About Lake Ophelia National Wildlife Refuge
Lake Ophelia National Wildlife Refuge was established in October 2000 with the purpose of conserving and restoring habitat for migratory birds, aquatic resources, and endangered plants and animals. The Refuge consists of 17,500 acres. Topography on the refuge is characterized by ridges and swales that create a great diversity of plant and animal communities. The refuge is named for Lake Ophelia, a 350-acre permanently flooded lake.Major habitat types found on the refuge include: 8,400 acres bottomland forest, 4,200 acres reforestation and 3,400 acres cropland that are used to provide winter forage for migratory waterfowl, 500 acres of managed moist soil wetlands and 1,000 acres of lakes and bayous.
How to Get There
Lake Ophelia National Wildlife Refuge is located 20 miles northeast Of Marksville LA on Hwy 452. From LA1 in Marksville take Highway 452 north towards the community of Brouillette.. Past the community of Brouillette, Hwy 452 will turn to gravel and is called Lake Long Road the refuge entrance is 1 mile from the where the pavement ends. The refuge check station is located approximately 3.5 miles from where the pavement ends.The refuge office is located at 401 Island Road just west of Marksville, LA near the community of Fifth Ward. The office can be reached by taking LA. Hwy. 1194 south from LA. Hwy. 1, to Island Road.
Driving directions (Google Maps) →Plan Your Visit to Lake Ophelia National Wildlife Refuge
Heading to Lake Ophelia National Wildlife Refuge? A few things to know before you go:
- Reservations: popular sites fill up fast — check Recreation.gov 6 months in advance
- Fees: day-use and camping fees vary; check current rates on the official park page
- Trash & pack-out: follow Leave No Trace principles
- Wildlife: store food in bear boxes where provided; never feed wildlife
- Weather: the 5-day forecast above is updated every 6 hours; verify just before you go
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a reservation for Lake Ophelia National Wildlife Refuge?
No central reservation system listed for Lake Ophelia National Wildlife Refuge. Check the official page (https://www.recreation.gov/recarea/1476) for the latest entry policy and availability.
How do I get to Lake Ophelia National Wildlife Refuge?
Lake Ophelia National Wildlife Refuge is located 20 miles northeast Of Marksville LA on Hwy 452. From LA1 in Marksville take Highway 452 north towards the community of Brouillette.. Past the community of Brouillette, Hwy 452 will turn to gravel and is called Lake Long Road the refuge entrance is 1 mile from the where the pavement ends. The refuge check station is located approximately 3.5 miles fr…
How do I contact Lake Ophelia National Wildlife Refuge?
You can reach the park at phone: 318-253-4238 or email: lakeophelia@fws.gov.
References & Official Resources
