K
Kathy F.
Scout
ScoutWhite Oak Parish Park Campground
Awesome
Great little place .. great price . We only stayed for 1 night but it’s clean and quiet.
Tent Camping near Pitkin, LA
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Tent campers in the Kisatchie National Forest near Pitkin, Louisiana have access to several primitive campgrounds with varying levels of amenities and seclusion. The forest offers established tent sites at locations like Hunters Camp in the Calcasieu Ranger District and Kisatchie Bayou Campground, where campers can experience Louisiana's unique forest ecosystem. Coyote Camp and Red Bluff Camp provide additional options for those seeking more remote tent camping experiences within the national forest boundaries.
Most primitive tent sites in this area require campers to bring their own water, as potable water is rarely available at these locations. Vault toilets are typically provided at campgrounds like Hunters Camp and Kisatchie Bayou, but shower facilities are absent. According to one visitor, "Pack it in, pack it out" is the standard practice at many sites, though some locations do provide trash receptacles. A 14-day stay limit applies to most backcountry tent camping areas in the Kisatchie National Forest. Access roads to several campgrounds, particularly Red Bluff Camp, can be rough and may require vehicles with higher clearance, especially after rain.
The tent camping experience in this region offers genuine seclusion and natural surroundings. Many sites feature fire rings and picnic tables, though amenities vary by location. As described in feedback on The Dyrt, "The peace is amazing especially along side the bayou" at Kisatchie Bayou Campground, which features walk-in tent sites alongside a clear-water stream. Tent campers frequently use these areas as bases for exploring the extensive trail networks throughout the forest, including the Caroline Dorman trail accessible from Kisatchie Bayou. Wildlife sightings are common, with visitors reporting deer, bobcats, and various bird species. Summer months bring higher humidity and insects, making spring and fall generally more comfortable for primitive tent camping experiences.
Best Tent Campgrounds near Pitkin (12)
1. Hunters Camp - Calcasieu Ranger District
"The 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."
2. Enduro Complex
3. Indian Creek Recreation Area
"This is where we go car camping in their primitive section. There are many, many car camping campsites on the lake/reservoir!"
"Dates: Mar 1- Oct 31(after contact campground) Fees: $24.00-$56.00 $16.00 Primitive $100.00 Pavilion $30.00
Boat rental(kayak and canoe) $7.00 Day use fee
RESERVATIONS ONLY
Sites: 104 water and"
Check Availabilityfrom $16 / night
4. Valentine Lake South Shore
"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..."
5. Kisatchie Bayou NF Campground - Temporarily Closed
"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. "
"My family has been camping here regularly for about a year, and we’ve experienced it in beautiful spring weather, the heat of summer, and even some surprisingly cold winter nights."
Check Availabilityfrom $2 / night
6. Kisatchie Bayou Complex
"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."
"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."
7. Coyote Camp
"Large camping spot with fire ring. Clean area. Definitely a gem in the trees."
"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."
8. Red Bluff Camp
"But nothing irks me more than reviews of various parks and campgrounds getting docked stars because nature is outside!"
9. Longville Lake Park
10. Stuart Lake Recreation Complex, Camping/Day Use
"This little campground has 8 spacious sites with picnic table, tent pad, fire ring, and lantern pole. Beautiful pine trees provide shade and a beauty like none other."
Check Availabilityfrom $5 - $20 / night
Drive Time
- 47 min from Alexandria, LA
- 1 hr 12 min from Lake Charles, LA
- 1 hr 37 min from Lafayette, LA
- 1 hr 49 min from Beaumont, TX
Recent Tent Camping Photos near Pitkin, LA
20 Photos of 12 Pitkin Campgrounds • uploaded by The Dyrt campers
Tent Camping Reviews near Pitkin, LA
217 Reviews of 12 Pitkin Campgrounds
Rick & Tamara C.ScoutHolbrook Parish Park Campground
$12/night you can't beat it! Dog park area, lots of spots to fish & kayak launches. Quiet park and we arrived at 7pm for a quick overnight stay on our way to Austin. My husband got up early to go fish. Bathhouse was nice, too. Highly recommend for a stop if you're headed to Texas on I10.
- DDouglas T.Scout
Indian Creek Recreation Area
Great Place!
This is our favorite place to go camping. Great, clean campground with lots of trees for shade. A good place for both summer and winter camping.
Marcie P.
GuideKisatchie Bayou NF Campground - Temporarily Closed
Bayou Campground is my happy place.
