Situated on the western shore of Lake Bistineau, this park offers a blend of beautiful vistas and outstanding recreational facilities. Lake Bistineau’s beginnings date back over 200 years, when the land was flooded due to a log jam on the nearby Red River. By 1935, a permanent dam was built across Loggy Bayou, creating the present-day Lake Bistineau.
The lake's open waters hold waterfowl during the winter months, including species such as Wood Duck, Canvasback, and Ring-necked Duck. Lake edges host Least Bittern in spring and fall migration, along with shorebirds such as Least, Semipalmated, and Spotted Sandpipers. Other waterbirds of interest include Bonaparte's and Ring-billed Gulls, Forster's Tern, Great and Snowy Egrets, Little Blue, Tricolored, and Green Herons, and Roseate Spoonbill.
Olive-sided Flycatcher has been detected in spring migration, along with Eastern Wood-Pewee and Acadian and Alder Flycatchers. Northern Rough-winged, Barn, Tree, and Cliff Swallows as well as Purple Martin cruise the lake at different times of the year.
Bird action along the trails is usually boisterous, with year-round species such as Red-headed, Red-bellied, Downy, Hairy, and Pileated Woodpeckers, White-breasted and Brown-headed Nuthatches, Pine Warbler, and Northern Cardinal. During migration and winter months, the woodland bird community is augmented with species including House and Winter Wrens, Ruby-crowned and Golden-crowned Kinglets, and Purple Finch, along with at least nine species of sparrows, and 15 warblers.
Outdoor recreational activities include hiking, biking, horseback riding, birding, paddling, picnicking, camping, hunting, fishing, and nature photography. Area 1 is in the park's main section, with cabins and a group camp. Picnic sites along the lake have tables, grills, and nearby restrooms. Several picnic pavilions are also available for larger groups. The park’s trail system includes nearly 10 miles of woodland trails and an 11-mile canoe trail.
