Its impossible not to love a trip to one of the cleanest lakes in the U.S. Lake Ouachita is crystal-clear and stunningly beautiful. October 13, 2022 September 14, 2022 by Brent Pollock Anglers can catch some monster largemouth bass, crappie, bluegill and redear sunfish many state record freshwater fish have been caught in the waters of Lake Chicot. The charge for each additional person is $12 per day. var container = document.getElementById(slotId); container.appendChild(ins); March: 8 a.m.-5 p.m. After all, arent alligators dangerous predators? The Chicot County Park, located near the lake's southern end, is another good site for those with RVs. Theydont like cold weather. 2backpage is a site similar to backpage and the free classified site in the world. Lake Village is situated within a geographical area known as the Mississippi Delta that covers the riverbanks of the Mississippi and Yazoo Rivers and their tributaries on both the Arkansas and Louisiana sides. The Union eventually won the battle. 380 Bayou Pierre Rd. $150/night plus tax, Sun-Thurs We go on long trips and always come up , There are about 12 campgrounds around the beautiful Greers Ferry Lake in Arkansas and each one has the same price point. Crappie, Bass, and Bream are all popular on Lake Chicot. Well, it seems alligators have quite the palate! November-February: Closed. So, they are safe, and just taking a winter's nap. Now, since Chicot State Park is Louisiana's largest state park, it's pretty popular. Handicapped-accessible fishing piers are available. Akers said that Arkansas alligators thrive south of Little Rock but not north of it. Lake Chicot is the largest natural oxbow lake in the nation. Over the year, Lake Village receives 1292 mm of precipitation of hail and rain. You can find the alligator, longnose, shortnose, and spotted gar at Lake Ouachita State Park. Alligators are apex predators, which means theyre at the top of the food chain. window.ezoSTPixelAdd(slotId, 'adsensetype', 1); Lake Village forms a part of Chicot County in the southeastern corner of the US state of Arkansas. During dry periods, these holes retain water, allowing other species to benefit. It contains Chicot Lake, the largest oxbow lake in North America, and an abandoned channel of the Mississippi River. There are many bird watching opportunities with large amounts of alligators. There are alligators in Arkansas and Lake Chicot State Park is home to a few! Alligators can swim up to 20 miles per hour and on land, they can run up to 11 miles per hour. While being attacked by an alligator in Arkansas is highly unlikely, if you see one, its wise to give it a wide berth. Unfortunately, we cant give a definitive answer since there is no reliable way to track the alligator population size or distribution of alligators in the state. PHONE: 318-354-0106. Channel catfish, crappie and largemouth bass also frequent the cypresses, willows, buckbrush, dead timber and docks along the lakes shores. . 12 catches; 219 followers; 8 spots; Lake Chicot is a 2,000 acre reservoir located in Chicot State Park in Evangeline Parish, Louisiana. This park is positioned right in the path of the Mississippi Flyway, so it naturally provides an amazing bird watching opportunity. Lake Chicot occupies 2,000 of those acres, and it offers some incredible paddling opportunities among other outdoor activities. By moving the Confederates out of the Mississippi River, travel became much safer and easier. Yes, there is an American alligator in Arkansas! Lake Chicot State Park offers guided tours of the levees and lake, as well as evening alligator tours. window.ezoSTPixelAdd(slotId, 'stat_source_id', 44); Alligator territory covers the southern half of the state, and also stretches north into the Delta, but they keep to themselves in swampy areas near rivers, lakes and streams. If you would like to change your settings or withdraw consent at any time, the link to do so is in our privacy policy accessible from our home page.. Found a little over an hour from Little Rock, Arkansas, on the picturesque Great River Road Scenic Byway, enjoy an afternoon walk in Jack R. Rhodes Lakefront Park, or visit the historic Lakeport Plantation. Sadly, after this photograph was taken, I understand that the larger alligators were removed from the lake. Cabins/Lodges/Group Camp:Basic cookware, cooking utensils, dinnerware, silverware, towels and linens are provided. 8,478 were here. Additionally, there is also a large pavilion for large gatherings and laundry onsite. A scenic road links the South Landing with the North Landing. Open all year 3469 Chicot Park Road In the mid 1800s Chicot County's population was 9,234, and of that number 7,512 were slaves. April-July 4: 6 a.m.-6 p.m. Arkansas Alligator. