Pets allowed
Allowed with Restrictions
Guided tours
No
Backcountry camping
No
Lodging
No
Please respect the outdoors by practicing Leave No Trace. Learn more about how to apply the principles of Leave No Trace on your next outdoor adventure here.

Lake Bruin State Park offers up some iconic Louisiana landscapes, and it will be sure to please just about any outdoor enthusiast. Located just west of the Mississippi River, Lake Bruin was once part of the Mississippi River and consists of approximately 3,000 acres in the northeast section of Louisiana. The lake is in the form of a horseshoe, and the state park claims the lower southeast portion of the lake. The clear waters of Lake Bruin attract lots of boating, fishing, and swimming. With a little luck, fishermen might expect to catch a largemouth bass, crappie, or bluegill sunfish in Lake Bruin. 

Consisting of wide open expanses of water and shorelines that are decorated with cypress trees covered in Spanish moss, Lake Bruin is a great choice for paddle boats and motorized boats alike. Paddlers can weave their way through the cypress trees via the water trail to the southern tip of the lake and back, making for a little more than 2 miles of paddling. While paddling, keep an eye out for ospreys and bald eagles who frequent the lake! 

There is much to enjoy off of the water within the state park as well. There is a campground with 36 improved sites. Each campsite comes equipped with water, electricity, picnic table, and a fire ring. If you’ve come to paddle the lake and plan to camp, try to camp at campsite 5, 6, 7, 13, 15, or 16 and you’ll be able to access the water directly from your campsite. Being lulled asleep by the sounds of the lake shoreline splashing against the cypress knees and waking up to a good view of the lake is a real treat. The campground has one of the nicer bathhouse interiors that you’ll find in a state park. The state park also houses a covered picnic area, several picnic tables, a boat shed, and a water playground so the kids can cool off on hot summer days. 

Logistics + Planning

Preferable season(s)

Spring
Summer
Fall

Congestion

Moderate

Parking Pass

General Day Use Fee

Open Year-round

Yes

Pros

Clear water. Nice, clean bathhouse.

Cons

Mosquitos. Not much to explore.

Features

ADA accessible
Family friendly
Flushing toilets
Dump stations
Covered picnic areas
Picnic tables
Wi-Fi
Boat ramp(s)
Near lake or river
Bird watching
Fishing

Location

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