3.4511 reviewsPrice
Free
Booking
First-Come
Sites
16 campsites
Season
Open all year.
Cell
Unknown
Pets
Check Policy
Price
Free
Booking
First-Come
Sites
16 campsites
Season
Open all year.
Cell
Unknown
Pets
Check Policy
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5325 LA Highway 8 Bentley, LA 71407-9726
Hunters during October-November deer season, or anyone wanting a genuinely empty campground at zero cost. The Caroline Dorman Trail runs 10.5 miles for hiking and mountain biking, and bass fishing is viable when Kisatchie Bayou is running high. Fall nights are cool, the mosquitoe
No potable water means packing in every drop you'll drink or cook with. Summer heat, heavy humidity, and mosquitoes bad enough that reviewers warn to keep your tent zipped at all times make June through August a rough sell for most people.
Reference information about Saddle Bayou Camp sourced from official USFS records and forestcamping.com. View official recreation.gov page →
The Saddle Bayou Camp is a very primitive camping experience in a bottomland hardwood setting. Nearby National Catahoula Wildlife Management Preserve make the Saddle Bayou a popular camping area during hunting season.
All sites at the campground are walk-in, situated in heavily wooded area and adjacent to Kisatchie Bayou.
Canoeing, kayaking and floating are activities when Kisatchie Bayou River is running high - check with Ranger District Office for water level. Hiking: Caroline Dorman Trail Head (foot, horse & mountain bike) - 10.5 miles Fishing: Bass and Sunfish
Canoeing, kayaking and floating are activities when Kisatchie Bayou River is running high - check with Ranger District Office for water level. Hiking: Caroline Dorman Trail Head (foot, horse & mountain bike) - 10.5 miles Fishing: Bass and Sunfish
Canoeing, kayaking and floating are activities when Kisatchie Bayou River is running high - check with Ranger District Office for water level.
From Provencal, LA, take State Rt. 117 south for 11.8 miles to Kisatchie Bayou sign (Forest Rt. 59). Turn left onto Rt. 59 and go 7.4 miles to Kisatchie Bayou sign (Forest Rt. 321). Turn right onto Rt. 321 and go 4.4 miles to another Kisatchie Bayou sign (Forest Rt. 366). Turn right onto Rt. 366 and go 2 miles to campground.
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Fall delivers the best conditions. October and November mornings sit in the 45–60°F range, with daytime highs in the 60s–70s. Humidity drops, mosquitoes decline, and migratory waterfowl arrive at nearby Catahoula. Deer activity peaks in late October and November, drawing hunters to the area. Spring offers moderate temperatures and blooming dogwoods, but mosquitoes and tent caterpillars can be heavy. Summer is hot and humid. Winter stays mild and dry, though the campground sees fewer visitors outside hunting season.
Fall cited as best: cooler temps, lower humidity and fewer mosquitoes.
Saddle Bayou Camp provides a primitive camping experience in a bottomland hardwood setting. Vault toilets are available, but there is no potable water or other modern amenities like showers or electricity. User reviews note that the campground is free and offers quiet and seclusion, with the challenge of pack-in-pack-out trash policies.
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