Chicot State Park, State park in Ville Platte, Louisiana, US

Chicot State Park covers 6,400 acres of rolling hills near Ville Platte, with a 2,000-acre man-made Lake Chicot at its centre, stocked with largemouth bass, crappie, bluegill and red-ear sunfish. The park is split into three landings: South Landing holds cabins, campsites, a group camp, lodge, picnic areas, playgrounds, a splash pad and the Louisiana State Arboretum; North Landing has lodges, campsites, a primitive group-camping area, boat launch and fishing pier; East Landing offers a day-use area and boat launch. A 22-mile hiking trail circles the lake, passing primitive hike-to campsites, and the park also has a boathouse, three boat launches and boat rentals.

Lake Chicot was created in the 1940s through damming and quickly became a center for outdoor recreation in South Louisiana. This artificial water body transformed the land and gave the region a hub for water sports and outdoor activities.

The Louisiana State Arboretum within the park displays beech and magnolia forests, offering visitors a chance to learn about native plants in their natural setting. People come here to see trees and shrubs that grow naturally throughout the region.

The park is split into three landings: South Landing holds the cabins, group camp, lodge, playgrounds, splash pad and the Louisiana State Arboretum; North Landing has lodges, campsites, a primitive group-camping area, boat launch and fishing pier; East Landing is a day-use area with a boat launch. A 22-mile hiking trail circles the lake and links primitive hike-to campsites, and the path is open to mountain bikes. Boat rentals, three launches and a boathouse serve anglers.

A trail system encircles the lake and passes through bottomland forests where visitors can observe native wildlife and wetland environments up close. This route sees fewer people than other park areas, allowing for quieter nature observation.