Kincaid Lake and the Wild Azalea Trail

--- Piney Woods Journal Submission 2017

The Kisatchie National Forest includes more than 604,000 acres and is divided into five managed districts. Many of the state’s better outdoor and recreational areas are located in the Calcasieu District (headquartered in Boyce), the Caney District (Homer), the Catahoula District (Bentley), the Kisatchie District (Provencal), or the Winn District (Winnfield). Outdoor activities in the Calcasieu District are particularly impressive, and I have written earlier about recreational and hiking areas in the Vernon Unit of this district. The Evangeline Unit of this district, encompassing Kincaid Lake and the Wild Azalea Trail, deserves as much acclaim.

Many state residents obviously travel along major highways such as I-49, US 167, US 165, and LA 28. Taking a driving break or pit stop during these trips often makes some sense. A very attractive and convenient place to stop and explore is the Wild Azalea Trail or the Kincaid Lake Trail System. Just 10 or so miles west of Alexandria, off LA 28, is Lake Kincaid. South from Alexandria about 15 miles and off I-49 is the town of Woodward, and the start of the 26-mile long Wild Azalea Trail. The Wild Azalea Trail proceeds in a northwesterly direction to Valentine Lake, as well as eventually intersects the additional trail system in the Kincaid Lake area. The Wild Azalea Trail is the longest hiking trail in the state, and it passes through several different types of ecosystems.

Fishing is an obvious option in both Valentine and Kincaid Lakes, but I’ll focus here on hiking and biking options. I’ve hiked several times, and for a few hours each trip, along sections of the Wild Azalea Trail in the last two years. The terrain and hiking/biking ease or challenge varies along sections of this trail. I prefer the part of this trail that finally reaches Valentine Lake and the separate 3-mile loop trail around this lake. Trails that are hillier and have scenic vistas of longleaf pines overlooking lakes are usually my favorites.

 

For similar reasons, I really enjoyed hiking recently the Lakeshore Trail that follows ridge lines around part of nearby Kinkaid Lake. This Lakeshore Trail is characterized as a moderately difficult hiking and biking trail. The five miles out and five miles back on this trail demand several hours of time and at least moderate fitness or conditioning to complete. The views along the trail, often overlooking Kincaid Lake below, make it worth the work. I visited on a Monday afternoon and encountered several hikers and two serious mountain bikers huffing and puffing along the trail.

The Lakeshore Trail starts at the East Kincaid Lake Boat Launch and is only one of several trail options near Kincaid Lake. The Lakeshore Trail ends at the Lemotte Creek Trail. The longer Kincaid Trail itself starts at the pay station at the main entrance of the Kincaid Lake Recreation Complex. It ends just past the Lemotte Creek Trail at the junction of the Wild Azalea Spur Trail.

 
Only a whole lot of ambition and staying in the area, or camping in the recreational complex, for a number of days would allow a person or family a chance for a complete survey of all of the hiking and biking options alone. I prefer visiting this area occasionally for a few hours and conveniently sampling many different parts of it. Alexandria and nearby residents have the luxury of a very short drive to these incredible recreational choices.

For the competitive and truly ambitious, there is the annual Wild Azalea Trail Challenge held in January. Those who have intermediate to advanced levels of trail running or biking abilities can enter a 13-, 27- or 50-mile trail run, a 27- or 50-mile mountain bike ride, or a 27-mile bike/run duathlon. I have particular respect for four 2017 finishers of the 50- and 27-mile trail runs, two of whom were in their sixties and two in their seventies. Similar praise goes to four of the nine 2017 finishers in the 50-mile mountain bike challenge who were all 50 or more years of age. I run an occasional 5K or 10K, but the distance and terrain involved in these types of challenges are definitely out of my league.