Tom Merrill Recreation Area
Open
— Open year-round. Reservations required through Recreation.gov; no on-site check-in booth. Reservations available up to 6 months in advance.
About
Tom Merrill Recreation Area sits downstream of Bayou Bodcau Dam along Bodcau Creek in northwest Louisiana. This small, quiet Corps of Engineers campground offers Class A facilities year-round and is managed as a reservation-only facility with no on-site fee booth. All reservations must be made through Recreation.gov up to 6 months in advance or upon arrival.
The campground provides access to Bodcau Creek for fishing and boating, with conditions varying seasonally from slow-moving water in summer to swift flows during winter rains. A hiking and mountain biking trail system of approximately 7 miles begins in the recreation area and loops through the surrounding landscape. The nearby Bayou Bodcau project encompasses 33,500 acres of public land featuring moss-laden cypress swamps, bottomland forests, and upland pine areas. The wildlife management area is extremely popular during hunting season for deer and other game, and is home to alligators, beaver, bald eagles, and some of the largest champion trees in Louisiana. Ivan Lake, a 500-acre lake within the project, offers additional fishing and boating opportunities.
Bayou Bodcau is a dry reservoir that only fills during periods of high rainfall. The remote location ensures minimal traffic and noise, while downtown Bossier City and Shreveport are 30-45 minutes away for museums, restaurants, minor league hockey, and Barksdale Air Force Base.
Directions
From Interstate 20, take exit 33 and head north on State Route 157. Drive 9 miles and turn right on Bodcau Dam Road. Drive 3 miles and the campground will be on the left.
Nearby Campgrounds
