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Activities

Established Camping

Kisatchie Bayou Complex

8 Reviews

Kisatchie Bayou Complex, near Provencal, Louisiana, is a fantastic spot for those who love the great outdoors. This campground is surrounded by the stunning Kisatchie National Forest, offering a unique blend of nature trails and serene bayou views.

The area is perfect for primitive camping, with options for tents, RVs, and even glamping. Visitors rave about the beautiful scenery, with one camper noting, “The Backbone Trail has to be the prettiest trail in the state of Louisiana.” You can hike, bike, or just kick back and enjoy the sounds of nature, especially the tranquil bayou at night.

While there are no showers or water hookups, the campground does provide vault toilets and trash disposal. Many campers appreciate the grassy areas and fire pits, making it a great place to gather with friends or family. As one reviewer put it, “We loved our stay here. We hiked, biked, and relaxed in the low waters of the bayou.”

If you're looking to explore, the campground is just steps away from the bayou, where you can launch a canoe or kayak. Swimming and fishing are also popular activities, so bring your gear and make the most of your time here. Whether you're planning a weekend escape or a longer adventure, Kisatchie Bayou Complex has plenty to offer for a memorable camping experience.

Description

National Forest

Kisatchie National Forest

Overview

This location is available on a first-come, first-served basis only. Visitors are required to physically arrive at the campground to purchase and claim a site. Once on-site, you may be able to pay for your campsite(s) by scanning a QR code using the Recreation.gov mobile app, and the Scan and Pay feature. If this option is available, you will need to first download the free Recreation.gov mobile app https://www.recreation.gov/mobile-app prior to your arrival as some remote areas have limited or no cellular service.

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Location

Kisatchie Bayou Complex is located in Louisiana

Detail location of campground

Coordinates

31.445001 N
93.093001 W

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Access

  • Drive-In
    Park next to your site
  • Walk-In
    Park in a lot, walk to your site.
  • Hike-In
    Backcountry sites.

Stay Connected

  • WiFi
    Unknown
  • Verizon
    Unknown
  • AT&T
    Available
  • T-Mobile
    Poor

Site Types

  • Tent Sites
  • RV Sites
  • Standard (Tent/RV)
  • Group
  • Tent Cabin

Features

For Campers

  • Trash
  • Phone Service
  • Toilets
  • Alcohol

Contact

General Info

Drive Time

Reviews

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4.5

out of 5

8 Reviews

Tyler B.
Reviewed Sep. 19, 2018

Backbone Trail

Primitive camping along the 10mi Backbone trail. Took out the hammock and camped out around the halfway mark along the trail. You can set up shop around an old fire pit or make one of your own. I chose the latter. The backbone trail has to be the prettiest trail in the state of Louisiana. It's really the only place in the state to experience actual hills. It reached 23 degrees at night which was one of the coldest temperatures recorded in the state this year. A must do!

SitePrimitive Hammock
Month of VisitFebruary
  • Review photo of Kisatchie Bayou Complex by Tyler B., September 19, 2018
  • Review photo of Kisatchie Bayou Complex by Tyler B., September 19, 2018
Paula W.The Dyrt PRO User
Reviewed Jul. 31, 2018

"Ranger Review: INNO Aero Light 2 (2 bike) at Kisatchie Bayou Recreation.."

CAMPGROUND REVIEW:

Located inside the Kisatchie National Forest, Kisatchie District, this campground is great. This section of National Forest is home to over 30 miles of nature trails. The trails are for hiking, biking, horseback riding and off road vehicle riding. This campground is just steps away from the bayou where you can launch a canoe or kayak depending on the water level. Fishing and swimming are great pastimes here. The site has a grassy area and fire pit. There are vault toilets and NO WATER so be prepared for that. The day use area offers picnic tables, fire pits and grills. There are 2 different sites for camping on either side of the day use area. The day use area has a lot of local traffic but we did not encounter a lot of overnight campers. It is very secluded and the sound of the bayou is serene. There are lots of wildlife sounds at night but we didn't see anything more than a squirrel. We loved our stay here. We hiked, biked, and relaxed in the low waters of the bayou.

