A Place to Hang Close to New Orleans?

**La Picker** · 02-05-2017, 10:30

I was trying to think of a good place where I could hang a night or two just to test run some new gear and really couldn't come up with anything closer than Tunica Hills or Clear Springs up in Homochitto. Either of those options is three hours driving time each way.

Soooo, thought I'd post an inquiry here and see if the collective consciousness could come up with a better (closer to home) option. My preferences are something with a bit of solitude, and something with a water source (not necessarily potable). Although, under the circumstances, I'm not going to be too choosy.

**johnspenn** · 02-05-2017, 17:09

Not from there and only visited a couple of times so forgive my ignorance if necessary. When I was there we drove across Lake Ponchartrain and it seemed like it was immediately sticksville out that way. Maybe somewhere over there?

Good luck.

**TrailSlug** · 02-05-2017, 17:20

Checkout the Bogue Chitto National Wildlife area. It's only about an hour out of NO.

**Cajunracer** · 02-05-2017, 17:21

Fontainebleau State Park on the north shore. We go there often. There are lots of places to hang both in the regular coming spots and the primitive spots.

**La Picker** · 02-06-2017, 06:48

Originally Posted by johnspenn

Not from there and only visited a couple of times so forgive my ignorance if necessary. When I was there we drove across Lake Ponchartrain and it seemed like it was immediately sticksville out that way. Maybe somewhere over there?

Good luck.

Yes, it is quite wooded up there, and that's one of the areas that I had hopes for as far as finding something.

**La Picker** · 02-06-2017, 06:52

Originally Posted by Cajunracer

Fontainebleau State Park on the north shore. We go there often. There are lots of places to hang both in the regular coming spots and the primitive spots.

Thanks Cajunracer. Fountainbleau was a question mark for me for sure. We'd gone RV camping up there years ago, but the RV spots were almost devoid of trees and I don't remember if they had a primitive/unimproved area for tents and such. Thanks for the update!

**La Picker** · 02-06-2017, 06:55

Originally Posted by TrailSlug

Checkout the Bogue Chitto National Wildlife area. It's only about an hour out of NO.

Thanks Trailslug. I'm not really familiar with Bogue Chitto and hadn't really thought about it as a possibility. I'm going to do some research and maybe take a ride up there.

I knew I could count on you guys for some suggestions! There's probably more collective camping knowledge here than anywhere else on the net.

**MABfromLa** · 02-06-2017, 08:15

Fountainbleau would probably be your best bet but Mississippi has the Desoto National Forest which is only a couple of hours away from NOLA. There's the Tuxachanie trail just north of Gulfport and also the Black Creek Trail which is up by Wiggins. Either place would be nice for a weekend get away.

**Nodust** · 02-06-2017, 08:29

Bonnet Carre Spillway in Norco.

Stayed there with the scouts last two years in December. Not the most scenic but a good place to try gear. I just found a few trees in the woods. Good bass fishing in the suction canal and a short drive down the guide levee to the lake if you want to saltwater fish or crab if the time of year is right. It was free to camp.

There is a chemical plant close by and Airline Hwy so there is some soothing background noise

Google map

**La Picker** · 02-06-2017, 08:33

Originally Posted by MABfromLa

Fountainbleau would probably be your best bet but Mississippi has the Desoto National Forest which is only a couple of hours away from NOLA. There's the Tuxachanie trail just north of Gulfport and also the Black Creek Trail which is up by Wiggins. Either place would be nice for a weekend get away.

Thanks MAB. I did think of Desoto, but that's actually almost as far from me as Clear Springs.