Kisatchie Fall Guide Before Visiting 2026 Updated

Kisatchie Fall is a waterfall in Natchitoches County, Louisiana, about 20 miles northeast of Leesville. This guide covers what to check, bring and expect before you go, using visitor ratings, official USGS records and live conditions for this exact location.

At a glance

Location

Natchitoches County, LA

Nearest town

Leesville (20 mi)

Visitor rating

★★★★★ 4.7 from 34 reviews

Crowds

Quieter

Access

Short hike likely

Coordinates

31.40768, -93.13100

USGS topo

Kisatchie quad

Getting there

Kisatchie Fall sits about 20 miles northeast of Leesville in Natchitoches County. Navigate to the coordinates 31.40768, -93.13100, which mark the waterfall itself; the trailhead or parking area may be some distance away. Visitors reach it on foot by trail. Check the current trail map for distance and elevation before you go.

Open directions in Google Maps or Apple Maps, or view the map on the Kisatchie Fall listing. Navigation apps sometimes route onto seasonal forest roads, so check road status if you are heading into the mountains.

Kisatchie National Forest manages most of the Kisatchie Hills falls, with developed recreation areas, primitive camping and a network of forest roads, some of them gravel. In the Tunica Hills, access is a mix of state-managed land and private property, so confirm boundaries before setting out. Hunting is common on public land in fall and winter, and wearing blaze orange during those seasons is wise. The terrain is not high, but ravine walls are steep and loess soils become very slippery when wet. Heat exhaustion is a real risk from May through September; carry plenty of water. Ticks, chiggers, mosquitoes and venomous snakes are present in warm months, and creeks can rise quickly during heavy rain.

What to bring

This checklist is tailored to Kisatchie Fall based on what visitors report and the conditions typical of Louisiana. For the complete list, see our waterfall hike packing guide.

• Offline map and coordinates. Save 31.40768, -93.13100 and download offline maps; cell service is often weak near waterfalls.
• Shoes with real grip. Rock near falling water stays wet and slick even in dry weather.
• Water and a snack. More than you think you need, even for a short walk.
• A light rain layer. Spray from the falls and quick-moving showers can soak you.
• Headlamp. In case your visit runs later than planned; check sunset time in the conditions panel above.

How to prepare

Timing

Rainfall controls these small falls, so the best visits come during or after wet periods. Louisiana receives heavy rain through much of the year, but late winter and spring, roughly January through May, tend to combine reliable flow with comfortable hiking temperatures and fewer insects. Summer brings intense heat and humidity, along with frequent afternoon thunderstorms that can briefly raise creeks. Late summer and early fall, especially August through October, are often the driest stretch, and the falls can shrink to a trickle. Hurricane season, from June through November, may bring flooding rains and road or forest closures after major storms. Mild winter days are often ideal for exploring the Tunica Hills ravines once leaves are down. With 34 reviews, it sees fewer visitors than the region's headline falls, so you may have it to yourself on a weekday.

Safety

Stay behind railings and off wet rock, never climb on the falls, and keep children within arm's reach near the water. Check the weather panel above for flood or storm alerts before you set out; water levels can rise fast after upstream rain. Our waterfall safety guide covers the most common hazards.

Respect the place

Pack out everything you bring, stay on established paths to limit erosion, and leave rocks and plants where they are. See Leave No Trace at waterfalls.

What visitors say

Kisatchie Fall holds a 4.7-star average across 34 Google reviews, and 82% of reviewers give it five stars. That makes it the most reviewed waterfall in Natchitoches County. Visitors have shared 33 photos.

The topics that come up most in reviews: amazing scenerytrash bagscleanlinessfallshiking

See the rating breakdown or read reviews on Google.

History of the area

Older maps and records also list it as Kisatchie Falls.

Kisatchie Fall was entered in the Geographic Names Information System on November 1, 1991, and it appears on the USGS Kisatchie 7.5-minute topographic map.

Its neighbors on the map tell the story of the surrounding land: Little Sandy Creek (stream, 0.9 mi), Sulphur Branch (stream, 1.1 mi), Big Branch (stream, 1.6 mi), and Key Branch (stream, 1.6 mi).

Kisatchie and Tunica Hills. Louisiana's few falls are spread across two hilly islands in an otherwise low landscape. In Natchitoches Parish, Kisatchie National Forest protects rugged sandstone country with longleaf pine, clear bayous and ledges where Kisatchie Bayou pours over small drops; Kisatchie Fall and Odum Falls are part of this area, and sandy beaches along the bayou are popular in warm weather. In West Feliciana Parish, the Tunica Hills rise above the Mississippi floodplain in a maze of steep, shaded ravines, and Woodriff Falls is one of the small drops found where creeks cut through clay and gravel. Both areas feel more like the uplands of neighboring states than typical Louisiana.

Nearby waterfalls to add to your trip

Summary

Kisatchie Fall about 20 miles northeast of Leesville is rated 4.7 out of 5 by 34 visitors. Check the live forecast and stream gauge above, save the coordinates for offline use, and pack for wet, uneven ground. Ratings, hours and access can change, so confirm conditions with the land manager before you drive out.

See the full Kisatchie Fall listing for the map, photos and nearby landmarks.