Bayou Campground is my happy place.
My family has been camping here regularly for about a year, and we’ve experienced it in beautiful spring weather, the heat of summer, and even some surprisingly cold winter nights. No matter the season, it is always breathtaking, peaceful, and secluded.
The campsites are spacious and vary in amenities. Some have concrete pads, picnic tables, and metal fire rings, while others are more primitive with only a fire ring. We usually tent camp and hammock camp, and we’ve always found plenty of room to spread out and enjoy nature.
One thing visitors should know is that you cannot drive directly to your campsite. There are separate parking areas for overnight campers and day visitors, and you’ll need to carry your gear to your site. Depending on where you park, your campsite may only be a short walk away.
The campground is generally very clean, aside from the occasional inconsiderate visitor who leaves trash behind. There are vault toilets available, but no running water, and there is absolutely no cell service—which, honestly, is one of the things I love most about it.
There is a paved pathway that leads to stairs down to the water. The swimming area is popular with families during the day, and the water is shallow enough that it feels safe for children. You’ll often see people swimming with their kids or bringing their dogs along to enjoy the water.
The campground is usually very quiet. Most of the noise comes during the day from swimmers, and occasionally from someone playing music or talking loudly at night. Otherwise, it’s an incredibly peaceful place to relax and disconnect.
Getting there requires driving several miles on unpaved roads, so watch for potholes and take your time. The journey is well worth it.
If you’re looking for luxury amenities, this may not be the campground for you. But if you’re looking for natural beauty, solitude, family-friendly swimming, spacious campsites, and a chance to truly unplug, Bayou Campground is a special place. We will continue coming back for years to come.
Kai Z.
RangerIndian Creek Recreation Area
Beautiful Waterfront Campground
The natural setting at this campground is absolutely beautiful. For $35, you can get a full-hookup site right by the water, which is a really good value. There’s even a small beach, adding to the relaxing atmosphere. Overall, the campground is peaceful, scenic, and a great place to unwind. The only downside is the bathhouse. We visited two different ones, and while they weren’t dirty, they were definitely showing their age and felt a bit worn down. A renovation would make a big difference. Other than that, this was a truly beautiful campground, and we really enjoyed our stay.
- GGlen B.
LegendValentine Lake Northshore Campground
Oh, so close.
Would like to have made it to the campgrounds, but a fallen tree a ½ mile before them thwarted my stay. Ended up in a clearing back up the road from said tree.
Brian D.ScoutWhite Oak Parish Park Campground
Nice little campsite
Very clean shower is good enough. Not much privacy but very clean camp ground and extremely pleasant staff
- SSusan R.Guide
Sam Houston Jones State Park — Sam Houston Jones State Park District II
Excellent park!
We originally had two nights booked at this campground, but after one night and spending a day on the trails here, we booked two more nights for a different campground that was available. We originally were insight 24, and then we moved over to site number six. Both of these two have no one beside them on one side, so it gave us some privacy and made us feel like we were really camping. Lol. It appears that a lot of people use this campsite as a stop over as they are traveling, because in the evenings it would fill up and then early the next morning lots of people would be gone. There are very spacious sites here, there were lots of very large bus RVs and fifth wheels. We have a small travel trailer, so we had loads of space around our campsite. Each paved and pretty level campsite has a nice paved picnic area with a picnic table and a fire ring. All of the hook ups were very well maintained. The dumpster is located near the bathhouse, which looks to be fairly new. There’s also a small laundromat here that I saw people going in and out of. Everything is very well-maintained throughout this park. The roads have obviously been repaved over the last few years, and there are nice cabins to be rented as well as spaces for tent campers. We saw a variety of birds while riding our bikes through the trails and around the swamp/marsh area. We also saw turtles and a few alligators. I record my GPS tracks when riding bicycles and we rode over 40 miles while there. The trails are a mixture of gravel and dirt, and there are shared roads. There were some more difficult trails, that we definitely would not ride again, but we saw other people that were very easily getting around on the trails. There are a lot of what seem to be local people who use this park for exercise, walking, running, bicycling, even people on scooters, people out, enjoying the solitude of sitting by the river, it’s really nice to see. The staff members that we encountered at the gate were very efficient and friendly. We ventured off site to a visit to a rum distillery for a tour one day and that was fun. There’s a nice dollar store nearby for any necessary items.
Tim W.GuideCotile Recreation Area
Great overnight or more
Beautiful location. Site 24 had small deck overlooking the lake. T-Mobile had 2 bars of service.
