In Vernon Parish, aka Louisiana’s Legend Country, the great outdoors calls. Especially during October and November, when fall colors dapple the foliage throughout Clear Creek Wildlife Management Area, hikers and horseback riders head for the hills in Kisatchie National Forest, fishermen test the depths of Vernon Lake, Anacoco Lake, and the Toledo Bend Reservoir, while kayakers skim their surfaces in search of unexplored inlets.
Want in? The first Saturday of every month, roll out of bed before sunrise to compete in the Toledo Bend Army Recreation Park Monthly Bass Tournament. Check in at the Boat House at 1310 Army Recreation Road in Florien; fishing starts at first light, and continues until a 3 pm weigh-in. Covering 185,000 acres, Toledo Bend Reservoir is the largest man-made body of water in the South, and offers countless opportunities to get to grips with an award-winning catch (the current record largemouth bass was a 15.67lb lunker caught here in February, 2023). Open to the public, the tournament fee is just $40 per boat, plus $5 per angler for big bass.
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The Toledo Bend Army Recreation Park Monthly Bass Tournament takes place on the first Saturday of each month.
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Or, come cast a line into picturesque Vernon Lake anytime.
Get a room! Make a weekend of it by booking a rental cabin or yurt, and visit the Pirate’s Cove Marina to rent pontoons, bass boats, kayaks, and paddle boards.
Beyond Toledo Bend, Vernon parish boasts several other lakes and rivers, including Anacoco Lake, Vernon Lake, Sabine River, and Toro Bayou. Launch your boat at Bass Haven Resort or Thaxton’s Landing in Anacoco, or Sandy Creek Boat Launch in Leesville. Bring your RV and spend the week fishing, swimming, and relaxing at Pirate’s Cove Marina in Florien, Pleasure Point Park in Hornbeck, or Methodist Landing Campground in Leesville. Looking to rent a canoe or take a float trip? Check out Tack-a-Paw Expeditions in Anacoco and they’ll set you up to paddle or float your way through 70 miles of navigable rivers and streams.
At Kisatchie National Forest’s Vernon Unit, bask in the fresh scent of longleaf pine while hiking, biking, or horseback riding the unit’s trails. Be on the lookout for the wild horses of Kisatchie. Descendants of horses brought to the New World in 1590 by Spanish explorer Hernando De Soto, this genetically rare herd is thought to have roamed these forests for centuries. Want to try riding a tamer version? Take a trail ride through 18 acres of wooded area at Circle KJR Ranch or book a lesson at Swany Creek Ranch. The ranch offers various horsemanship classes—from classes for beginners, through learning to trot, to Western-style barrel racing.
Whatever your outdoor pleasure, be sure to visit Vernon Parish online to find a complete list of attractions, accommodations, and resources in Louisiana’s Legend Country.
