Lake Bistineau State Park
Piney Woods Submission 2017
My latest visit to another one of our state’s many wildlife and recreational
areas was to beautiful Lake Bistineau State Park in June. Lake Bistineau and
the surrounding area had been just far enough away from me over the years that
closer or special destinations had usually drawn me.
Lake Bistineau State Park has long attracted its share of visitors from Shreveport/Bossier City and other locations in that part of the state. Along with Toledo Bend, the lake has been well known as a good fishing option. Many coming to the park probably take the Minden exit off of I-20 (LA 371) south to Sibley, next travel on LA 164 west to Doyline, and then go south on LA 163 to the park. The reservoir is 14-miles long, extends across three parishes, and features many old cypress tress draped with Spanish Moss.
Extensive flooding in 2016 closed the park for a while and caused evacuations and housing repair expenses for many residents near the lake. The rental cabins at Lake Bistineau State Park received as much as 30 inches of water, and still require renovations before reopening to the public. Along with the drawdown of the lake until late November 2017, these factors have led to reduced visitor numbers to the park recently. The drawdown, up to a maximum of eight feet, is intended to reduce further expansion of salvinia. Although the boat launches at the park are closed, boaters can access the lake from several other locations in the area during this drawdown. Caution is advised, though, in checking for underwater obstructions during this low-water period.
Premium and improved campsites are available at the park, as well as other amenities. There are good multi-use trails for hiking, biking, and bird watching. These include the Willis Homestead Trail (3.8 miles), Blue Wing Trail (1.2 miles), Koasati Trail (2.0 miles), Pintail Loop Trail (1.3 miles) and the Discovery Circle (.4 miles). The last of these seems ideally suited for children and tall tales around the campfire in the evenings. The 6-mile Equestrian Trail there is open to riders with their own horses.
Not as difficult or challenging as the highly-touted biking trails at the Ruston/Lincoln Parish Park, Lake Bistineau trails are fairly wide and grassy, without many roots and ruts to negotiate. For all but more advanced hikers and bikers, the trails offer more than enough training or workout opportunities. The trails, such as Blue Wing, did need a bit more maintenance when I hiked and rode there in mid-June. There were a couple of trees down, and blocking trails, due to very recent storms.
Diverse outdoor and recreational activities have been held at the park this year, including the 16th Annual Mardi Gras Parade in the Park in February, the Sportspectrum 10-mile and 3-mile Trail Runs the following Saturday, and the Pro/Am Lake Bistineau Disc Golf Open in May. The pro purse for their disc golf tournament this year was over $1000. The Lake Bistineau State Park Facebook site offers descriptions and photos of many of these and other park attractions and events.
Along and close to I-20 through north Louisiana, we are fortunate to have so many nice options for outdoor adventures. Poverty Point, Black Bayou Lake, Lake D’Arbonne, Lake Claiborne, and Lake Bistineau are just some of the destination possibilities.
Lake Bistineau State Park has long attracted its share of visitors from Shreveport/Bossier City and other locations in that part of the state. Along with Toledo Bend, the lake has been well known as a good fishing option. Many coming to the park probably take the Minden exit off of I-20 (LA 371) south to Sibley, next travel on LA 164 west to Doyline, and then go south on LA 163 to the park. The reservoir is 14-miles long, extends across three parishes, and features many old cypress tress draped with Spanish Moss.
Extensive flooding in 2016 closed the park for a while and caused evacuations and housing repair expenses for many residents near the lake. The rental cabins at Lake Bistineau State Park received as much as 30 inches of water, and still require renovations before reopening to the public. Along with the drawdown of the lake until late November 2017, these factors have led to reduced visitor numbers to the park recently. The drawdown, up to a maximum of eight feet, is intended to reduce further expansion of salvinia. Although the boat launches at the park are closed, boaters can access the lake from several other locations in the area during this drawdown. Caution is advised, though, in checking for underwater obstructions during this low-water period.
Premium and improved campsites are available at the park, as well as other amenities. There are good multi-use trails for hiking, biking, and bird watching. These include the Willis Homestead Trail (3.8 miles), Blue Wing Trail (1.2 miles), Koasati Trail (2.0 miles), Pintail Loop Trail (1.3 miles) and the Discovery Circle (.4 miles). The last of these seems ideally suited for children and tall tales around the campfire in the evenings. The 6-mile Equestrian Trail there is open to riders with their own horses.
Not as difficult or challenging as the highly-touted biking trails at the Ruston/Lincoln Parish Park, Lake Bistineau trails are fairly wide and grassy, without many roots and ruts to negotiate. For all but more advanced hikers and bikers, the trails offer more than enough training or workout opportunities. The trails, such as Blue Wing, did need a bit more maintenance when I hiked and rode there in mid-June. There were a couple of trees down, and blocking trails, due to very recent storms.
Diverse outdoor and recreational activities have been held at the park this year, including the 16th Annual Mardi Gras Parade in the Park in February, the Sportspectrum 10-mile and 3-mile Trail Runs the following Saturday, and the Pro/Am Lake Bistineau Disc Golf Open in May. The pro purse for their disc golf tournament this year was over $1000. The Lake Bistineau State Park Facebook site offers descriptions and photos of many of these and other park attractions and events.
Along and close to I-20 through north Louisiana, we are fortunate to have so many nice options for outdoor adventures. Poverty Point, Black Bayou Lake, Lake D’Arbonne, Lake Claiborne, and Lake Bistineau are just some of the destination possibilities.
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