Kisatchie Bayou NF Campground, near Pineville, Louisiana, is a primitive camping spot that offers a serene escape into nature. With tent-only sites lining the picturesque Kisatchie Bayou, it’s a great place to unwind and soak in the beauty of the surrounding hardwood and pine forest.

This campground is all about simplicity, featuring basic amenities like picnic tables, fire rings, and vault toilets. Visitors rave about the peaceful atmosphere, with one camper noting, “The area is very beautiful and the peace is amazing especially alongside the bayou.” The lack of modern conveniences like drinking water and showers means you’ll be fully immersed in the outdoors, perfect for those who appreciate a no-frills experience.

For outdoor lovers, the Caroline Dorman Trail is right at your doorstep, offering excellent hiking opportunities. Some campers have enjoyed the nearby waterfalls during high water levels, adding to the natural charm of the area. Just be aware that the road to get there is gravel, and cell service can be spotty, so it’s a true getaway from the hustle and bustle.

While the campground can get crowded at times, especially on weekends, it still provides a variety of tent sites to choose from, whether you want to be near fellow campers or tucked away for some solitude. If you’re looking for a peaceful retreat where you can connect with nature, Kisatchie Bayou NF Campground is definitely worth a visit.

**The campground and day-use area are temporarily closed for construction to stabilize the banks of the Bayou.**

Visitors to the Kisatchie Bayou Recreation Complex can enjoy scenic views of the rocky bayou surrounded by beautiful old growth hardwood and pine which gives this out-of-the-way recreation area such a wonderful setting for visitors. Hiking, camping, picnicking, fishing, and just relaxing are all popular activities enjoyed here.

Kisatchie Bayou Campground is a primitive walk-in camping atmosphere with 17 walk-in sites and 1 drive-in site at the middle parking area. Tent pads, barbeque pits, and lantern posts are at each campsite. Trash receptacles and restrooms are available, but visitors should be aware that there is *NO WATER AVAILABLE* at this campground. This complex is a designated fee area.

At the Day Use Area, there are vault restroom facilities, trash receptacles, picnic tables and fire rings. There are access steps to the bank of the bayou which allows canoe users to unload from the lower parking lot to the waters edge. Fishing is a very popular activity at Kisatchie Bayou with the possibility of hooking a bass, perch, sunfish, or catfish.

Kisatchie Bayou NF Campground - Temporarily Closed

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This campground has plenty of tent spots to choose from. Whether you want to be close by other campers, or farther away, they have a spot for you. The creek is great both night and day. If its warm enough, you can swim! Has one vault toilet and features the Caroline Dorman trail... but sometimes this campground does get crowded. 

A favorite campground 

This campground is beautiful. You almost feel as if you're in Arkansas with the clear water bayou running over sandstone creating a relaxing waterfall sound. No potable water,  very primitive. Vault toilets.  Campsites are spread out nicely. Some really great backpacking trails! 

Beautiful! 

Located inside the Kisatchie National Forest, Kisatchie District this campsite is at the same location as Kisatchie Bayou Campground Day Use Area. The 2 spots share a pit toilet and access to the bayou. The sites are basic and secluded and beautiful with the bayou water running in the background.

This is a great campground to explore the entire forest and all the hiking trails. My photos are of all the things we explored while staying at this campground, some things are not inside campground.

Bayou and trails

Camp next to this beautiful sounding creek, there is a beach to lay out on while the kids play in the water or you can hit the Caroline dorman trail on foot or horseback. Excellent site. My personal favorite in Louisiana 

Beautiful creekside weekend

And it took about ten minutes to become one of mine. The Caroline doorman trail runs right off of the spaces out camp sites. Setting up camp along the small rapids made for some wonderful relaxing and naps. 

The only thing I have to say about it is to be aware, as we walked into our campsite almost every bit of ground that wasn’t packed had been torn up by hogs, like a lot of hogs.  Also had a creepy van park on the road after we got there, they stayed until about ten at night, a guy camping higher up the hill saw a flashlight moving through the woods, said he started walking up on them and they bolted! It’s a very easy place to let your guard down.

A lot of folks say this is their favorite 

This is a US Forest Service campground. It’s located on the Caroline Dorman trail. When the water levels are high there are beautiful waterfalls. It’s remote and requires travel down gravel roads to access it. I didn’t have a cell signal there with AT&amp;T and didn’t have one for some time prior to arrival at the campground. It’s a great location especially if you are backpacking the Caroline Dorman Trail. It’s not too far from the Backbone and Longleaf Vista trails either. A pretty peaceful place for those who appreciate a “no frills” camping experience. These are clearly defined, walk-in, first come, first serve campsites. No bathhouse, vault toilets. You park in a designated parking area then walk in to the campsite. 

Nice tent-only campground 

Fee: $2.00 day use $2.00 per vehicle 

17 primitive walk in tent sites with the sites running along side the beautiful Kisatchie Bayou. There is one drive in that is located in the parking lot.  The bayou looks more like a creek in Arkansas than a Louisiana bayou. Don't think you will find a gator in that bayou. The hardwood and pine forest has lain down a beautiful carpet under your feet with very little noise when you walk. NO WATER. Nice parking area and great hiking. There are a lot of picnic tables and grills close to the parking lots for day use. Pit toilet, grill, picnic table, fire ring, lantern pole.  The area is very beautiful and the peace is amazing especially along side the bayou.  Road in is in very good shape.

LNT

BTYFI

Travel safe

Photos of Kisatchie Bayou NF Campground - Temporarily Closed

Real photos from real campers