kisatchie national forest

There's so much to explore in this massive national forest, you could go back once a week and never see it all. It's the only national forest in Louisiana, and includes over 600,000 acres. If you're just going through for a few hours, I recommend driving the 17 mile Longleaf Trail Scenic Byway. You see both lowland and highland areas of the forest, and scenic cut-offs take you to some of the highest points in this part of the state. If you take the Longleaf Trail, stop at the Longleaf Vista Recreation area, and hike the 1 1/2 mile interpretative trail. This includes great views, sandstone bluffs, steep hills, and a stream crossing at a waterfall. It's a quick and relatively easy hike, so it's great for families with younger children. If you want to stay longer, there's a lot of camping areas around the forest, and trails for bikes, atvs, and horses.

I camped with 6 other people in the primitive area. The area was clean and had one unisex bathroom. They also have a boat launch and bike trails.

Nice pleasant area to tour through in vehicle or enjoy many of the walking paths available.