Bogue Chitto State Park
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17049 State Park Blvd., Franklinton, LA 70438985-839-5707 or 888-677-7312 toll free For reservations, call 1-877-CAMP-N-LA (877-226-7652) toll free. Email: boguechitto@crt.la.gov Directions: From I-12, take US 190 north to Hwy. 25. Travel approximately 20 miles, then turn right onto State Park Blvd. Entrance to the park is 1 mile on the left. GPS Coordinates:N 30.767527983, W -90.1573070. Hours of Operation: Gates are open 7 a.m. to 9 p.m., Sunday through Thursday. April-September, entrance station is open 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.; October-March, entrance station is open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. All park sites close at 10 p.m. on Friday, Saturday and days preceding holidays. Entrance Fees: $1 per person; Free for Seniors (62 and older) and children age 3 and under |
At Bogue Chitto State Park, visitors will experience a diversity of natural habitats on one of the most dynamic and scenic river systems in Louisiana. The 1,786-acre site includes small streams, cypress tupelo swamps, a hardwood forest, upland forests and a rolling landscape.
Overnight visitors will find accommodations from tent camping to RV camping to cabins overlooking the bluffs. For larger groups and family reunions, the park offers a group camp and a conference room.
Frickes Cave, which -- despite its name -- resembles more of a gorge, possesses delicate sandstone spires created when water erodes the surface underneath pebbles. The pebbles remain perched atop the spires, while over time water splashes on the sandstone surface, forming the two-foot tall fingers of sandstone that shoot up from the now-lowered surface. Boardwalks have been built, so that visitors can admire the sandstone creations from afar, as the formations are too delicate to allow visitors to walk amongst them.
Fourteen miles of equestrian trails wind through some of the most interesting topography of southern Louisiana, with the trailhead located near Fricke's Cave. A day trip to Bogue Chitto State Park will be a full one, with a river perfect for canoeing or kayaking, 11 lakes stocked with a variety of freshwater fish, a water playground, numerous picnic pavilions and an outdoor classroom.
| Deluxe Cabins | 4 available | $120/night, Oct-Mar; $150/night on Fridays & Saturdays, Apr-Sept, sleeps up to 8 people with 1 queen bed, 2 bunk beds and a sofa sleeper |
| Deluxe Lodge | 1 available, ADA compliant | $160/night, Oct-Mar; $180/night on Fridays & Saturdays, Apr-Sept; sleeps up to 14 people with 2 queen beds, 4 bunk beds and a sofa sleeper |
| Group Camp | $250/night | One dormitory with a full kitchen, sleeps up to 52 people |
| Meeting Room | $200/day | Capacity is 150 people for both Conference and Theatre set-ups |
Camping:
| 81 Premium Campsites (prime locations and pull through, all with water and electrical hookup); sites 101-135 are located on water, while sites 1-46 have sewer hookups. | $18/night, Oct-Mar; $26/night, Apr-Sept |
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America the Beautiful Passes (formerly Golden Age & Golden Access Passports) (Available through the National Park Service. Visit www.nps.gov/fees_passes.htm for more information) Holders of the Passes, whose state of residence also honors the America the Beautiful pass, are entitled to a 50% reduction on camping fees at Louisiana State Parks. (Passport holders are allowed one site per passport). | |
Trails at Bogue Chitto State Park:
Nearby Attractions:
Fort Pike State Historic Site (adjacent to Old Spanish Trail/US 90, approximately 23 miles east of downtown New Orleans) - This historic masonry fort was completed in 1827 to defend New Orleans. Stroll through arched casemates and stand overlooking the Rigolets as sentries once did, enjoy living history programs, visit the museum or picnic at the pavilion.
Fairview Riverside State Park (12 miles east of Madisonville on LA Hwy. 22) - Nestled among magnificent live oaks on the edge of the cool clear waters of the Tchefuncte River, this park features 81 improved campsites, excellent fishing, canoeing, and picnicking. A nearby boat ramp offers access to the park and Lake Pontchartrain.
Fontainebleau State Park (South of I-12 and southeast of Mandeville on US 190) - Located on 2,800 acres on the north shore of Lake Pontchartrain, the park offers 130 improved campsites, 180 unimproved campsites, nature trails, three group camps, a lodge, a swimming pool and beach, a playground and the ruins of a plantation brickyard and sugar mill situated among an alley of towering oaks.
Washington Parish Free Fair (Washington Parish Fairgrounds, Franklinton) - The second oldest Parish Fair in Louisiana, and believed to be the largest county/parish free fair in the USA, occurs annually during the month of October. The Mile Branch Historical Settlement is located on the Washington Parish Fairgrounds, highlights the Scotch-Irish settlers of the Florida parishes. Visitors will see 19th-century living history activities ranging from sheep shearing to soap making to hymn singing, many of which are performed with original period equipment.
Folsom Farmers Market (82341 Railroad Ave. one block west of La. 25) Held every third Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Open March to November. Fresh seasonal produce from local vendors, yard eggs, handcrafted items, music, interesting speakers and demonstrations.
D.A. Varnado Store Museum(936 Pearl St., Franklinton) - The hub of business and activity of Frankinton and Washington Parish at the beginning of the 20th century. The Museum is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
The Museums at Cassidy Park (600 block of Willis Ave, Bogalusa) - The Museum of Indian Culture and the Pioneer Museum are devoted to telling the story of Bogalusa from the earliest settlement of the Choctaw Indians to those who founded the largest sawmill in the world in the 1920s.
Global Wildlife Center (Folsom) Enjoy a 1-1/2 hour guided Safari Wagon tour of over 900 acres of beautiful Louisiana countryside, that is home to many animals usually seen on the continent of Africa!
Insta-Gator Ranch & Hatchery (Covington) A guided tour gives you a first-hand account of the Louisiana Alligator Industry, in the climate controlled environment that's home to more than 2,000 gators.
Bogue Chitto Tubing & Canoe (10237 S. Choctaw Rd., Bogalusa) - Offers canoeing and tubing trips down the Bogue Chitto River.
Wayne’s World Canoeing and Tubing (51439 Camp Circle, Franklinton) - Offers canoeing, kayaking and tubing trips down the Bogue Chitto River.