Kisatchie National Forest
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'''Kisatchie National Forest''', the only [[United States National Forest|national forest]] in [[Louisiana]], is located in the state's [[Old growth forest|old growth]] piney hills and hardwood bottoms of seven central and northern [[Civil parish|parishes]]. It totals more than 604,000 acres (2,440 km²) of public lands.
The forest was designated in 1930 during the administration of [[U.S. President]] [[Herbert Hoover]], based on efforts of the Louisiana Forestry Department and its [[botanist]] and [[preservationist]] [[Caroline Dormon]] of [[Natchitoches Parish]].
Kisatchie National Forest provides opportunity for many kinds of recreation activities including: [[All-terrain vehicle|all-terrain vehicle (ATV) use]], [[Backpacking (wilderness)|backpacking]], [[boating]], [[camping]], [[cycling]], [[fishing]], [[hiking]], [[horseback riding]], [[hunting]], [[mountain biking]], [[picnic]]ing and [[swimming]]. The forest offers more than 40 developed recreation sites and over 100 miles (160 km) of trails for hiking, mountain biking and horseback riding.
Headquartered in [[Pineville, Louisiana|Pineville]], Kisatchie National Forest operates five ranger districts in the [North Louisiana|north-central] area of the state: Calcasieu, Caney, Catahoula, Kisatchie and Winn. The forest lies in parts of seven parishes. In descending order of land area within the forest they are [[Grant Parish, Louisiana|Grant]], [[Natchitoches Parish, Louisiana|Natchitoches]], [[Winn Parish, Louisiana|Winn]], [[Rapides Parish, Louisiana|Rapides]], [[Vernon Parish, Louisiana|Vernon]], [[Claiborne Parish, Louisiana|Claiborne]], and [[Webster Parish, Louisiana|Webster]] parishes.
==The Calcasieu Ranger district==
The Calcasieu Ranger district is the southern most district, located between [[Alexandria, Louisiana]], [[Leesville, Louisiana]] and [[DeRidder]]. The district features [[Lakes Kincaid]] and Valentine, as well as the [[Wild Azalea National Recreation Trail]]. The Calcasieu's Vernon Unit is frequently utilized by neighboring [[Fort Polk]] for training. The Evangeline Unit of the Calcasieu Ranger District also encompasses the remains of [[Camp Claiborne]], a U.S. Army post during [[World War II]]. At it's peak, [[Camp Claiborne]] was the largest [[military installation]] in the United States. Today, part of the old camp is used as a U.S. Air Force [[bombing range]].
*Other areas include The [[Kincaid Lake]] Day-Use Area, the Kincaid Lake Group-Use Area, the [[Valentine Lake]] Day-Use Areas, Valentine Lake Group-Use Area, The [[Bayou Beouf]] Research Natural Area, and [[Castor Creek]] Scenic Area.
*Campgrounds inclide: Three Campgrounds at [[Kincaid Lake]], two campgrounds at Valentine Lake, the Claiborne Trails Camp, the Evangeline Camp, the Amus Melder Camp and the Boy Scout Camp.
*Trails include: The [[Wild Azalea National Recreation Trail]], the Claiborne Trails, the [[Kincaid Lake]] Trails, the [[Valentine Lake]] Trail, the [[Lamotte Creek]] Trail, the [[Ouiski Chitto Creek]] Recreation Trail and the [[Indian Ridge Trail]].
==The Caney Ranger district==
The Caney Ranger district is located northeast of [[Shreveport]] near the [[Arkansas]] state line. It boasts the [[Sugar Cane National Recreation Trail]] along with [[Caney lake]] and [[Corney Lakes]]. The Caney Ranger District, unlike the rest of the Kisatchie National Forest, began its life in the hands of the Depression-era [[Resettlement Administration]], which bought up marginal upland farmland. The Caney was not turned over to the [[United States Forest Service|Forest Service]] until 1959.
==The Catahoula Ranger district==
The Catahoula Ranger district is located north of [[Pineville]]. The district features [[Stuart Lake]] Recreation Complex; hiking and biking along the [[Glenn Emery Trail]]; the original [[Louisiana State University]] site in [[Pineville]]; hunting in the [[National Catahoula Wildlife Management Preserve]]; and two [[All-terrain vehicle|ATV trails]] at located in old [[Camp Livingston]]. The remains of [[Camp Livingston]], a World War II-era U.S. Army installation, lie almost completely in the Catahoula Ranger District. Livingston was one of the Army's large training facilities and was at the epicenter of the famed [[Louisiana Maneuvers]]. The "Maneuvers," two large war games which took place over the summers of 1940 and 1941, played a key role in the preparation of the U.S. military for [[World War II]] combat.
==The Kisatchie Ranger district==
The Kisatchie Ranger district is located between [[Leesville]] and [[Natchitoches]]. The district includes the sandstone bluffs of the [[Longleaf Vista Recreation Area]]; the white sandy beaches and rocky rapids at [[Kisatchie Bayou Recreation Area]]; a wilderness challenge in the nationally designated [[Kisatchie Hills Wilderness]]; the {{convert|17|mi|km|sing=on}} Longleaf Trail Scenic Byway; an [[All-terrain vehicle|ATV trail]] on the [[Sandstone Multi-Use Trail]]; and the [[Caroline Dormon Horse Trail]]. In 2007, the Kisatchie Ranger District was singled out for a special Secretary of Agriculture award for heroism for actions relating to a 100-year flood that swept through the district.
==The Winn Ranger District==
The Winn Ranger District encompasses {{convert|164000|acre|km2}} of [[Winn Parish]], [[Natchitoches Parish]], and [[Grant Parish]] in [[North Louisiana]]. It is in close proximity to the [[Winnfield, Louisiana]] area. Because of this close proximity, the Winn Ranger District and the [[Catahoula National Wildlife Management Preserve]] has become a very popular destination for hunters during hunting season.
Gum Springs Recreation Area located in an area of hilly terrain and [[natural springs]], [[Gum Springs Recreation Complex]] exhibits recreation design and construction from the [[Civilian Conservation Corps]] era of the 1930s. Gum Springs campground offers basic recreation opportunities of picnicking and camping, and is close to Gum Springs Horse Camp and Trail. The area is being expanded.
[[Cloud Crossing]] Recreation Complex lies directly on the banks of [[Saline Bayou]] and is an ideal put-in / take-out point for boating or canoeing.Approximately {{convert|21|mi|km}} of Saline Bayou was designated a [[National Wild]] and [[Scenic River]] because of its unique qualities. It is a peaceful setting, where [[bald cypress]] and other [[hardwoods]] growing along the banks are often reflected in the bayou's quiet water.
[[Dogwood Interpretive Trail]] was sponsored by the [[ARRP]] and has a short for hiking trail.
==The Kisatchie National Forest Heritage program==
The Kisatchie National Forest Heritage program is responsible for protecting [[archaeological]] sites and historic structures on the forest, including several [[Civilian Conservation Corps]] (CCC) structures dating to the 1930s and 1940's such as [[Gum Springs Recreation Area]]. The Heritage program is staffed by four talented district heritage personnel ([[archaeologists]]) and a forest heritage program manager.
==External links==
* [http://www.fs.fed.us/r8/kisatchie Kisatchie National Forest, federal website]
* [http://www.wlf.state.la.us/ Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries]
{{Protected Areas of Louisiana}}
[[Category:National Forests of Louisiana]]