Searching for a tent campsite near Kisatchie National Forest? Find the best information on tent campgrounds near Kisatchie National Forest, including sites, reviews, and tips. Search nearby tent campgrounds or find top-rated spots from other campers.
The Hunter Camp is a very primitive camping area in the middle of the forest. There is a camping loop area and a vault restroom facility and is centrally located near the Ouiska Chitto Trail. The Longleaf Scenic Area is also nearby with the Big Branch Trail running right next to the camp.
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.
$2 / night
Visitors to Coyote Camp can enjoy an out-of-the-way camping area within the National Red Dirt Wildlife Management Preserve. Although this camp is a designated hunter's camp, it can be utilized year around by general forest visitors. Very primitive site with limited facilities. There is OHV access to the Sandstone Trail.
The Enduro camp has vaulted restrooms. There are no trash receptacles so please bring out what you bring in. There is no water available at this site so be sure to bring plenty of your own.
There is an assortment of recreational opportunities within the Stuart Lake Recreation Complex including fishing, swimming, hiking, picnicking, and much more. Situated on a beautiful 5-acre lake surrounded by pine-hardwood forest, this area provides outdoor recreational opportunities for camping, picnicking, canoeing, fishing, hiking, bicycling, and nature study. The day use facility includes flush toilets, paved parking, a fishing pier, shore fishing, a swimming beach, picnic tables and barbeque pits. The group use facility is located up the hill from the day use area and the swimming beach. It is equipped with a covered picnic shelter, a large party barbeque pit, trash bins, restrooms, and access to day use facilities including the lake. Group use area facilites include: restrooms, gravel parking, extra large barbeque pit, trash bins, large covered picnic shelter, and access to the day use facilities and lake. The Stuart Nature Trail and the Glenn Emery hiking and biking trail both be accessed here. The Stuart Lake Campground is a primitive campground with 8 sites that was renovated in 2009. General facilities also include drinking water, restrooms, and an open-air amphitheater. Trash disposal available.
$5 - $20 / night
$5 / night
Visitors to Red Bluff Camp can expect a primitive camp inside the National Red Dirt Wildlife Management Preserve. This camping area is a walk-in tent type camping facility which users must hike in 1/4 mile from the parking area to get to the Kisatchie Bayou shore. General camping, no water available, vault toilets, and trash receptacles.
The Saddle Bayou Camp is a very primitive camping experience in a bottomland hardwood setting. Nearby National Catahoula Wildlife Management Preserve make the Saddle Bayou a popular camping area during hunting season.
Traveler
This camp is a short distance from the highway, Solar There are some nice flat new sites that have been installed and it looks like more new ones are coming.
Traveler
The sites all look fairly level, and the property was well maintained. Area Code Like most rv parks in the area, this one has a number of long term residents, but this one was a little bigger and nicer than most I saw.
Traveler
Theres a hiking trail near by, stating no motorized vehicles, but you can mountain bike, hike and ride horses. Area Code No fishing near by unless you drive to the blue hole complex further down range road.
Guide
Very clean well maintained camp sites and cabins. Fishing, canoeing and hiking trails are available as well as splash pad for the kids. I’ve been going here all my life and even though a live a couple states away now. It’s my go to place to stay when I return. There is showers available as well. Grocery store 6 miles where you can purchase wood as well.
Scout
Well maintained grounds with flush toilet (no shower) drinking water tap near but not at the camp sites, fire ring and picnic tables at each site. Small (about 16 sites) and quiet. Nice small lake, walking trail around the lake and very close to the Wild Azalia 26-mile hiking trail.
Guide
We stopped at this campground for one night on our way home. Some of the sites are close together, but we called and they put us in a spot that was very spacious. There were almost no other campers there so it helps to go in the middle of the week. The staff was very friendly and they had a great hiking path and playground for our 5 year old. I biked most of the paved roads in the state park and was able to go 13 miles without doubling anywhere. The cabins looked great from the outside and are located right on the lake. There is a long fishing pier and boat rentals. This is definitely one we will return to. Also, it is located very close to a lot of antique shopping which my wife wouldn’t let me pass up on my way home.
Scout
Went here in 2005, going back in two weeks to do some trail riding with my Son
Scout
Great place. I think the best time to visit is in the spring. I highly recommend it. There was also an excellent cinema and casino in the area, which I really enjoyed. Although I prefer betting more because it’s more predictable, and not everything depends solely on luck. By the way, bookies not on gamstop offer very good odds and a wide variety of sports events for betting. I recommend trying them out if you enjoy this as well. As for this place, we plan to visit it again with friends next year because we liked it so much.
TravelerN8ce quiet and clean place to stay with family
GuideWe were there November 5th and basically had the whole campground to ourselves. (there were probably 6 other campers scattered around the park). Our site was huge and even if there were other campers we would not have been able to see them.
Not the easiest park to get to but well worth it. At dusk the mosquitoes came out but what do you expect staying in a Louisiana bayou?? Had decent cell coverage w/ T-mobile (3 bars). Have some great trails throughout the park (mainly at the north campground)
GuideMany open spots. Beautiful and quiet. Our GPS put us on a dirt road for a few miles - however it was well maintained and not too rutted. Large camping spot with fire ring. Clean area. Definitely a gem in the trees.
