Lake Ophelia
Marksville, LA 71351-4518
Plan Your Visit
Lake Ophelia Refuge provides numerous recreation opportunities to thousands of visitors every year. People enjoy viewing the unique geology and diverse wildlife. Regulation of recreation activities allow for public enjoyment of the refuge while still protecting the wildlife and habitats.
The refuge is open from sunrise to sunset. Roads throughout the refuge are graveled and visitors must maintain the posted speed limits. Parking is allowed in designated parking areas only. No overnight parking is allowed on the refuge.
Hiking is allowed in all areas open to the public. Wildlife observation and photography are encouraged. Please stay out of closed areas to minimize disturbance to plants and animals. Horseback riding is not authorized on the refuge.
Fishing and hunting is allowed on over 12,000 acres of the refuge. Special refuge regulations apply. Regulations Brochure 2026-2027
An annual recreational activity permit is required to fish or hunt on the refuge.
All hunters must obtain and complete a Daily Visitor Use Reporting Card upon entering the refuge (located at the two checks stations). Before leaving the refuge, users must complete card and deposit it in a drop box at one of the check stations.
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.
Activities
Services
Refuge staff use a variety of tools to manage wildlife populations and habitat on Lake Ophelia Refuge while maintaining opportunities for the public to participate in recreational activities like hunting and fishing.
About
Lake Ophelia National Wildlife Refuge was established in October 2000 to conserve and restore habitat for migratory birds, aquatic resources, and endangered plants and animals. The refuge consists of 17,500 acres of diverse topography, featuring ridges, swales, and the 350-acre Lake Ophelia. Major habitats include bottomland forests, reforestation areas, croplands for wintering waterfowl, and managed moist soil wetlands. It is managed as part of the Central Louisiana Refuges Complex.