US Forest Service

Greetings, fellow Louisiana outdoor enthusiasts! When the call of the wild echoes across the Bayou State, there is one place that stands alone: the **Kisatchie National Forest**. As Louisiana's only National Forest, Kisatchie offers over 600,000 acres of protected piney hills, clear bayous, and rich wildlife habitat, providing unmatched opportunities for camping, hiking, fishing, and adventure right here in the heart of Central Louisiana.

The journey to explore this magnificent wilderness often begins at its nerve center—the **U.S. Forest Service Supervisor’s Office** in Pineville. While, as one visitor accurately noted, the building itself is "an office, not the forest," it is the indispensable hub for obtaining maps, permits, local knowledge, and essential guidance for planning your trip to the surrounding ranger districts, particularly the nearby Evangeline Unit.

The dedicated staff at the Supervisor's Office are recognized for their helpfulness and expertise. As a customer happily reviewed: "Really nice people, will help you if they can." This local touch ensures that whether you’re a seasoned backpacker or a family planning your first RV trip into the forest, you have access to the resources you need to make your experience safe and enjoyable. This article focuses on utilizing the resources of the Pineville office to access the best camping and recreational sites within Kisatchie, particularly those most accessible to the Central Louisiana community.

Unlike some of the state's popular swamp-and-marsh areas, Kisatchie showcases Louisiana's unique upland ecosystems, dominated by longleaf pines and rolling hills, offering a distinctly different and captivating landscape for local users seeking a true wilderness escape. We will guide you through the services available at the office and highlight the magnificent campgrounds just a short drive away.

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**Location and Accessibility**

The U.S. Forest Service Supervisor’s Office serves as the administrative headquarters for the entire Kisatchie National Forest, located centrally in Pineville, a key city in the Alexandria metro area.

**Address:** 2500 Shreveport Hwy, Pineville, LA 71360, USA

The office is highly accessible, situated directly on Shreveport Highway (US-71) across from the Veterans Administration Hospital. This central location makes it easy for Louisiana residents traveling from any direction—whether up from Baton Rouge or New Orleans, or across from Lafayette—to stop in for necessary information before heading out into the wilderness.

The main significance of this location is its proximity to the **Evangeline Unit** of the Calcasieu Ranger District, one of the most accessible and popular units of Kisatchie National Forest. Campgrounds like Kincaid Lake, Indian Creek Recreation Area, and Valentine Lake are all within a short, scenic driving distance from the Pineville office, providing premier camping opportunities that range from primitive tent sites to comfortable full-hookup RV sites. For those in the Pineville/Alexandria area, the forest is practically in your backyard, offering immediate access to trails and nature after a quick stop for a map or permit.

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**Services Offered (via the Pineville Office and Kisatchie Campgrounds)**

The Pineville Supervisor's Office is not a campground itself, but it provides crucial services that enable your camping and outdoor recreation within the Kisatchie National Forest. The campgrounds accessible through their guidance offer a wide spectrum of amenities.

Services available through the U.S. Forest Service Office include:

• **Visitor Information & Mapping:** Access to detailed recreational maps, trail guides, and information on the five different Ranger Districts within Kisatchie.
• **Permits and Passes:** Issuance of necessary permits for activities like dispersed camping, special group use, and annual passes (such as the America the Beautiful Pass).
• **Regulation and Safety Advice:** Up-to-date information on current forest conditions, fire restrictions, hunting seasons, and safety warnings (crucial for dispersed camping areas).
• **Small Nature Trail:** As noted by a visitor, there is a small, well-kept forest trail on the office grounds, offering a quick, peaceful walk among the pines.

Services available at nearby Kisatchie National Forest Campgrounds (such as Kincaid Lake and Valentine Lake) often include:

• **Full Hookup RV Sites:** Premium campgrounds offer electricity, water, and sewer connections for RVs. (Check specific campground details, e.g., Beaver Dam Campground often offers full hookups).
• **Electric and Water Sites:** Many developed campgrounds offer sites with these essential utilities.
• **Tents/Walk-In Sites:** Designated areas for traditional tent camping (often near amenities).
• **Modern Restrooms & Hot Showers:** Available at developed campgrounds like Kincaid Lake.
• **Vault Toilets & Primitive Camping:** Available at smaller, more remote camps (e.g., Ahtus Melder Camp, Kisatchie Bayou primitive sites).