Guide to Pitkin
Primitive tent camping near Pitkin, Louisiana offers genuine backcountry experiences in the pine forests of Kisatchie National Forest, which covers over 604,000 acres across central Louisiana. The region sits at elevations between 80-300 feet with a humid subtropical climate that creates distinct camping conditions throughout the year. Summer temperatures frequently exceed 90°F with high humidity, while winter nights can drop below freezing from December through February.
What to do
Creek swimming: 3-5 foot depth at Valentine Lake South Shore provides relief during hot months. "The canoeing is wonderful there... Very peaceful & quiet during the week but gets a little noisy on the weekends & holidays," notes Keith R.
Hiking opportunities: 7-15 miles of trails accessible from various campgrounds. At Coyote Camp, "Direct access to the overlook and the sandstone trail," according to Fabein D. This camp serves as a starting point for exploring the distinctive sandstone formations in the area.
Wildlife observation: Dawn/dusk optimal for spotting native species. "Lots of deer and bobcats," reports Daisee Mae S. from Coyote Camp. The forest habitat supports diverse wildlife including white-tailed deer, wild turkey, and numerous bird species, making early morning or evening walks productive for wildlife enthusiasts.
What campers like
Natural water features: Crystal-clear streams set Kisatchie apart from typical Louisiana wetlands. At Kisatchie Bayou NF Campground, "The bayou looks more like a creek in Arkansas than a Louisiana bayou. Don't think you will find a gator in that bayou," notes N I.
Secluded camping spots: 50-100 yards between sites at some locations provide privacy. "This was particularly nice as I was the only person at the site when I visited," David S. writes about Coyote Camp, highlighting the solitude available at less-developed camping areas.
Dark sky opportunities: Minimal light pollution makes stargazing exceptional. "Extremely quiet, great dark sky opportunities," mentions Fabein D. about Coyote Camp. The remote locations allow campers to experience night skies unaffected by urban light sources.
What you should know
Road conditions: High-clearance vehicles recommended for accessing some campgrounds. At Red Bluff Camp, Paula W. notes it's "about 5 miles off of the main road, down a red dirt road," and conditions can worsen after rain.
Insect preparation: Thermacells highly effective during peak bug season. "Mosquitoes, horseflies, and yellow flies were in abundance. Using a therma cell was perfect at keeping them at bay," according to Danny H. from Hunter's Camp.
Water availability: Pack in all drinking water as most primitive sites lack potable sources. "No water. Bare bones is that is what you are looking for," explains N I. about Red Bluff Camp, reinforcing the need to bring adequate water supplies.
Tips for camping with families
Swimming beaches: Family-friendly water access at Indian Creek Recreation Area. "This is a campground that is designed for young families, from the multiple sandy beach areas to the playgrounds, there was lot for my elementary age children to do," shares Sarah L.
Wildlife awareness: Proper food storage essential to avoid unwanted visitors. "We were visited by raccoons one night, but they were easily & quickly scared away," notes Kayla H. from Indian Creek, emphasizing the importance of securing food items.
Best seasonal timing: Spring and fall offer 65-80°F days with lower humidity and fewer insects. "Not as many bugs but it's still warm and temps reached the mid 80's," reports Daisee Mae S. about winter camping at Coyote Camp, suggesting shoulder seasons provide more comfortable conditions for families.
Tips from RVers
Site selection: Scout locations first for RV access limitations. At Stuart Complex, the primitive camping areas have limited space for larger vehicles. "Camped in December, nobody else was there, score! Campground and bathrooms clean," reports See P., highlighting the benefit of off-season visits.
Leveling challenges: Bring extra blocks as many sites have uneven terrain. "We found at least three sites that could accommodate our 26' class C," explains Rod F. about Coyote Camp, indicating the need to carefully select appropriate sites for recreational vehicles.
Connectivity considerations: Variable cell coverage throughout the forest. "Two to three bars of Verizon 4g, fast service," notes Rod F. at Coyote Camp, though coverage is not consistent across all camping areas in the Kisatchie National Forest.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular tent
campsite near Pitkin, LA?
Which is the most popular tent campsite near Pitkin, LA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Pitkin, LA is Hunters Camp - Calcasieu Ranger District with a 3.3-star rating from 3 reviews.
What is the best site to find
tent camping near
Pitkin, LA?
What is the best site to find tent camping near Pitkin, LA?
TheDyrt.com has all 12 tent camping locations near Pitkin, LA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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