The Pelican State
Louisiana
Bayou forests, longleaf pine hills, and cypress swamps where the South's wildness is still intact.
Louisiana at a Glance
Longleaf Pine
Kisatchie National Forest is restoring longleaf pine savannas across its six ranger districts, a habitat that once covered 90 million acres of the South
Bayou Country
Louisiana's forested wetlands and bayous support one of the most productive fisheries in the contiguous US
Biodiversity
Louisiana ranks among the top five states for bird diversity, with over 470 species recorded in and around Kisatchie National Forest
Kisatchie Hills
The Kisatchie Hills in central Louisiana offer sandstone bluffs, rocky creek beds, and rolling terrain unique in the Gulf Coast region
Wild Azalea Trail
The 31-mile Wild Azalea National Recreation Trail blooms with native azaleas in March and April, one of the best wildflower displays in the South
Whiskey Chitto Creek
Whiskey Chitto Creek in Kisatchie National Forest is a blackwater stream perfect for canoe camping in winter and spring
When to Visit
October through April. Summer is brutally hot and humid with intense thunderstorm activity. Winter is mild with temperatures in the 50s-60s, making it ideal for exploring bayou trails without the heat and insects.
Top Activities
Gateway Cities
Alexandria
Central Louisiana city near the heart of Kisatchie National Forest, with easy access to the Kincaid Recreation Area and Wild Azalea Trail.
Natchitoches
Historic city near the Catahoula Ranger District, with good access to Kisatchie's northern units and the Kisatchie Hills Wilderness.
Did You Know?
Kisatchie National Forest is the only national forest in Louisiana, but its six separate ranger districts span much of the state's center.
The Kisatchie Hills Wilderness contains unusual sandstone and quartzite rock formations deposited by ancient rivers millions of years ago.
Louisiana's coastal wetlands are disappearing at a rate of one football field per hour due to subsidence and sea level rise.
The Red Dirt Wildlife Management Area within Kisatchie is one of the best places in Louisiana to see the endangered red-cockaded woodpecker.
Louisiana's Catahoula Lake, adjacent to Kisatchie, hosts one of the largest concentrations of wintering ducks in North America during January and February.