RangerReally nice campground, surprisingly crowded on a nice weekend in February! Had a family next to us whose kids were antagonizing our dogs with no intervention from the adults which was really frustrating. But would be lovely on a quieter weekend.
Guide
We stayed at spot 99. It was a very quiet spot tucked away on the far side of the campground. It was right off the water and had a beautiful view of the sunrise and all the birds. Pretty far away from the restroom about a.2 mile walk. Not a ton of through traffic since this was on it's own loop. Large wide spots with paved cement made it easy to park and level. Water was on the wrong side of the camp spot, so bring a longer hose. The site had fantastic Verizon cell service, 3 bars with about 100-125 mbps. Overall the campground was clean, quiet, and made for a great weekend getaway.
TravelerPark is well maintained. Spots are nice, especially the ones on the water. No sewer hookups. If you’re looking for a quiet spot, I would avoid the spots near the double pull-thrus. Verizon cell service is fantastic, WiFi works well.
Traveler
Great water front sites at $10 a night is not bad!!! There is no power or water a sites but has community water faucets in a few areas... The bathouse is real nice... But the canoeing is wonderful there... Very peaceful & quiet during the week but gets a little noisy on the weekends & holidays... No Julios either which is a big plus!!!
Ranger
Beautifully kept grounds, large sites, quite area, nice boat launch, docks and fish cleaning area
Legend
I was out there on a weekday. This is a massive place with lots of history. I am not sure if I was in the right area for camping or not since things aren’t marked. I turned right before you get to the section where the headquarters were located. This place is massive with paved roads going in many different directions. I saw the other reviewers pictures and I never came across anything that looked like what they were showing. The roads were not well marked. I turned right off Hwy 165 south of Woodworth and then after passing the Camp Claiborne sign took a right by the Camp Claiborne Battalion sign. I then took another right and followed that road to the end. There was a barricade and no way to turn around so I backed all the up to the other road. Be careful here because some of the pavement had come loose and dropped into the creek. I would have stopped at the forestry office south of Alexandria but they were closed. As I was leaving and almost back to the highway, I saw truck pulling a large pontoon boat loaded down with water toys so I feel as though there may have been more to the area than what I saw. I would like to come back in the winter time and explore more on my e-bike.
GuideThe Hunter Camp is situated just off range road. You're surrounded by wilderness. The only amenities are a vault toilet. Fort Polk is close enough for supplies, check your gate schedules. Marines were utilizing the ranges in the area, and a couple officers came though the hunter camp just exploring.
Theres a hiking trail near by, stating no motorized vehicles, but you can mountain bike, hike and ride horses. No fishing near by unless you drive to the blue hole complex further down range road.
Apparently they're allowing logging around the camp, so do a check before you go set up.
LegendI was impressed with this place. They spared no expense in developing and maintaining this park. I was there in late March and the place was only about 25-30% full. We had ample privacy. The only thing I didn’t like was the lack of bathrooms in the park. There was only one in the office building. I like to rely on park bathrooms as much as possible. This place is designed for self-contained RV camping. I needed cash so I went into the casino and used an ATM. I was charged a$5 fee. Grrrr. You can't beat the price for a full hookup.
TravelerThe site was 55’ long, paved with a fire ring and picnic table, w+e, dump station available. Great bird watching.
TravelerExtremely easy to change reservations. Very quiet even when full. No issues at all.
TravelerLarge, well spaced sites. Very busy campground with lots of golf carts.
TravelerEasy to reserve a spot. Very friendly service. Easy to come in after hours.
ScoutWent during a horrible wet weekend but we still had fun. If you stay in site 50 have an extra long cord. My factory 30 amp cord wasn't long enough.
TravelerVery quiet and peaceful. Beautiful scenery.
LegendThe road here is a little rutted out and has a couple of potholes, but nothing crazy.
This is our second time this year staying here and in the winter it’s definitely a different galaxy all together than the spring.
Not as many bugs but it’s still warm and temps reached the mid 80’s.
We have seen a lot of snakes and it rains a lot. Some bees but not a serious nuisance. So just be aware when walking on the trails. Lots of deer and bobcats.
Absolutely no highway noise and the bathrooms are always stocked and cleaned.
No water or trash pickup.
When we arrived on this visit the campsite at the end (the roundabout) had been stripped of its fire pit and the HUGE logs we used to sit on. So we had to pick up trash and rebuild the pit.
Some people on the weekends rode their dirt bikes and OHV’s. That wasn’t too bad, not too obnoxious.
Plenty to explore so plan on visiting here for more than just a night.
Legend
We camped here back in April 2022. The road is fine for a big rig, might be some sandy spots so be careful.
We plan on returning to this entire area, this forest is LOADED with free spots. Some you can stay in up to 30 days and there are ones like this one that are 14 days.
This campground does not permit OHV’s, so it’s a little more on the quiet side.
I wish i could have taken more pictures, but I’ll update when we return.
Bathroom: yes
Water: No… but, there is a natural spring that the locals use that’s not too far from this camp.
Trash: No, but when we went there was a trash can in the bathroom.
Showers: No, you could find a nice sunny spot to put a solar heated camper shower tho.
This entire forest is a 5 star in my opinion. Very clean and quiet. Out of the way of all civilization.
Frequently Asked Questions
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According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Kisatchie National Forest is Valentine Lake South Shore with a 5-star rating from 1 review.
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