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Chicot State Park
3469 Chicot Park Road, Ville Platte, LA 70586
337-363-2403 or 888-677-2442
For reservations, call 1-877-CAMP-N-LA (877-226-7652) toll free.
Email: chicot@crt.state.la.us
Directions: Coming from the north on I-49, exit on LA 106 south. Turn left off LA 106 onto LA 3042 south, and continue to the main entrance. From the south, exit I-49 on US 167 and drive toward Ville Platte. In Ville Platte, turn right onto LA 3042/N. Dupre St., then left onto LA 3042/W. Lincoln Rd. Veer right onto LA 3042/Chicot Park Road. Park entrance is about 7 miles down LA 3042. GPS Coordinates: N 30 48.0168; W 92 16.7832.
Hours of Operation: Gates are open 6 a.m. to 9 p.m., Sunday through Thursday; entrance station is open 6 a.m. to 7 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.
Trails at Chicot State Park:
- 20-mile hiking trail
- 5.7-mile equestrian trail
- 8-mile canoe trail
 The park covers over 6,400 acres of rolling hills and water in South Central Louisiana. The cool, clear waters of Lake Chicot have yielded record freshwater catches of largemouth bass, crappie, bluegill and red-ear sunfish. Fishermen will enjoy the convenient boathouse, three boat launches and boat rental facilities.
An extensive hiking/backpacking trail completely encircles Lake Chicot and includes several primitive campsites along the way. The hiking trail allows the visitor to experience and enjoy the park's natural landscape, its bottomland hardwood forest and the lake itself. For visitors who enjoy a quicker pace, much of the trail is geared toward mountain bikers, and all cyclists are welcome to ride the roadways throughout the park.
The South Landing includes cabins, a group camp, a lodge, picnic areas and playgrounds, a swimming pool, a boat launch, a fishing pier and a dock with rental boats. A scenic road links the South Landing with the North Landing.
The North Landing features campsites, a playground, a boat launch, a dock, a 400 ft. fishing pier and a primitive group-camping area. The Conservation Lodge is located in this area.
The East Landing is accessible from LA 106. It is less developed than the other two areas. It includes a boat launch, a dock, a meeting room and a barbeque pavilion, which makes this area ideal for day visitors.
Nearby Attractions:
Louisiana State Arboretum (LA Hwy. 3042, one-and-a-half miles from entrance of Chicot State Park) - The Arboretum is the home of a magnificent mature beech-magnolia forest and features an outdoor classroom and several miles of nature trails with labeled plant life native to Louisiana.
Prairie Acadian Cultural Center-Jean Lafitte National Historical Park & Preserve (250 W. Park Ave., Eunice) - The Center depicts the heritage of the Prairie Acadians. Artifacts, exhibits and live demonstrations portray aspects of the unique culture.
Acadian Town of Ville Platte (on US 167 and LA 10 north of US 190) - Ville Platte means "flat town" in French. Its strong agrarian and Cajun traditions and cultural influences can still be found in the spoken French, music, and food of the area.
Historic Town of Opelousas - The Confederate capital of Louisiana during the Civil War, it was also the boyhood home of the legendary Jim Bowie.
Historic Town of Washington - Once the largest steamboat port between New Orleans and St. Louis, the town preserves its 19th-century architecture and offers an antique mall and shops.
Zydeco Cajun Prairie Scenic Byway - Traces the historic towns, musical traditions and culture of the Prairie Acadians.
Liberty Theatre/City of Eunice (200 W. Park Ave., Eunice) - "Rendez-vous des Cajuns" is a live radio show held every Saturday night featuring Cajun & Zydeco music in the style of the Grand Ole Opry.
Thistlethwaite Wildlife Management Area (Off I-49 north of Opelousas and southeast of Chicot State Park) - In this 11,000-acre area of bottomland hardwoods managed for wildlife, visitors may hunt (in season), day-hike, bird-watch and view wildlife.
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