Kisatchie National Forest

Kisatchie National Forest, spreading across six ranger districts in central and northwest Louisiana, is the state’s only national forest — 604,000 acres of upland longleaf and loblolly pine forest, historic sandstone bluffs, cypress bayous, and the rare and beautiful Kisatchie Hills, the most rugged terrain in Louisiana. The forest is managed by the U.S. Forest Service for multiple uses including recreation, timber, wildlife and watershed protection.

The Kisatchie Hills Wilderness, in the forest’s central unit, protects some of the most dramatic and unusual terrain in the state — red sandstone bluffs, sculptured rock formations, longleaf pine savanna and clear streams, strikingly unlike anything else in flat Louisiana. Hiking, camping, horseback riding, wildlife watching (red-cockaded woodpecker, wild turkey, deer) and paddling are the main activities. Kisatchie National Forest is a treasured natural icon of Louisiana.

Kisatchie National Forest offers hiking (including trails in the Kisatchie Hills Wilderness through the sandstone bluffs and longleaf-pine savanna), camping (developed campgrounds and primitive camping), horseback riding on designated trails, paddling on Kisatchie Bayou and other streams, fishing, hunting, birding (red-cockaded woodpecker, wild turkey, neotropical migrants), off-road vehicle use on designated trails, and wildlife watching. The Kisatchie Hills Wilderness trails and the sandstone bluff scenery are the signature draws. The combination of dramatic hill terrain and longleaf pine creates a unique Louisiana experience.

Spring (March through May) is excellent for wildflowers, birdsong (including the neotropical migrants and the red-cockaded woodpecker), and comfortable hiking temperatures. Fall is beautiful with the longleaf pine and hardwood color, and mild temperatures. Summer is hot and humid; early morning hikes and water-based recreation are best. The Kisatchie Hills are at their most dramatic in spring and fall. Spring for wildflowers and birds, and fall for comfortable hiking and color, are the highlights — visit the Kisatchie Hills Wilderness in April or October for the best experience.

The piney hills of central Louisiana are part of the homeland of the Caddoan-speaking peoples and later the Choctaw. European and American settlement cleared much of the original longleaf pine forest for timber and agriculture in the late 19th and early 20th centuries; Kisatchie National Forest was established in 1930 to restore and protect the remaining forest. Longleaf pine restoration, a primary management goal, is ongoing. The forest preserves this recovered longleaf landscape, the Kisatchie Hills and their wildlife, a treasured natural icon of central Louisiana.

The Kisatchie Hills are the most dramatic terrain in Louisiana — a landscape of Catahoula Formation sandstone and claystone (Oligocene-age sedimentary rock) exposed by erosion into red sandstone bluffs, sculpted outcrops and narrow valleys. The sandstone formations are unusual in otherwise flat Louisiana and create a terrain unlike anywhere else in the state. The surrounding lowlands are underlain by Tertiary-age clays and sands. The resistant Catahoula sandstone, the regional erosion and the surrounding low-relief landscape created the dramatic hills and bluffs of the Kisatchie Wilderness.

Kisatchie National Forest protects the red-cockaded woodpecker (an endangered species that requires old-growth longleaf pine — the forest has active recovery colonies), wild turkeys, white-tailed deer, fox squirrels, and a rich longleaf-pine birdlife of Bachman’s sparrow, brown-headed nuthatch, and other pine-forest specialists, along with diverse reptiles and amphibians in the bayous and uplands. The forest offers excellent birding for longleaf-pine and bottomland-forest species, with the red-cockaded woodpecker colonies a particular draw for birders.

Kisatchie National Forest is a center of longleaf pine ecosystem restoration — the forest manages for the return of the fire-maintained longleaf pine savanna that once covered much of the Southeast, home to the red-cockaded woodpecker and a diverse community of ground-level plants and wildlife that depend on the open, fire-maintained understory. Prescribed fire is the primary management tool. The Kisatchie Hills Wilderness protects the most distinctive terrain. Protecting the longleaf pine savanna, the fire management regime and the red-cockaded woodpecker colonies sustains this recovering Southeast pine ecosystem.

Kisatchie National Forest holds a treasured place among the natural icons of Louisiana — the state’s only national forest, protecting the dramatic Kisatchie Hills, Louisiana’s most rugged terrain, within 604,000 acres of longleaf pine hills and cypress bayous. On the homeland of the Caddoan peoples, the forest is a center of longleaf pine restoration and red-cockaded woodpecker recovery. Kisatchie National Forest is a cherished natural icon of Louisiana.

Kisatchie National Forest is spread across multiple units in central and northwest Louisiana, with the main scenic attractions in the Kisatchie Ranger District (central Louisiana, the Kisatchie Hills Wilderness and the Longleaf Trail Scenic Byway) accessible from the cities of Alexandria and Natchitoches. The forest has developed campgrounds (some with fees), trailheads, horse camps and picnic areas throughout; many roads and trailheads are on unpaved forest roads. Check the USFS Kisatchie National Forest website for unit-specific access, current road and trail conditions, and camping information before visiting.

The U.S. Forest Service manages Kisatchie National Forest for multiple uses, with longleaf pine restoration and red-cockaded woodpecker recovery as priority conservation goals. Visitors help by staying on designated trails and roads, respecting active red-cockaded woodpecker nesting sites (marked — buffer zones apply), following all fire-safety rules (prescribed burns occur; check for closures), packing out everything, and following all USFS regulations. Protecting the longleaf pine savanna and the woodpecker colonies sustains the recovering forest ecosystem.

The Kisatchie Hills terrain is more rugged than most of Louisiana; wear sturdy footwear and carry water (the trails have no water sources and the hills can be hot and dry in summer). The forest has ticks and venomous snakes (cottonmouth, copperhead, timber rattlesnake); check for ticks after hiking and watch where you step. Prescribed burns occur seasonally; check for smoke and trail closures. Forest roads are unpaved and can be muddy after rain. Respect the rugged terrain, the venomous snakes, the ticks, the summer heat and the fire management areas.

Most forest roads and trails are free; developed campgrounds have fees (check USFS). Hunting and fishing require Louisiana licenses and compliance with USFS and Louisiana DWF rules. Respect red-cockaded woodpecker nesting buffer zones (marked). Do not drive off designated roads. OHV use is restricted to designated OHV trails. Pack out all trash; leave no trace. Fires only in designated fire rings; check for fire restrictions (common in dry weather). Check the USFS for road and trail conditions, camping fees and current rules before visiting.

The historic city of Natchitoches (Louisiana’s oldest city, with its remarkable brick-paved Front Street, Cane River and Creole architecture), the city of Alexandria, Cane River Creole National Historical Park, the Longleaf Trail Scenic Byway through the forest, and the central Louisiana piney hills define the region. Kisatchie National Forest and historic Natchitoches anchor the outdoor and cultural experience of central Louisiana, a centerpiece of a Louisiana adventure, easily combined with Natchitoches’ Front Street and the Cane River Creole heritage.

Hike the Kisatchie Hills Wilderness trail system (accessible from the Kisatchie Bayou campground area) for the most dramatic terrain in Louisiana — red sandstone bluffs, sculptured outcrops and longleaf pine views unlike anything else in the flat state. Visit the Longleaf Trail Scenic Byway in spring for wildflowers and the red-cockaded woodpecker breeding season (check with the USFS for colony locations and viewing etiquette). Carry insect repellent and watch for ticks, copperheads and cottonmouths on the trails. Combine with a visit to historic Natchitoches, just north of the forest, for a full central Louisiana day.