Located in the piney hills and hardwood bottoms of seven central and northern Louisiana parishes, the Kisatchie National Forest is the only national forest in the Pelican State. Unlike many other national forests, the 600,000-acre Kisatchie is not one large unit; its 6 ranger districts are geographically separate from one another.

Kisatchie is an Indian word meaning "long cane" and is probably Caddo Indian in origin. The first inhabitants of this area were Indians of the Caddo and Natchez groups. French and Spanish explorers followed the Indians, but after the Louisiana Purchase in 1803, people from many origins moved into the area and farming assumed an economic importance that lasted until the early 1900's, when extensive logging began.

Many old mill sites and railroad beds, built to move harvested virgin longleaf pine to the mills, remain visible today. A "cut-out-and-get-out" philosophy prevailed then; after logging no efforts were made in reforestation, leaving the land unproductive as a timber resource and a tax liability as well. Naturalist Caroline Dorman initiated the movement for a national forest in Louisiana and the Kisatchie National Forest was established June 10, 1930.

• Caney Ranger District -
• Catahoula Ranger District -
• Evangeline Ranger District -
• Kisatchie Ranger District -
• Vernon Ranger District -
• Winn Ranger District -

• Hike the Sugar Cane National Recreation Trail for a moderate hike with rewarding scenery.
• Take the Dogwood Auto Tour and enjoy a seasonal 10-mile interpretive tour through a pine forest area, rich with white flowering dogwood blossoms in the spring.
• Visit the Longleaf Scenic Area, an old-growth longleaf pine tract of approximately 265 acres, surrounded by younger forest.
• Take a boat trip down the Saline Bayou National Wild and Scenic River.