NOTE - Kisatchie Bayou Recreation Complex Camping/Day Use is the same area as Kisatchie Bayou Campground

PRODUCT REVIEW:

As a Ranger for the Dyrt, I get products to test from time to time - today I tested the INNO Aero Light 2 (2 bike) hitch rack.

www.innoracks.com

This bike rack made our trip so easy. It was easy to set up, easy to install (my 8 yr old did it). The simple hitch design slides right into a standard 2" hitch receiver or can be adjusted to 1 1/4". The screw bolt came with it along with a wrench for tightening on the receiver. We easily secured 2 bikes to the rack. Bike weight needs to be less than 33 lbs., have a top tube and a seat tube. Frame size 1/2" - 2 1/4". We loved this rack for its sturdiness and lightweightedness. It traveled great, we drove with the rack on my SUV for over 300 miles and we never had any problems. A great feature is the easy fold down option to allow access to the back of the car. This rack also features great locking mechanisms. You can lock the rack at the hitch as well as lock the built in strap around the bikes. As our little one grows and his bike gets bigger, we will definitely get a larger INNO rack to carry all the bikes. For now, the 2 bike rack is working great.

Pros: lightweight, easy install, easy fold down feature, great locking mechanisms.

Cons: None

SiteNon specific
Month of VisitJuly
  • Review photo of Kisatchie Bayou Complex by Paula W., July 31, 2018
  • Review photo of Kisatchie Bayou Complex by Paula W., July 31, 2018
  • Review photo of Kisatchie Bayou Complex by Paula W., July 31, 2018
  • (19) View All
Gabriella L.
Reviewed Jul. 20, 2018

One of my favorite campgrounds!

Beautiful scenery. The Bayou Campground has a stream with a beach. Toilets are available by the parking lot, but no sinks. Bring extra toilet paper just in case they run out.

  • Review photo of Kisatchie Bayou Complex by Gabriella L., July 20, 2018
  • Review photo of Kisatchie Bayou Complex by Gabriella L., July 20, 2018
W
Reviewed Jun. 16, 2018

Family Fun

Picnic tables and grills available. Swimming, camping, hiking, and canoeing can all be done here. Toilets but no running water. great area to spend the day and swim!

  • Review photo of Kisatchie Bayou Complex by Wendy D., June 16, 2018
  • Review photo of Kisatchie Bayou Complex by Wendy D., June 16, 2018
B
Reviewed Jul. 18, 2016

Enjoyed my stay

Love his place as it is right on the water. Not many spots, but plenty of room. Summer time is quite busy.

L
Reviewed Jun. 23, 2016

Great site

Overall experience was great, but every time I go the trash cans are absolutely over flowing! Other than that it's a nice site, right along the water. Gets crowded during the summer.

  • Review photo of Kisatchie Bayou Complex by Lindsey F., June 23, 2016
  • Review photo of Kisatchie Bayou Complex by Lindsey F., June 23, 2016
  • Review photo of Kisatchie Bayou Complex by Lindsey F., June 23, 2016
Showing results 1-8 of 8 reviews

Frequently Asked Questions

  • How hard is it to get a campsite at Kisatchie Bayou Complex?

    Some campers book as far as 6 months in advance, so on high-demand weekends it can be very difficult to get a campsite at Kisatchie Bayou Complex. If you want to get a last-minute campsite at Kisatchie Bayou Complex, try setting up a text message Alert atTheDyrt.com/alerts

  • Why is it so hard to get a campsite at Kisatchie Bayou Complex?

    There are 4 campsites at Kisatchie Bayou Complex and over 80 million Americans who camp! Try snagging a cancellation by setting up a text message Alert atTheDyrt.com/alerts

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