Kisatchie National Forest

Kisatchie National Forest encompasses a total area of 604,000 acres of land in west-central Louisiana and can be found near the following cities in the vicinity of the forest, Minden, Alexandria, and Winnfield. The forest Can be accessed using several roads including US 71, US 165, US 167, and US 84. The national forest was established on June 10, 1930, and is managed by the United States Forest Service.

Some of the stand-out features of the Kisatchie National Forest include the Longleaf Trail National Scenic Byway, two primary trails including the Wild Azalea National Recreation Trail and the Sugar Cane National Recreation Trail. The 8,700-acre Kisatchie Hills Wilderness Area and Fullerton Sawmill (a historic landmark) are also a part of the protected forest land.

Besides these attractions, the Kisatchie National Forest is also popular for several other recreational activities including fishing, swimming, hunting, hiking, camping, water-skiing, bicycling, OHV riding, boating, and horseback riding. Amenities in the national forest to facilitate these activities include picnic sites, boat launches, campgrounds, and scenic drives.

Experiencing the outdoors with your pooch is a great way to experience the forest, and you can do so at Kisatchie National Forest as long as you abide by the natural forests rules. Rules that you should pay particularly close attention to include the following. First, you must ensure that your dog is always on a leash that is six feet in length (at most). 

If your dog is not leashed, then they should be housed in a secure enclosure while at the Kisatchie National Forest. You also need to make certain that your dog never wanders into areas of the forest that are prohibited to dogs. To avoid wandering into prohibited areas, it is important to ensure that you are aware of the areas of the forest that you are allowed to explore with your dog.