Enduro Camp

🏍️ **Introduction / Overview**

For Louisiana's dedicated off-highway vehicle (OHV) enthusiasts—the riders of dirt bikes, ATVs, and side-by-sides (under 50 inches)—**Enduro Camp** is recognized as the ultimate basecamp. Located deep within the **Kisatchie National Forest, Vernon Unit** of the Calcasieu Ranger District, this trailhead complex is the gateway to the renowned **Enduro Multi-Use Trail System**. It is the only designated campground within the Vernon Unit that permits direct access to the OHV trails, making it an essential destination for motorized recreation in Central Louisiana.

Enduro Camp provides a **primitive, dispersed camping experience** right at the trailhead. It is a no-frills, self-sufficient spot that caters to the rugged needs of trail riders. As one camper noted, "We were posted up here with our camper for 2 days and had the trails all to ourselves, it was an amazing place to stay." The atmosphere is friendly and communal, often described as a gathering spot for a "big family" of riders during peak season. It is open to multiple user groups, including **OHV riders, equestrians, and hikers**, though the design and primary use favor the motorized user.

Crucially, the camp offers a welcome alternative to more developed, reservation-heavy sites like Fullerton Lake Campground, allowing for a flexible, last-minute place to "post up" and immediately hit the extensive trail network.

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🗺️ **Location and Accessibility**

Enduro Camp is located in the western portion of Central Louisiana, within the **Kisatchie National Forest**, near the town of **Pitkin, LA 70656**. It sits at the intersection of Forest Road 440 and 442, in the Vernon Unit of the Calcasieu Ranger District.

Accessibility is straightforward for a forest service site, requiring navigation through well-marked, but often unpaved, forest roads. Typical directions involve traveling off major highways like US Highway 171 (near Leesville) or LA Highway 10/399. The roads leading to the complex are generally maintained, accommodating RVs and trailers (including toy haulers), though care must be taken on the final unpaved sections.

The location is intentionally remote, providing a deep-woods experience, yet it remains functionally accessible:

• Approximately 10 minutes drive from **Pitkin, LA**, providing convenient access to a gas station or basic supplies.

• About 59 minutes from **Alexandria**, making it a viable weekend drive from the Central Louisiana hub.

• About 1 hour 24 minutes from **Lake Charles**, drawing riders from Southwest Louisiana.

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🛠️ **Services Offered**

As a designated trailhead camp, Enduro Camp provides basic facilities essential for a comfortable (but rustic) multi-day staging area. Visitors must be prepared for a primitive camping style.

• **Campsites:** **Dispersed, primitive camping** is offered. There are no designated, paved, or numbered sites, allowing campers to choose open areas for tents, RVs, or toy haulers.

• **Restrooms:** Features **vault toilets** that are consistently noted in reviews for being remarkably clean—some of the "cleanest and freshest smelling" in the National Forest system.

• **Pavilion:** A **huge covered picnic pavilion** is available for shared use, offering a shaded or covered area for congregation, lunch, or gear staging.

• **Grills:** Features a **charcoal grill** for cooking meals (campers must bring their own charcoal and check fire restrictions).

• **Water:** **No potable water** is available at the site. Campers must pack in all necessary drinking, cooking, and washing water.

• **Waste Disposal:** **No trash receptacles** are provided. The site operates on a strict **"Pack it in, pack it out"** policy to maintain the pristine forest environment.

• **Fees:** A small **$5.00 per operator/per day trail fee** is typically required for OHV use, paid via a self-service fee station. Camping itself is often free or subject to a minimal fee (e.g., $10/night), depending on current Forest Service policy.

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🌟 **Features / Highlights**

The main appeal of Enduro Camp is its function as the ultimate staging area for the Enduro Trails and the resulting vibrant, shared recreational environment.

• **Direct OHV Trail Access:** Campers can literally **ride their motorized vehicles right from their campsite** onto the designated trail system—a significant convenience for OHV enthusiasts.

• **Extensive Trail Network:** Provides immediate access to the approximately **45 miles of the Enduro Multi-Use Trails**, which are composed of three major loops: the Mogul Loop (19 miles, motorcycles only), the Fullerton Loop (15 miles), and the South Loop (5 miles).

• **50-Inch Max Trail System:** The trails are specifically designed for vehicles 50 inches wide or smaller, making them perfect for ATVs, dirt bikes, and narrow UTVs/side-by-sides, ensuring a focused riding experience.

• **Sand Scrambler Area:** A specific, fun **sand scrambler area** is incorporated into the Enduro Trail system, offering a challenging and entertaining terrain feature for skilled riders.

• **Longleaf Pine Savannas:** The trails wind through open **longleaf pine savannas** and dense forest, offering unique and beautiful views of the Kisatchie National Forest ecosystem.

• **Clean Restroom Facilities:** The notably clean and fresh-smelling vault toilets greatly enhance the comfort level of this primitive campsite.

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📞 **Contact Information**

For the most accurate and up-to-date information on trail conditions, closures (especially after severe weather like hurricanes, which can temporarily close the area), and OHV regulations, Louisiana locals should contact the managing Ranger District.

• Address: Located within the **Kisatchie National Forest, Vernon Unit**, Junction of Forest Road 440 & 442, **Pitkin, LA 70656, USA**.

• Phone (Calcasieu Ranger District): **(318) 793-9427** or **(800) 225-9733** (Toll-free)

• OHV Trail Hotline: **(866) 830-6467** (Recommended for checking current trail status)

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✅ **What is Worth Choosing**

**Enduro Camp** is the undisputed top choice for the Louisiana **OHV enthusiast** seeking direct, all-day trail access without the constraints of a fully developed RV park. You should choose this camp if your primary goal is to **maximize your riding time** on the **45 miles of designated trails**. Its primitive, dispersed nature means you can enjoy the trails without the typical campground crowds, often having the forest "all to yourselves."

It provides the perfect combination of being **easily accessible** from Pitkin for last-minute supplies, yet remote enough to deliver a genuine forest experience. While the primitive nature requires packing in all your water and packing out all trash, the luxury of clean vault toilets and a large covered pavilion makes the self-sufficiency highly manageable. For anyone in Louisiana looking for a weekend dedicated to dirt biking, ATV riding, or horse riding in the Kisatchie National Forest, Enduro Camp is the **authentic, self-service trailhead basecamp** you are looking for.