Tickfaw State Park is a Louisiana State Park located just outside of Springfield, LA. The park is not very large, but big enough not to constantly run into people. On this visit, we took our Christmas pictures along the “Cypress Gum Trial” - a boardwalk walk trail located across the street from the campsites and around the playground(s). There is a nice covered area with picnic tables. There are 2 camping loops - (1) for tents and (1) for RV’s. Our site, #37 on the tent loop, we had enough space as well as privacy. We went the weekend after Thanksgiving and the park was not overcrowded and the weather was perfect. I did find the boardwalk trail was VERY slippery covered in wet leaves.
You can not camp at the day use area. There is a path from the northshore campground to the day use area.
**See review of Valentine Lake Northshore campground **
This area does have vault toilets, trash recepticles, picnic table and a pier. Beautiful place.
**see Loran Complex campground **
This day use site is connected to the campground. There is no camping at the day use area. There are 4 multiuse trails that lead out of this area. There are vault toilets and trash recepticles but NO WATER! Huge parking area and also shaded grills and picnic tables.
This site is PERFECT for hiking or biking the multiuse trails. Inside the Kisatchie National Forest, Evangeline District. Well defined, marked sites with firepit, picnic table, lantern ring, but NO WATER. there are vault toilets available, but NO WATER. Also, be sure to check out Camp Claiborne while here. The sites are well shaded, even, spacious, and far enough away from your neighbors that you have the sense of privacy.
Inside the Kisatchie National Forest, Evangeline District lies this peaceful little oasis. Water, flush toilets, seclusion, lake, and fishing. This was an amazing spot to stay for a few nights. The sites are either on the lake or not, no reservations, picnic table, fire ring, lantern pole and shade. The only complaint I have with this campground is that you can not put your tent on the grass. Make sure you have padding.
There is not much to this campground. Located inside the Kisatchie National Forest, Evangeline District. As soon as you enter the area, there is a small loopped grassy area with lots of trees. Nothing else to indicate a campground (other than the sign). If you follow the road/concrete path, you may lose a tire or axil bc the road is in BAD condition. Staying here gives you access to the forrest and multiuse trails.
This campground is a Louisiana State Park located on Vermillion Bay In the Gulf of Mexico.
THERE ARE ONLY CABINS TO RENT, NO TENT OR RV CAMPING!
This park was very nice but small. There is a fishing pier / penninsula. There are 3 swimming beach areas (all connected but separate). Only beach 1 was usable today. There are bathrooms with outside showers to wash the salt water and sand off. The park Ranger was around and meeting people. The beach is man made and graded so it was clean. There are picnic tables, grills, covered areas, lots of trash cans throughout the park. There is a separate sailboat launch area and an overflow area for fishing.
The cabins are all grouped into one spot and have a private dock for fishing. They are located across from beach area 3 and the sailboat launch area.
We loved this park. Remember sunscreen, bug spray, camera, and…HAVE FUN, YOUR PLAYING IN THE GULF OF MEXICO.
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.
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.
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
Inside the Kisatchie National Forest, Kisatchie District next door to the Ranger Station where you will find all trail maps and forest information. This campground offers water, designated sites, flush toilets, trash disposal and a great starting point to exploring the forest or just traveling down Longleaf Trail Scenic Byway. I would suggest if you will be in the forest for a few days to start here, get your maps and spend some time planning your route. Load up with water because not all campgrounds have it.
Inside the Kisatchie National Forest, Kisatchie District. This campground is aptly named. It is about 5 miles off of the main road, down a red dirt road. There is trail access from this campground. It is very small, with vault toilets and no water. No specific sites and lots of shade. It's a little eerie to be all the way out here. The trail access is why you stay here. The boys loved riding bikes down these dusty roads. The piece and quiet and views were great. Lots of wildlife in these trees.
Isnide the Kisatchie National Forest, Kisatchie District Lotus campground offers water, flush toilets and easy access to the Sandstone Trail. Each campsite has a fire ring, picnic table and lots of tree roots. This campground is designated for off road vehicle campers as opposed to horse campers. A bit scary when it started raining and we were under those big beautiful trees, but we made it through. Again, the campgrounds in this area are so well marked and easy to find. There is a $3 per night fee to camp here and a $5 trail use fee.
Oak campground inside Kisatchie National Forest, Kisatchie District is a secluded little spot to camp if you have been riding your horse on the trails. (Or not bc we stayed here with no horse). This was the first campground where there was actually other people here. There is no water, vault toilets and lots of trees and space to play. Just down the road, trees are being harvested but that did not interfere with our stay. This campground does not accommodate off road vehicles (they could spook the horses I guess) but there are many more campgrounds throughout the forest connected to the trails that do. The grounds are really well kept.
Inside the Kisatchie National Forest Kisatchie District. This campground is wide open spaces used as a stop along the Sandstone Trail system. The trail is the draw to this campground 36ish miles of hiking, off road vehicle, horse or biking. There is a $3 camping fee for this site and $5 fee to use the trail. Vault toilets, no water, undesignated sites. Beautiful place any time of year. Be aware of hunting seasons while in the forest and camping. The campground is well marked and easy to find
National red dirt wildlife management preserve inside Kisatchie National Forest. This campground is located along the sandstone trail system. Free camping, no water, flush toilets. The road was ROUGH but the nature and secluded area was beautiful. The trails are the main attraction, miles of hiking, biking, off road vehicle, and horse trails. From the scenic overlook, you can see for miles.
see Stuart Lake Recreation area and campground
Perfect campground. 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. There is a trail from the campground to the swimming and fishing pond at the day use area and beyond. Perfect summer weekend retreat. Beautiful forest, clean campground and quiet.
Within the Stuart Lake Recreation Complex there are lots of activities including fishing, swimming, hiking, and picnicking. Located on a 5-acre lake in a pine forest. There is camping, picnicking, canoeing, fishing, hiking, bicycling, and nature study. The day use facility includes flush toilets, 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 has a covered picnic shelter, a large party barbeque pit, trash bins, restrooms, and access to day use facilities including the lake. Group use area facilities 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.
following the map/location here and on google maps, you have to hike in. The problem is there is no safe place to park your car on the dirt road. before traveling here, I would suggest calling the Kisatchie Catahoula district for more information.
Pearson campground in the national forest is free primitive camping. There are vault toilets and trees. It is designated for hunters during hunting season and great for young explorers the rest of the time.
This is a hunters paradise campground. Dispersed camping with vault toilets and nothing else. The grounds are over grown bc it's not hunting season but it was peaceful and quiet.
There are obvious spots where others have camped. Lots of firewood to burn and woods to explore.
Perfect campground. 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. There is a trail from the campground to the swimming and fishing pond at the day use area and beyond. Perfect summer weekend retreat. Beautiful forest, clean campground and quiet.
Within the Stuart Lake Recreation Complex there are lots of activities including fishing, swimming, hiking, and picnicking. Located on a 5-acre lake in a pine forest. There is camping, picnicking, canoeing, fishing, hiking, bicycling, and nature study. The day use facility includes flush toilets, 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 has a covered picnic shelter, a large party barbeque pit, trash bins, restrooms, and access to day use facilities including the lake. Group use area facilities 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.