North Toledo Bend State Park
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North Toledo Bend State Park is located on Toledo Bend Reservoir, one of the country's largest man-made reservoirs. Numerous overlooks, observation decks, and piers allow ample views of the reservoir and adjacent coves. Waterfowl such as Canada Goose, Wood Duck, and Blue-winged Teal are commonly seen, as are other waterbirds such as Spotted Sandpiper, Double-crested Cormorant, Great Egret, and Belted Kingfisher. Numerous raptors cruise the coves, including Osprey and Bald Eagle. Two unimproved nature trails, the 1.5-mile Dogwood Loop and the 4-mile Magnolia Loop, weave through the park's rolling topography of mixed pine hardwoods with some bottomland hardwoods and cypress stands near the lakeshore.
Woodland birds recorded here include Red-bellied, Red-headed, Downy, Hairy and Pileated Woodpeckers, along with Northern Flicker and Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (in winter). Look also for numerous species of flycatchers along the edges of the water and forests.
North Toledo Bend State Park is a great venue for various water-related activities, including fishing, boating/paddling, and swimming. A boat launch with a double ramp, paved parking, and canoe/kayak/boat rentals provides access to the reservoir.
Available day-use facilities include a meeting room, a full-size swimming pool with restrooms for the summer season, and a laundry facility. The park includes 63 campsites, each equipped with water and electrical hookups, and 10 cabins comfortably sleeping 6-8 people. Some cabins also feature boardwalk ramps for wheelchair-bound visitors. Large groups of visitors may reserve the group camp, which consists of five dormitories, a large bathhouse, and a central kitchen/dining building.