Kisatchee National Forest

Welcome to the Kisatchee National Forest, an oasis of cypress swamps and pine forest sprawling across Louisiana.

Forest History: The Kisatchee National Forest gets it’s name from the Kichai tribe who occupied Louisiana before European settlers arrived. Throughout the early 20th century the State Louisiana was leading the nation in lumber production. But the Great Depression came early to the State of Louisiana and many sawmills were shut down before the “Black Tuesday” stock market crash on October 29, 1929. In 1927, the Gulf Lumber Company closed the largest sawmill west of the Mississipi River. The U.S. Forest Service began to purchase many of the tracts from the Gulf Lumber Company for as low as $2 an acre. But the Great Depression was causing budget cuts in all government offices including the Forest Service. Today, the Kisatchie National Forest, the only one in the state, is considered a foresters dream and leads all the other southern National Forests in revenue produced per acre.

Wildlife: The Kisatchee Natinal Forest helps protect the home of numerous wild critters including deer, alligators, raccoons, and many others. Please treat their home with respect.

For the lover of the outdoors this forest boasts many miles of multipurpose trails and so much more. Come on out and have a blast!