Quick Summary:

  • Louisiana is incredibly rich in lakes, both natural and man-made, that provide endless opportunities for water sports, fishing, boating, bird watching, and any other kind of outdoor weekend recreation.
  • Most lakes are shallow and surrounded by picturesque moss-covered southern cypress trees with their roots in the water.
  • Nearby national parks or conservation lands protect many of the lakes because of their unique and often fragile ecosystems.


  • Updated with new information since originally published.
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  • Our editors recommend these diverse local experiences.

1. Caddo Lake ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Category: Activities
Caddo Lake | Lakes in Louisiana
© Courtesy of Zack Frank - Fotolia.com

2. Lake Pontchartrain ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Category: Activities
Lake Pontchartrain | Lakes in Louisiana
© Tisha Simon/stock.adobe.com

3. Lake Martin

Category: Activities
Lake Martin | Lakes in Louisiana
© Courtesy of Pierre-Jean DURIEU - Fotolia.com

4. Caney Lakes Recreation Area

Category: Activities
Caney Lakes Recreation Area | Lakes in Louisiana
© Courtesy of soupstock - Fotolia.com

5. Cross Lake

Category: Activities
Cross Lake | Lakes in Louisiana
© Courtesy of Randy Raszler - Fotolia.com

6. False River

Category: Activities
False River | Lakes in Louisiana
© Courtesy of Juergen - Fotolia.com

7. Henderson Lake

Category: Activities
Henderson Lake | Lakes in Louisiana
© Courtesy of jekurantodistaja - Fotolia.com

8. Prien Lake

Category: Activities
Prien Lake | Lakes in Louisiana
© kichigin19/stock.adobe.com

9. Lac des Allemands

Lac des Allemands | Lakes in Louisiana
© Courtesy of Zina Seletskaya - Fotolia.com

10. Lake Bistineau

Category: Activities
Lake Bistineau | Lakes in Louisiana
© Courtesy of claire - Fotolia.com

11. Lake Bruin

Category: Activities
Lake Bruin | Lakes in Louisiana
© Courtesy of Raquel Bagnol - Fotolia.com

12. Lake Chicot

Category: Activities
Lake Chicot | Lakes in Louisiana
© Courtesy of bonniemarie - Fotolia.com

13. Lake Claiborne

Category: Activities
Lake Claiborne | Lakes in Louisiana
© Courtesy of EBFoto - Fotolia.com

14. Lake D'Arbonne

Category: Activities
Lake D'Arbonne | Lakes in Louisiana
© Courtesy of Remains - Fotolia.com

15. Lake Fausse Pointe State Park

Category: Activities
Lake Fausse Pointe State Park | Lakes in Louisiana
© Courtesy of Zack Frank - Fotolia.com

16. Calcasieu Lake, Louisiana

Category: Activities
Calcasieu Lake, Louisiana | Lakes in Louisiana
© Courtesy of Jaimie Tuchman - Fotolia.com

17. Poverty Point Reservoir State Park

Category: Activities
Poverty Point Reservoir State Park | Lakes in Louisiana
© Courtesy of hildeanna - Fotolia.com

18. Toledo Bend

Toledo Bend | Lakes in Louisiana
© Courtesy of Manuel - Fotolia.com

19. Cane River Lake, Louisiana

Category: Activities
Cane River Lake, Louisiana | Lakes in Louisiana
© Courtesy of daranna - Fotolia.com

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