AHTUS MELDER CAMP, KISATCHIE NATIONAL FOREST, LOUISIANA
Kisatchie National Forest encompasses over 600,000 acres, and
there’s really nowhere else quite like it. Here you’ve got cypress groves and pines shading rich undergrowth of both plant and animal life. The horse camp is located in the Evangeline Unit of the Park, which is broken down into several separate ecological areas. There are plenty of trails right from the camp, but with a little trailering you can see much more. Your rides can take you to the Castor Creek Scenic Area, actually a junction of two waterways that has created a perfect environment for dense tree growth and a variety of plants. The Bayou Boeuf Nature Area has been designed specifi cally for waterfowl, so you can expect to see many species here year-round. The Wild Azalea Seep is over 120 acres, and of course, you’ll see plenty of azaleas! The Claiborne Trails that start at the campsite are popular with
best tra ls
BY SUMMER KENESSON across america
The beautiful thing about horses and trail riding is that we get to put on our riding clothes, load up our horses, and head out to the trail. When you take those fi rst strides down the trail, you enter a diff erent dimension. Your world goes from 55 mph to 5 mph. The world slows down, and you have the delightful job of hearing the wind in the trees, noticing the faint movement of a deer hidden in the trees, and smelling the musty fragrance of dirt (you know what I’m talkin’ about). Trail riding is our sanctuary and our sanity from a world that at times seems in total disarray. It is all that is good and right in the world, and we are so blessed that we have this power and simple escape to enrich our lives. Trail riding gives us the ability to quiet our minds and hearts, and hear the small still voice of God to let us know that today is going to be a perfect day.
visitors, and there is a system of loops so you can adapt your ride to almost any distance. When you ride here, imagine it in the 1940s, when this trail system was home to half a million troops preparing for World War II, making this trail network the third largest “city” in Louisiana! The Claiborne trails include loops on both sides of LA 112, with 33 miles of the Boy Scout Loops on the camp side, and another 40 plus miles across the road comprising the Woodworth and North Loops. If you are staying for a while, you can trailer further along LA
10 to the Enduro Trails where you’ll fi nd several loop trails to ride. These are popular biking trails, so stay alert, and avoid these trails when there are mountain bike races and events being held.
MAIN TRAILS
»The Claiborne Multi-Use Trails (loop trails) comprise 74 miles of multi-use trails that will give you a good sampling of the variety of plants, animals and ecosystems of the Park. Some of these really are multi-use though, so keep your eyes and ears open during busy periods for hikers, bikers and OTVs. The trailhead is accessed directly from the campground.
MAPS
»A trail map to start with is at http://www.
fs.fed.us/r8/kisatchie/maps/calcasieu- maps/
evangeline-unit-map.htm, but up- dates are available from ranger stations.
FACILITIES
»This camp is about as primitive as you can get and still call it a campsite. Bring everything you need, and remember natural water in the park is often not safe to drink.
BRING NON-RIDERS?
»Non-riders can head to Kincaid Lake, also in the Evangeline Unit. Here there is swimming, boating and kayaking, hiking and bicycling. Valentine Lake is prohibited to powerboats, so swimmers and kayakers will enjoy this area.
CONTACT
»Contact the Calcasieu Ranger District: (318) 793-9427 or (800) 225-9733.
DIRECTIONS
»The Ahtus Melder Equestrian Camp is located just off LA Hwy 112 West approxi- mately one mile past the Forest Road 258 turnoff to the Loran/Claiborne Trailhead Camp. Turn south on Forest Road 267 and take an immediate left onto Forest Road 269. The camping area is on the right.
SOUTHEAST AREA
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92