Louisiana

Kisatchie National Forest and Lake D’Arbonne State Park

 

Wild Azalea

 

We left Caddo Lake State Park (so far no cases of poison ivy) headed for Shreveport, Louisiana.  Though always subject to change, we decided to travel a mainly northern route through the Gulf Coast States this spring and then on the return trip this fall, to follow the coast providing there are no imminent hurricanes.  From Shreveport we drove on I-20 to Minden and then headed north a short distance to the Beaver Dam Campground on Upper Caney Lake in the Kisatchie National Forest. 

We wanted to check out the only national forest in Louisiana and we were really glad we did.  The recently improved campground hugged the shoreline and almost every site had a view of the lake.  Each campsite had electricity and water which is typically not the ‘norm’ in national forests; at least that has not been our experience in the West.
 

Along the Sugar Cane National Recreation Trail

 

 

The Kisatchie National Forest is divided into five Ranger Districts and Caney Lake is in the northern most district.  Not all that long ago the forest around Upper and Lower Caney Lakes had been cleared and sugar cane and cotton fields surrounded the lakes.  An environmental success story, the forest has been re-established but the name “Caney Lake” is a reminder of its not-so-distant agricultural past.   Now instead of fields of sugar cane and cotton, The Sugar Cane National Recreation Trail winds through the thick pine and hardwood forest.  As we hiked this beautiful trail around the lakes, we were grateful for the shade of that forest.  It was a warm day!

Lake D'Arbonne

 

 

Just a couple of hours to the east near the town of Farmerville was our next destination, Lake D’Arbonne State Park.  The park is home to towering pines, rolling hills, miles of trails and the centerpiece, the majestic 15,250-acre Lake D’Arbonne.  Fishing and boating are the big attractions and everyone, no matter what age, had a fishing pole or two.   At dinner time the aroma of fresh fish being fried or grilled wafted through the campground. 

 

Campground, Lake D'Arbonne - Flamingos can go camping too...

 

 
We arrived at Lake D'Arbonne just a few hours ahead of rain and a cool front.  It rained during our first night and into the next day but then it cleared and was so nice and cool that we stayed a few extra days to enjoy the park and the great weather.  We hiked every trail at least once and strolled along the lake and its piers enjoying the sunsets. The dogwoods and wild azaleas were just a little past their full bloom but still a beautiful sight!
 

And as promised, here are David's Stats for our 5 day stay in Louisiana:

Days Hiked     4  
Total Miles Hiked     24.5 
Ave. Miles per Day     6.1  
Total Elevation Gain     2,166 
Ave. Elevation Gain per day    433

We had one day where it rained so much that we did not hike.