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 for hiking, mountain biking and birding, and the winding Bogue Chitto -- derived from the Choctaw language meaning "big creek"-- is a medium-flow river with deep areas great for canoeing, kayaking and tubing (with sandbars in shallower areas when you're ready for a rest or picnic).

The site is open daily. Gates are open 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily, and the Entrance Station is open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday-Saturday and days preceding holidays. Admission is $3 per person aged 4-61; free for seniors (62 & older) and children 3 and under.

Overnight visitors will find accommodations from tent and RV camping to glamping sites and cabins overlooking bluffs. For larger groups and family reunions, the park offers a group camp and a conference room, and in day-use areas, numerous picnic pavilions, an outdoor classroom, water playground for the kids, and 11 lakes stocked with a variety of freshwater fish. And, the whole family will enjoy the splash pad's spouts and waterfalls, and a long, low water slide. Note: the splash pad is open seasonally, closed on Mondays, and shuts off by 6 p.m.

Fourteen miles of equestrian and single-track biking trails wind through some of the most interesting topography of southern Louisiana, with the trail head located near Fricke's Cave, which -- despite its name -- resembles more of a gorge, and boasts delicate, 2-foot tall sandstone spires created by water erosion. You can admire the natural creation from nearby boardwalks, as the formations are too delicate to allow visitors to walk amongst them.

Equestrian trails are open to riders and their own horses, and Bogue Chitto Horse Rentals offers 1-hour, 2-hour and half-day public or private guided rides. They provide horses and all equipment. Visit the Bogue Chitto Horse Rentals website for more details and online booking to reserve your trail ride, or call 985-516-4975.