Kisatchie National Forest — Attraction in Winnfield

Two stars for what it is but five stars for what it could be. Being 76 years old, I have watched Kisatchie go through different phases over the years. In the 60’s there were several very nice campsites with flat, clean tent sites and even had a fantastic hand pump deep well. Now, that is all gone with no maintained campsites left. There is Kincaid which was very nice but more for RV camping. It was destroyed almost four years ago by hurricane Laura and has yet to re-open. The primitive camp area was pretty much unkept, deep grass and brush allowed to grow up and pot holed roads going in. Primitive area does not usually mean bushwhacking. I would love to see tent camping areas scattered throughout the forest. We have the very nice multi-use area for camping. It is very nice but not properly set up for tent camping as the pads are covered in crushed and fractured rock which shred the floor of tents. There are a couple of disused spots if you know where to look but one of those was recently cut over and the area left shadeless and rutted. There are or were hundreds of miles of trails and dim roads one could explore and camp off of but most have been blocked by downed trees and left to overgrowth. Huge swaths have been made off limits…. Understandably due to the very seldom used bombing range. Other large sectors which used to be open to the public are now closed to walk in only which pretty much excludes access to those with disabilities or age. However, in defense of the National Forest Service, I think our local culture has much to do with the shortcomings. For some reason people trash, tear up and destroy the roads, land, gates etc. the amount of litter and illegal dumping is staggering. Magnolia Park used to be such a beautiful picnic and campground, built by the CCC after WWII. The beautiful handmade tables and fire pits were completely demolished…..destroyed by vandals back in the early 70’s. The local citizenry needs to know and understand that our local National Forests’ budget is affected by the engagement of local citizens. Little to no engagement means a smaller budget and therefore less amenities for us. I rant because I travel out west a lot and see the National Forest and facilities that my tax dollars support and I feel cheated that I have to drive a thousand miles to reap my benefit. But, out West you see very little to no littering ….the people live and respect their outdoors. Five stars for what it was and what it could be again. NFS…clear the roads and trails of deadfall, maintain the walking trails, (right now Azalea Trail is completely grown over in briars and vines and is impassable in spots.) when logging operations end. …think of the public and their camping access,… clean and clear the logging decks which could make great campsites and keep them reasonably maintained. Open up some areas in the hardwoods for camping. No one that I know wants to pitch a tent in the middle is homogenous, burned over pine forest. You...

I have camped at all of camp grounds as for up as Fullerton.They all are great each is unique.Some are set up for hunting , fishing and camping .One in the area for a hunters camp . All camp grounds have hiking and horseback trails. My favorite is Fullerton Lake Campground.It has so much history.It has all the details monuments of the old logging town of Fullerton.Kisatchie does lots of things for people in all area towns and cities.They have youth fishing tournaments every year.The campground is set with restrooms with shows . The park has camping sites set up with nice gravel drives , picnic ,tables ,fire pits and barbeque pits. They have a playground for children set for safety first.They also a site with covered picnic tables and barbeque pits for parties family reunions. But the great camping and all kinds fishing is what I love so much.It is all in all a great experience every visit .I would all that Kisatchie has to offer our area and nation. By Terry Hadley having great respect for all the national rangers...

Deep in the heart of Kisatchie National Forest, where the cypress knees rise like knobby sentinels and the moss hangs thick as secrets, there’s a whisper that rides the wind—the Moss Monster’s out tonight.

They say it’s half snake, half crawfish. Long as a canoe and armored like a tank, it slithers low through the bayou muck, pincers clicking in rhythm with the frogs’ uneasy silence. Its eyes glow like swamp gas, and wherever it passes, the moss curls up and dies, like even the trees fear it.

Old Boudreaux swore he saw it one summer night while huntin’ frogs. Said it came glidin’ out the water, tail thrashin’, steam risin’ off its back. He dropped his lantern and ran blind through the dark. Next day, they found nothing but deep, draggin’ tracks through the mud—and one clean-snapped paddle, cracked like a crawfish shell.

Folks don’t go near that part of the forest after dark. Not unless they got a death wish… or a pot big enough to boil...