Lake Bruin State Park, located less than a mile from the Mississippi River in scenic east-central Louisiana, has long had a reputation for great fishing and waterskiing. It’s easy to see why: there’s more than 3,000 acres of water surface, giving visitors plenty of room to play.

The park is built on a geographic oddity called an oxbow lake, once part of a bend in the Mississippi River until eroding sediment filled in and cut off what today is a horseshoe-shaped lake. For geologists, Lake Bruin’s fascinating to study. For vacationers and day trippers, it’s a whole lot of fun.

Lake Bruin is teeming with largemouth bass and sac-à-lait (crappie), and bluegills feed in the shallow waters at each end of the lake. The bass fishing is so good, that Lake Bruin is one of the 8 stops along the Louisiana Bass Trail. No boat? No problem. Flat bottom boats are available for rent, and include two paddles and three life jackets.

On shore, families can gather ’round one of many barbecue grills and picnic tables located throughout the park. Other facilities include a boat launch, boat shed, covered pavilion, bathhouse and three large fishing piers. With all these amenities, Lake Bruin State Park offers many ways to spend a day, a night or a week in the rustic Mississippi Delta.

Overnight guests have options for places to stay. The park has 36 improved campsites with water and electrical hookup, and 12 premium sites in prime locations with pull-through convenience.

Before or after your trip to Lake Bruin State Park, take some time to explore the surrounding area. Poverty Point World Heritage Site, a system of ancient earthen mounds, is located near the town of Epps. Also for archaeology buffs, the Indian Mounds of Northeast Louisiana trail is located very close to the park. Frogmore Cotton Plantation & Gins is in the nearby town of Frogmore, as is the Delta Music Museum in Ferriday.