mountain bike trails, and lots of water based activities. Valentine Lake campground doesn't have the hook-ups nor does it have the crowds. Both campgrounds are on water, offer a variety of trails, good fishing, various water-base activities, and can accommodate car, tent, recreational vehicles (RV) and motorhome camping enthusiasts.
In contrast, topographical speaking, is the northern portion of the Forest. Once this area dominated by cotton and sugar cane, Caney's flatter terrain has only one hiking/mountain bike trail which is better-suited to a more leisurely pace that allows an up-close-and-personal study of the Forest. In this area has a great family-oriented camping location: Beaver Dam. The RV and motorhome-friendly Beaver Dam campground has a more spacious feel and water and electric hook-ups. Both campgrounds flush toilets, hot showers, and easy access to various water activities in Upper Caney Lake.
Hanging in most of the Ranger District Offices is a photograph of a stern faced woman. She is sitting on the ground, leaning against the trunk of a large pine, and looking directly into the camera. She has the stern look of a school teacher. She was that and so much more. The photograph is of Caroline Dorman, the "Mother of the Kisatchie National Forest."
As a turn of the century schoolteacher in rural Louisiana, Ms. Dorman past through majestic virgin woods going to work before they were devastated by "cut and get out" logging practices of the day. The presence of a National Forest in Louisiana can be attributed to Ms. Dorman's single-handed and tireless efforts to recover the woodlands of her youth. Ms. Dorman's legacy, the Kisatchie National Forest, awaits to welcome you with its diverse recreational opportunities and beauty.
ADDRESSES
SUPERVISOR ADDRESS
2500 Shreveport Highway
P.O.B. 5500
Pineville, Louisiana 71360
318-473-7160
RANGER DISTRICT ADDRESSES
Calcasieu
9912 Hwy. 28 West
Boyce, Louisiana 71409
318-793-9427
Caney
3288 Hwy 79
Homer, Louisiana 71040-0479
318-927-2061
Catahoula
5325 LA Hwy. 8
Bentley, Louisiana 71407-9726
318-765-3554
Kisatchie
229 Dogwood Park Rd.
Provencal, Louisiana 71468
318-472-1840
Winn
9671 US Hwy. 84 West
Winnfield, Louisiana 71483-9501
318-628-4664 |