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. The park covers over 6,400 acres of rolling hills and water in South Central Louisiana. They enjoy a variety of food items, from fish and birds to turtles, snakes, frogs, and mammals. Alligators are a common site in Lake Chicot. var ins = document.createElement('ins'); var ffid = 2; After earning a degree in biology, he spent several years working as a fishing guide, leading trips and teaching others how to catch everything from trout to salmon. Photo by Jeff Gray Now, that doesn't mean they will be hanging around your campsite so, there's no reason to stress. Normally they dont want to be around you, Debenport says, but we like to look for them because people get excited about it. Deer can also be spotted in the woods near the shoreline. Thank you! Campgrounds and RV Parks. They will be able to help you determine if the alligator is a threat and what to do about it. Thirty to forty-pound Striped Bass are pulled from its water regularly by excited anglers. In the Battle of Old River Lake, Union and Confederate soldiers engaged in battle on the southern shore of the lake. WEBSITE. Located in Ville Platte, the 6,400-acre state park is the largest state park in Louisiana, and it's also one of the oldest. The Delta Woodlands Trail is 1 mile long and classified as easy. But, seeing them in the wild can be a real treat. Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors. $25/night plus tax, Sun-Thurs, Apr-Sept There are a few need to know tips before you head out on your next camping trip to Lake Chicot State Park. ins.style.display = 'block'; [2], The name Chicot, French for "stumpy," refers to the many cypress stumps and trees along the lake banks. var cid = '8507733068'; Take some bug spray and have a great time. This blog post will answer all your questions about alligator populations in Arkansas. Encompassing an area of 6.19 sq. Ouachita Sportsplex, LA. The cool, clear waters of Lake Chicot have yielded record freshwater catches of largemouth bass, crappie, bluegill and red-ear sunfish. Whether youre a tent camper and just need water or that guy in a big 5th wheel who wants water, 50 Amp service and sewer, Lake Chicot State Park has you covered! But if were being honest, our favorite food is crme brle. There is a boat ramp at Lake Chicot State Park on the north side of the lake. It was good that we were given directions by phone on how to get into our cabin after hours. In 1541, a band of Spanish travelers known as Hernando de Soto and his men came upon the banks of the Mississippi River. Not only did alligators recover in Arkansas, but also in other southern states, due to endangered species protection and repopulation efforts. ARKANSAS STATE PARKS 1 Capitol Mall - Little Rock, Arkansas 72201 Born and raised in the Pacific Northwest, Brent grew up spending his summers out on the water, exploring the many rivers, streams, and lakes of the region. Alligators have been spotted as far north as Garland County, but they are not often seen in this part of the state. Manage Settings Lake Chicot State Park is a popular camping spot for many. Its beautiful waters are a favorite with anglers throughout the year. Maximum Occupancy of 100 people. The state park's self-guided levee tour (brochures available at the park) is a 30-mile drive, much of it atop the levees that now protect the area from Mississippi River floods. Here they will sit for a week or two to recuperate before feeding again. Lake Chicot Evangeline - Louisiana. Some of the top bass lakes in Arkansas include Beaver Lake, Blue Mountain Lake, Bull Shoals Lake, DeGray Lake, Greers Ferry Lake, Lake Chicot, Lake Conway, Lake Dardanelle, Lake Greeson, Lake Hamilton, Lake Jack Lee, Lake Maumelle, Lake Millwood, Lake Ouachita, Nimrod Lake, Norfork Lake and White Oak Lake. Also available in the park are, a park store. Fishing: Bluegill fishing is popular in Lake Chicot. It helps us pay for the running of this website. The Great River Road National Scenic Byway travels some of the lake's shoreline. The bait shop also has boat rentals. The Jack R. Rhodes Lake Front Park is a day-use area located in downtown Lake Village. Alligators are most commonly found in the southern part of Arkansas, near bodies of water like Arkansas, Lake Chicot, and Millwood Lake. Closed New Years Day, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. The next time you spot a bumpy log in the water on one of Arkansass lakes or rivers, look again. Near Dermott in S.E. ins.dataset.adClient = pid; When it comes to catching bass, every season has its opportunities and challenges. "Normally they don't want to be around you," Debenport says, "but we like to look for them because people get excited about it." Deer can also be spotted in the woods near the shoreline. Alligators are a common site in Lake Chicot. document.getElementById( "ak_js_2" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Only in Arkansas. If youre lucky (or unlucky) enough to see one, snap a picture and share it with us on social media. Be among the first to get breaking news, weather, and general news updates from News on 6 delivered right to your inbox! Yes, there are alligator mississippiensis in the Arkansas River. What is Lake Chicot most known for? Holders of the Passes, whosestate of residencealso honors the America the Beautiful pass, are entitled to a 50% reduction on camping fees at Louisiana State Parks. Located near the Mississippi River, the park is situated in one of the largest flyways in the country making it a perfect place for birdwatching. Located in the flat Delta lands of southeastern Arkansas, Lake Chicot is a true natural wonder. [1] The lake is located on the east side of Lake Village, Arkansas in Chicot County. In fact, veteran birders have spotted over 200 different species at the park. & # x27 ; s nap to love a trip to one of the.. Classified site in the U.S. Lake Ouachita State Park is positioned right in Park! 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