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**Features / Highlights of Kisatchie National Forest Camping**

Kisatchie National Forest is a spectacular natural resource, and the campgrounds in the Evangeline Unit (near the Pineville office) offer exceptional recreational features that draw campers from across Louisiana.

Key features and highlights accessible from a Pineville-based adventure:

• **Kincaid Lake Recreation Area:** A major highlight offering 41 well-developed campsites, a beautiful lakeside beach for swimming, multiple boat launches for fishing on the 2,600-acre reservoir, and access to a network of trails.
• **Wild Azalea National Recreation Trail:** Access this famous 23.9-mile hiking and mountain biking trail, which winds through the Evangeline Unit. It's especially beautiful when the wild azaleas bloom in the spring.
• **Valentine Lake Recreation Area:** Offers scenic camping (many sites are lakeside) and features four water spigots, restrooms, and access to the 3.4-mile Valentine Lake Loop Trail, perfect for easy hiking and fishing.
• **Extensive Multi-Use Trails:** The forest is a haven for cyclists, equestrians, and OHV riders, with dedicated trail systems like the Claiborne Trails (equestrian) and OHV trails that cater to various outdoor passions.
• **Longleaf Pine Ecosystem:** Experience the beauty of the vast, ancient longleaf pine forests, home to rare and unique wildlife, including the endangered Red-Cockaded Woodpecker. The Longleaf Vista Interpretive Trail provides an easy and educational hike into this remarkable habitat.
• **Bayou and Creek Access:** Enjoy the scenic beauty of Kisatchie Bayou, with opportunities for primitive camping, fishing, and non-motorized boating (canoeing/kayaking) in clear, spring-fed waters.

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**Contact Information**

The U.S. Forest Service Supervisor’s Office in Pineville is your first and best contact point for all questions regarding camping reservations, permits, and current forest conditions within the Kisatchie National Forest.

**Address:** 2500 Shreveport Hwy, Pineville, LA 71360, USA

**Phone (Supervisor's Office):** (318) 473-7160

*Note: While reservations for some key campgrounds like Beaver Dam can be made on Recreation.gov, calling the office is recommended for localized information and specific inquiries about trail closures or fire restrictions.*

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**What is Worth Choosing**

For Louisiana residents, choosing an adventure starting at the Kisatchie National Forest Supervisor’s Office is choosing the state’s largest, most diverse, and most accessible wilderness experience. It is worth choosing for these three compelling reasons:

**1. The Diversity of Camping Experiences:** Kisatchie provides options for every type of camper. You can opt for the full comfort of a premium RV site with utilities at Kincaid Lake, enjoy a peaceful, semi-developed campsite with basic water and restrooms at Valentine Lake, or embrace true self-sufficiency with primitive, dispersed camping in designated areas. This range ensures that everyone, from RV clubs to backpackers, finds their perfect spot.

**2. Unparalleled Recreational Opportunity:** No other public land in Louisiana offers the sheer mileage and variety of recreational activities found in Kisatchie. You can hike the 24-mile Wild Azalea Trail, go boating and fishing on a major reservoir like Kincaid Lake, bring your horse for equestrian camping on the Claiborne Trails, or mountain bike miles of wooded paths. It’s an adventure playground built on a massive, beautiful scale.

**3. Essential Local Resource and Support:** The Pineville office is the gateway, providing direct access to the "nice people" who manage this incredible asset. By stopping here, you ensure your trip is supported by the most accurate, real-time information. You are connecting with the experts responsible for conserving the unique longleaf pine ecosystem and maintaining the facilities, making your contribution to a well-managed National Forest adventure.

Start your next great Louisiana adventure by planning your visit through the Kisatchie National Forest Supervisor's Office, and prepare to be immersed in the natural beauty of the state's treasured piney woods.