Vernon Parish Kisatchie National Forest Artillery Range Circuit
Military training roads through longleaf wilderness
The old Fort Polk artillery impact area in Vernon Parish offers some of Louisiana’s gnarliest terrain, with military training roads carved deep into clay hills and sandy bottoms. These routes follow tank trails and ammunition transport roads through dense longleaf pine forests, crossing Whisky Chitto Creek multiple times and navigating around unexploded ordnance warning zones. The main loop connects several observation towers and ends at the historic Peason Ridge fire tower, with side spurs leading to remote camping spots along Anacoco Creek.
This is difficult driving requiring experienced 4WD with skid plates, recovery gear, and ideally winch capability. Clay turns to absolute soup when wet, creating ruts that’ll swallow axles. Best attempted during dry spells from late summer through early winter. No permits needed but stay on marked routes — UXO hazards are real. Fuel up in Leesville and bring extra water. The reward is genuine backcountry solitude in Louisiana’s largest remaining longleaf pine ecosystem, with excellent camping and some of the state’s best whitetail hunting.
Trail Specs
| Difficulty | Difficult |
|---|---|
| Trail Type | Technical 4x4 |
| Surface | Mixed |
| Features | Camping, Historic, Remote, Water Crossings |
| Length (miles) | 26 mi / 41.8 km |
| Duration | 2 days |
| Max elevation (ft) | 285 ft |
| Best season | August-February |
| Minimum vehicle | Modified 4WD with skid plates |
| Nearest town | Leesville, Louisiana |
| Land manager | US Forest Service |
| Permit required | No |
| Cell service | Spotty |
| Water crossings | Yes |
| Dispersed camping | Yes |
| Official sources | fs.usda.gov |
| Start coordinates | |
| End coordinates | |
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| Find on Google | Search on Google → |
Location
Trail Conditions
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Frequently asked questions
Can a stock Tacoma or 4Runner run this trail, or do I need a lifted rig?
Stock rigs will struggle here. Tank ruts and deep bog sections demand at minimum a 2-3 inch lift, aggressive all-terrains, and skid plates — the existing excerpt calls it a minimum modified 4WD for a reason. Lockers are strongly recommended for the worst sections.
What time of year is this trail passable, and does Louisiana heat make summer a bad idea?
Best season is August through February, but summer here means brutal humidity, standing water, and biting insects that will ruin your trip. Late fall through February is the sweet spot — cooler temps, lower water levels, and the longleaf pine forest actually looks good.
Do I need a permit to run this circuit, and are there any active military closure days I should know about?
No permit is required for the trail itself, but sections run through or adjacent to Fort Johnson (formerly Fort Polk) training areas — closures happen with zero notice when the military is active. Check with the Kisatchie National Forest Calcasieu Ranger District before you go and verify no live-fire operations are scheduled.
What's the hardest section on the circuit and what should I actually expect?
The old tank track corridors are where rigs get into trouble — deep parallel ruts that can high-center even lifted trucks, combined with Louisiana clay that turns to axle-deep grease after any rain. Expect to air down, potentially winch, and plan for this 26-mile loop to eat a full two days if conditions are wet.
How far is the nearest gas from the trailhead, and is there reliable water on the route?
Leesville is your last fuel stop — top off there before heading out, as there's nothing closer to the trailhead. There are water crossings on the route but treat anything you pull from them; bring all the water you need for two days and don't count on the crossings being clean.
Trail track
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