by Jason Joy

Kisatchie National Forest is located in seven parishes in north and central Louisiana.  Unlike most of its counterparts, it is not contained in a single unit, but in eight separate geographical areas collectively totaling over 600,000 acres.  Kisatchie encompasses a wide variety of terrain and wildlife habitats which provide a myriad of recreational opportunities.  From the avid hunter or fisherman in search of world-class game to the casual birdwatcher hoping to catch a glimpse of the rare red-cockaded woodpecker, Kisatchie lives up to Louisiana's reputation as The Sportsman's Paradise.

The Kisatchie Forest consists of the piney hills and hardwood bottoms of elevations ranging from 80 to 400 feet.  Some of the more rugged hills are actually rather steep and rocky.  The diversity of Kisatchie is observed through a pleasant mix of dense forest, meadows, scattered clearings and occasional rock outcroppings which are traversed by numerous bayous and streams. Four lakes and many smaller ponds and sloughs are also featured.

The forest is ideal for families wishing to experience a tremendous variety of outdoor activities which, in addition to hunting and fishing, include camping, picnicking, swimming, boating, hiking, horseback riding, off-highway vehicle use, nature study, sightseeing and road & mountain bicycle riding. Over 40 developed recreation sites are open to the public. 

Kisatchie National Forest has over 150 miles of official trails, many of which can be explored on horseback.  These are developed and maintained by the USDA Forest Service to provide people of all ages the opportunity to experience the natural beauty of a thriving ecosystem.  Of these 24 individual trails ranging from ½ mile to 19 miles, two, the Wild Azalea and Sugar Cane, are recognized as National Recreation Trails because of their outstanding scenic qualities. 

For those wishing to observe the Kisatchie from another vantage point, the Forest is traversed by over 130 miles of creeks and bayous that have been designated Scenic and Natural Streams.  Water Trails like Saline Bayou, a National Wild and Scenic River, provide visitors the opportunity to canoe along these pristine waterways.

The Kisatchie National Forest was established June 10, 1930.  This came about in large part through the efforts of naturalist Caroline Dormon who had witnessed the depletion of Louisiana's lush forests and ecosystem at the hands of lumber companies.  Once the virgin countryside had been cut no efforts were made at reforestation.  The formation of the Kisatchie was a response to the prevailing "cut and run" attitude of the timber industry around the turn of the century.  President Franklin D. Roosevelt's conservation and emergency work programs benefited this new National Forest.    The Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) and other New Deal programs like the WPA helped the Kisatchie grow in every way.  Lands which were now useless to big lumber companies were purchased at an accelerated rate by the federal government and turned over to the Kisatchie.  Ironically, many of the men who worked to restore the land to its natural beauty during the depression once earned their livelihood in the Louisiana timber industry.  By 1940 the forest had grown from 75,000 acres in 1932 to over half a million.

The Kisatchie National Forest filled a vital role in America's victory in World War II.  Here virtually every Army leader who would become famous during the war participated in the Louisiana Manuvers of 1940.  Dwight Eisenhower, Omar Bradley and George Patton all learned important lessons during the huge exercise and put the experience to good use in North Africa, Italy and Europe.  The legacy of the Louisiana Maneuvers endures.  About 20 percent of the forest is still used by the military and Fort Polk, home of the Joint Readiness Training Center, was formed early in 1941 on lands of the forest's Vernon Ranger District.

The Kisatchie is a thriving National Forest which has been restored to its original beauty under the USDA Forest Service which is responsible for its management.  The expertise of the Service and the continued improvement of the area make the Kisatchie a must see if you are traveling through the area and is ample proof supporting the State of Louisiana's claim that it is truly a Sportsman's Paradise.

Scenic Byways

GORP/Away.com Kisatchie Information

USDA Forest Service

Kisatchie Annual Star Party Kisatchie

Mycological Information

Recreation.gov Kisatchie Information (with maps!)