South Abutment East

Bayou Bodcau Reservoir

South Abutment East sits upstream of Bayou Bodcau Dam. The small quiet campground is a Class B campground, and is open year-round to visitors. Bodcau Creek and Reservoir provides fishing and boating opportunities, along with hiking/biking trails and other recreation. Bayou Bodcau is a large wildlife management area, and is very popular during hunting season for deer and other wild game.

Downtown Bossier City and Shreveport are only a 30-45 minute drive away, and have many opportunities for other interests such as museums and restaurants. Bodcau is well off the main travel roads, so traffic and other noise issues are of no concern.

The campground has no designated fee booth and is by-reservation-only, so all reservations must be made through recreation.gov. Reservations can be made up to 6 months in advance or upon arrival; we recommend reserving prior to entering the campground.

For more information on Bayou Bodcau, please visit the following website. (https://www.mvk.usace.army.mil/Missions/Recreation/Bayou-Bodcau/)

South Abundant East Recreation Area has 12 campsites, all of which are primitive and contain a fire ring, grill, picnic table, lantern pole, and trash can. All campsites are shaded, and feel like they are nestled within the forest. All sites are within walking distance of the water and the life jacket loaner station at the boat ramp. Amenities at this recreation area include flush toilets, disc golf course, bike/hike trail, boat ramp and life jacket loaner station.

12 Tent sites with:

-Firepit and Grill

-Picnic Table

-Lantern Hangar

-Trash can

Facilities available for all campers:

-Flush toilets

-Potable water spigot

Need to Know

Campground follows all rules from Title 36, part 327, Code of Federal Regulations. A full copy of Title 36, part 327, Code of Federal Regulations can be obtained from one of the Park Rangers, the Campground Hosts, or at the Bayou Bodcau Main Office. Regulations are enforced at Bodcau by our Park Rangers, the local Sherif’s Department and the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries.
Max of 8 people per site.
Vehicles must be parked on your site, not obstructing others. (ATV's can only be loaded and offloaded from trailers in park.)
It is required you clean your campsite before you leave.
Check out time is 1:00 PM.

Check in time is 3:00 PM.
Length of stay policy is 14 days in a 30 day period.
The unauthorized placement of camping equipment or other items on campsite and/or personal appearance at a campsite without daily occupancy for the purpose of reserving the campsite for future occupancy is prohibited (title 36 section 327.2C).
All pets MUST be on a leash no longer than six (6) feet long.
Speed in the campground is ten (10) MPH. Remember to be vigilant, there are children in the campgrounds.
Quiet time is strictly observed from 10:00 PM to 6:00 AM. Please keep other campers in mind as they often have children trying to sleep. Violation may result in citation or eviction.
There is absolutely no dumping of gray water (wash water, dish water, bath water, and cooking water) on the ground at any time.
All Campfires MUST be confined to the fire rings that are provided or to personal grills. Fires may never be left unattended. To remove potential hazards for future users, extinguish campfires and remove fire debris before leaving.
No outside firewood allowed; obtain or purchase firewood at or near your camping destination and burn it on-site; firewood can carry invasive insects and diseases that destroy forests. Firewood cutting permits may be obtained at the Bayou Bodcau Main Office. Only fallen deadwood may be collected. Absolutely no fires during burn bans.
Don't Move Firewood: Protect your forests from tree-killing pests by buying your firewood locally and burning it on-site. Visit Don't Move Fire Wood: for further information.

Natural Features

Bayou Bodcau is 33,500 acres of public land, much of which consists of moss-laden cypress swamps. The area also consists of lowland and upland areas, consisting of mixed deciduous or pine forests. Bayou Bodcau is considered a "dry reservoir", and only fills up during periods of high rainfall. The creek can be slow moving and almost stagnant during the dry summer, but a swift and deep torrent during the cooler winter.

The area is home to a diverse group of natural areas, and hosts some rare and endangered species. Alligators, beaver and more can be found amongst the forest and swamps. Cypress Swamps, Bottomland Forests, Morse Clay Calcareous Prairies and more can be found within the project boundaries. The project is also home to some of the largest trees in the state, and such "Champion Trees" have been found and recorded at multiple locations throughout the park.

Bodcau is also home to 500 acre Ivan Lake, which is a small but well-maintained lake for fishing and boating. The lake is known to be popular with local fisherman, and wildlife such as Bald Eagles can be spotted there.

Nearby Attractions

There are many other nearby attractions including Tom Merrill Recreation Area, the Durden House, the Rifle Range, a Horse Camp and Horse Trails, ATV/UTV Trails, and Ivan Lake. Ivan Lake is a small local lake well known for fishing, boating and birding.

Bossier City and Shreveport are within 30 to 45 minutes drive of the campground. The area consists of many different attractions, including museums, a minor league Hockey team, and Barksdale Air Force Base, which has a small museum attached to it. Bossier City also has a large Convention Center where events are often held.

There's also other natural attractions, including Red River Wildlife Refuge in Bossier City.

Recreation

South Abutment East offers visitors many recreation opportunities.

Within the immediate recreation area, a boat ramp gives access to Bayou Bodcau Reservoir; a life jacket loaner station is available free of charge. A mountain bike/hiking trail starts just across the street in Tom Merrill Recreation area. The trail system loops back and forth and is approximately 7 miles long. A playground/exercise area is located just outside the campground and within walking distance. Additionally, there is a large picnic shelter which can be rented out for special events.

Water activities, such as boating, kayaking/canoing and fishing are available on both sides of the dam. Gravel boat ramps allow for small boats to put in on either side. The Bayou is home to numerous fish species including Black Bass, Spotted Bass, Crappie, Catfish, Buffalo, Carp, Gar, Bowfin and various species of bream and sunfish.

Hunting is available in the wildlife management areas around the project during regular hunting season. Numerous game species can be hunted, including squirrel, rabbits, dove, quail and other species of small game, deer, turkey, and waterfowl.

For the non-consumptive users, bird watching is a common recreational activity with the opportunity to observe non-game species such as great blue herons, several species of hawks, and owls. Yellow, black and white, yellow-throated, magnolia, prairie and yellow-rumped warblers are birds regularly seen on the area. Numerous species of reptiles, amphibian and insects can also be studied.

The Louisiana Dept. of Wildlife & Fisheries operates a free rifle range on the area. The range is 200 yards long and has covered rests for shooting. The range can accommodate rifles, handguns, shot guns and archery. It is supervised by an approved Range Officer and is open to the public on regularly scheduled days. Targets, sand bags and ear plugs are provided.

Finally, the John Haygood Nature Trail is located near the Durden House Environmental Education Center and consists of a .75 mile paved trail. The Durden House is a historical site, and Rangers can provide interpretive opportunities with special emphasis on history, cultural resources, natural resources, water safety, and environmental education.

Changes & Cancellations

Last minute changes and cancellations may be subject to additional fees.

Contact Information

Physical Address

1750 Bodcau Dam Road Haughton LA 71037-7443

Phone Number

For campground inquiries, please call: 318-949-1804

Rental Options

Learn more about gear rental options for your trip

Driving Directions

From Interstate 20, take exit 33 and head North on State Route 157. Drive 9 miles and turn right on Bodcau Dam Rd. Drive 3 miles and destination will be on the right.

Available Campsites

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