Lake Bistineau State Park covers 750 acres on the western shoreline of its namesake waterbody at 103 State Park Road in Doyline in Webster Parish about 45 minutes east of Shreveport.
Among the oldest and most beautiful lakes in Louisiana, parts of Lake Bistineau look like a cypress swamp. The lake began more than 600 years ago when “The Great Raft” blocked the nearby Red River, backing water up into cypress swamps.
With the channel blocked by logs, the Red River attempted to change course. Foaming currents bubbled over logs, creating the closest thing to cascades in flatland Louisiana. Native Americans dubbed the place “Bestino,” or “Big Broth Lake.” French settlers changed the spelling to “Bistineau.”
In 1833, the U.S. Army ordered Capt. Henry Miller Shreve, namesake for Shreveport, to break up The Great Raft and restore the Red River channel for navigation. The task took almost 40 years to finish.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers completed a dam on a tributary in 1938. The dam flooded cypress swamps, bayous and natural ponds, forming a 13,500-acre lake. Improvements to the dam in 1951 increased the surface area of Lake Bistineau to its current 17,500 acres. It averages about 7 feet deep, but drops to 25 feet in places.
Plenty to do
Today, the lake consistently produces 3- to 5-pound bass and some bigger ones. Lake Bistineau also offers anglers outstanding action for catfish, bream, crappie and other species. Many anglers launch at two boat launches in the park, but the park offers much more than fishing.
“Construction on the park began in 1949,” said Paul Florence, the park manager. “The park has miles of lake shoreline and offers a variety of activities. People enjoy hiking, biking, horseback riding and camping. The park features diverse landscapes with mixed hardwood forests, cypress and tupelo trees, and open water areas. Wildlife viewing and birdwatching opportunities abound.”
Hikers can explore about 12 miles of woodland trails. Paddlers could enjoy an 11-mile canoe trail through the lake. Visitors might also play on an 18-hole disc golf course.
“The park boasts miles of hiking trails through upland pine forests, bottomland hardwood stands and the opportunity to view an entire ecosystem built around the cypress and tupelo swampland that encompasses Lake Bistineau,” Florence said. “Along the Willis Homestead Trail, people see a large grove of crepe myrtle trees. This marks the location of the Willis family homestead where they lived for generations before the property became a park. In the spring, rows of iris are in full bloom.”
Stay awhile
Visitors can stay in seven fully-equipped cabins along the lake shoreline. The lodge can accommodate up to 16 guests. A large group camp can hold up to 150 people. People can also camp at 67 sites with power and water.
“The park is the perfect place to unwind and disconnect,” Florence said. “Peace and serenity are its biggest offerings. Go deep in the forest on our trails. Watch many species of birds including great blue herons, egrets, red-cockaded and pileated woodpeckers while listening only to the sounds of nature. Deer, squirrels, rabbits and foxes are also commonly viewed.”
In July 2025, the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries began a drawdown of Lake Bistineau to combat the spread of giant salvinia. The drawdown should drop the lake level to about 8 feet below pool stage. The state will stop releasing water in November 2025. During the drawdown, people will still be able to fish and boat on the remaining 10,000 acres.
The park stays open seven days a week all year long. For more information, call 318-745-3503 or 1-888-677-2478. Online, see www.lastateparks.com/parks-preserves/lake-bistineau-state-park.
