Enjoy fishing, hiking and more at this beautiful North Louisiana park
At 225 State Park Road, Lake Claiborne State Park covers about 700 acres along the southeastern shoreline of the eponymous waterbody about four miles southeast of Homer in Claiborne Parish.
“The park exists because of Lake Claiborne,” said Alexander L. Walker, the park manager. “Lake Claiborne State Park officially opened on May 12, 1974.”
A popular fishing lake, the reservoir covers about 6,400 acres at pool stage. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers built the Claiborne Lock and Dam on Bayou D’Arbonne, creating the lake in 1970. Lake Claiborne offers good fishing for bass, catfish, bream, crappie and other species.
“Lake Claiborne is one of the most popular lakes in Louisiana for catching hybrid striped bass, a cross between white bass and striped bass,” Walker said. “Catching those is always a fun fight! We have two boat launches in the park, one in the day use area and another in the campground area. People without boats can rent one or fish off many different docks and piers.”
Staying onsite
Many people stay at the park to fish the lake. The park offers 20 premium campsites, 67 improved campsites and two unimproved campsites, plus recreational vehicle slots with electric and water hookups. Visitors can also rent 10 cabins on the lake. Each cabin sleeps up to eight people.
For large functions, rent the pavilion. In addition, a large meeting room can accommodate weddings, family reunions, birthday parties and other functions. Park visitors can do many other things besides fishing at the park.
“We have two disc golf courses ranked among the top in the state,” Walker said. “During the summer, one of our main attractions is the sandy beach area. We have a large swimming area located inside state park cove and a large cornhole board area with professional setups and a volleyball net.”
Many visitors ski, paddle canoes or kayaks on the lake or hit the hiking trails. The longest trail, the White Tail Hiking Tail, covers six miles. The Whispering Pines Bike Trail covers five miles. People can also walk shorter trails. The Scenic Overlook Path only covers a half-mile.
“People don’t come to Lake Claiborne State Park expecting to see flashy attractions,” Walker said. “They come because it’s one of the most well-rounded outdoor spots in North Louisiana. Because of the rolling hills and forests of mixed pine and hardwoods on the park or surrounding the lake, different parts of the park can feel noticeably different at the same time. The park was compiled of old homesites from homesteaders that lived here for years. Visitors can still find remnants from the past like old wells, potato sheds and corner boundary markings.”
Flora and fauna
The area holds abundant wildlife with white-tailed deer, raccoons, rabbits, squirrels and many other creatures. Birdwatchers enjoy seeing new species. Birders might spot herons, egrets, waterfowl, various songbird species and other creatures native to the area or seasonal visitors.
“In the spring, wild flowers bloom, giving the area beautiful color,” Walker said. “I challenge everyone to come out to the park and spend some time relaxing on the trails, beach or on the Scenic Overlook Trail. If I am available at the park and visitors would like to learn more about trees, wildlife or just have a short-guided hike, I would be more than happy to show them this beautiful park.”
The park doesn’t offer food, but people can buy food and other necessities after just a short drive from the park to a place like the Pleasure Point Marina. The park remains open seven days a week all year long.
For more information, see www.lastateparks.com/parks-preserves/lake-claiborne-state-park. Call 1-888-677-2524 or 318-957- 2976.
