Indian Creek Recreation Area near Woodworth 

I've had opportunities over recent years to visit and describe many nearby state and national parks and wilderness areas. From Hot Springs to Cypremort Point and from the Big Thicket in Texas to multiple parks in Mississippi, it's been rewarding to sample many of these natural and recreational treasures. Hiking and biking trails, meeting campground visitors, and interviewing rangers and site administrators have provided many personal impressions.  Some of these impressions I've shared in this journal. 

So many attractions, so little time available to try the many activities offered in each. A visit to any particular site usually offers only limited insights. There's never seems enough time to fish, hike or try other interesting options there.  Another limitation with these trips is the time of year. It would be gratifying to experience the park or wilderness area in another season of the year – when this kind of fishing was hot or when that sort of bloom or foliage was at its peak. 

I get recommendations occasionally for a park or nature area that I haven't yet visited or described here.  A few years ago I first heard about Indian Creek Recreation Area and Campground. An old friend said that we should try fishing the Indian Creek Lake near Woodworth and south of Alexandria. Since he's a more serious angler than I am, I figured that the lake there must have a good reputation to attract his attention. 

The Indian Creek Recreation Area is located within the Alexander State Forest.  Established in 1923 as a state-owned demonstration forest, the Alexander State Forest encompasses over 8000 acres and is managed for timber production, forestry research, game management and recreation.  Indian Creek Lake covers 2250 acres within that forest and is tucked between I-49 and US 165 in Rapides Parish.  The recreation area itself is managed by the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry.  The forest and recreation area is home for red-cockaded woodpeckers with their nesting trees marked by white paint. 

Mike Strain, our Ag Commissioner, is a big advocate and supporter of this recreation area.  He narrated an online video in February of this year announcing that Indian Creek Recreation Area had won the 2020 campground/RV park of the year awarded by the Louisiana Travel Association.   

Indian Creek has had a reputation for its family-friendly atmosphere over the years.  Special events held there often attract families for events such as bike races and triathlons, classic car shows, 4^th of July fireworks, a golf cart and pet Mardi Gras, Easter egg hunts, and Halloween trick or treating.  A playground area there is called Fort Martin and is built from wood.   

The Indian Creek Recreation Area offers over 100 campsites with water and electricity, as well as primitive campsites in another part of the site.  There are three beaches available there, but one of these is reserved for those in the campsites only.  Day pass visitors pay $7 per vehicle here, with veterans getting a 50% discount with ID proof.  Boat and canoe rentals are $30/day. Large pavilions can be rented for family or special events at $100/day with a $50 refundable cleaning deposit.  One small pavilion area is also available at $30/day with a $15 refundable cleaning deposit.  Campsites in the RV area should be booked in advanced, and there are different rates for summer (March – October) than for the winter months.   Primitive campsites go for $14/night.    

My wife and I visited Indian Creek in mid-week of mid-October to avoid possible weekend crowds.  We quickly noted extensive construction underway that blocked entry to paved roads leading to two of the three beach areas.  The office attendant indicated that this construction would be continuing until the end of this year.  She also told us that 35 new RV campsites would be added soon to their existing capacity.    

Regardless of other activities, I always have to try available hiking or bike trails in parks and wilderness areas.  The 3.2 mile loop trail at Indian Creek starts near the entry office and is a wide one with gentle rises and falls over its length.   The dominant purple bloom present then along the trail seemed to be a type of false foxglove, genus Agalinis.  I say that not with any pride of flora identification skill, but through the resources of my PlantSnap app.    

Those considering a visit to this centrally-located attraction in Louisiana can find much more detailed information at the official website for Indian Creek Recreation Area.  Be careful to note that there is also an Indian Creek Campground and RV Park in Independence, Louisiana and north of Hammond and Tickfaw.  This is another large campground and RV park, but it is privately owned and not associated with the similarly-named recreation area profiled in this article.