Destination Wild

Overview

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/)

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.

Facilities

South Abutment East offers visitors many recreation opportunities.

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.