Western Louisiana is filled with small towns shaped by rivers, pine woods, and the Gulf. Life here moves more slowly, away from interstates and city noise. Some places grew from sawmills, others from farming or fishing, but all still keep close ties to land and water. Festivals mark the calendar, while trails, lakes, and marshes invite fresh air and calm. From hilltop villages to beach camps, these 12 towns show a side of Louisiana where history and nature meet in daily life.
1. Merryville
Merryville is located along the Sabine River in Beauregard Parish on the Texas line. The river is a favorite spot for fishing, swimming, and sandbar cookouts. Each spring, the Heritage Festival celebrates sawmill days with parades, live music, and local food. Hunters roam nearby woods, and trails give space for walks and birdwatching. The Merryville Museum holds lumber-era artifacts and stories. Around town, weathered storefronts and cottages keep the look of a river settlement that has stood for more than a century.
2. Rosepine
Rosepine is found between Beauregard and Vernon Parishes, first shaped by the timber trade. Families gather at Bundick Lake for boating, camping, and lakeside picnics. In the fall, the Vernon Parish Fair brings rides, farm shows, and live concerts. Parks and quiet lanes are good for ballgames or evening walks. The Beauregard Museum in nearby DeRidder shares exhibits on railroads and timber. Rosepine’s cottages, grid streets, and old shops reflect its steady roots and give the town a calm spirit tied to Louisiana’s pine belt.
3. Hackberry
Hackberry is found north of Calcasieu Lake in Cameron Parish, surrounded by canals and marshes. Fishing is the lifeblood here, with anglers heading out at dawn for trout and redfish. Each July, Hackberry marks Independence Day with fireworks, barbecue, and live music. Calcasieu Lake and the marshes invite shrimping, crabbing, and birding. The Cameron Prairie National Wildlife Refuge adds trails and a visitor center. Small churches, family homes, and fishing camps reflect Hackberry’s early 1900s heritage as a water-centered village.
4. Grand Chenier
Grand Chenier is located on oak-crowned ridges in Cameron Parish, a rare high ground along the Gulf. Shrimping, trapping, and hunting shape daily life, while the annual Fur and Wildlife Festival celebrates local culture with seafood, rodeos, and music. The Rockefeller Wildlife Refuge nearby spans 70,000 acres with opportunities for birding and guided tours. Historic churches and farmhouses beneath century-old oaks tell the story of a coastal town that has endured storms and stayed tied to the land for generations.
5. Holly Beach
Holly Beach is located along LA-82 in Cameron Parish, known as the “Cajun Riviera.” Its sandy shoreline is the main attraction, where people hunt for shells, cast fishing lines, or sit on porches to watch sunsets. Summer weekends bring live music, food trucks, and gatherings along the beach. Outdoor fun includes crabbing, swimming, and birding. The Creole Nature Trail passes nearby, adding stops for wildlife viewing. Raised cottages and rebuilt beach houses show how the town has weathered coastal storms for decades.
6. Reeves
Reeves is found on U.S. 190 in Allen Parish, surrounded by farmland and pines. Bundick Lake nearby offers swimming, boating, and family camping. Each spring, the Reeves Festival brings music, food stalls, and games to the town park. Hunters and hikers head into nearby woods, while quiet country roads make good drives. The local library offers programs and parish history. Along the highway, wooden churches, farmhouses, and simple stores recall Reeves’ early 1900s identity as a prairie stop for travelers.
7. Elizabeth
Elizabeth is located in Allen Parish and grew around a large sawmill during the early 1900s. The old mill office and street grid remain from that era. Bundick Lake offers swimming, picnics, and fishing just outside town. Each fall, the Harvest Festival brings a parade, rides, and booths. Hunters and walkers enjoy the nearby pine woods. The Leatherwood Museum in Oberlin adds stories of parish life. Historic cottages, civic buildings, and wooden churches still reflect Elizabeth’s timber town heritage.
8. Converse
Converse is located in Sabine Parish near the Texas line, set among rolling hills and pine woods. It is a gateway to Toledo Bend Reservoir, where fishing and boating bring visitors year-round. Each summer, residents join the Sabine Free Fair in Many for parades, music shows, and rodeos. Local pastimes include hunting, country drives, and hiking backroads. The Sabine Parish Museum in Many highlights the area’s ranching and timber history. Old cemeteries, farmhouses, and weathered churches keep Converse tied to its rural beginnings.
9. Provencal
Provencal is located in western Natchitoches Parish, close to Kisatchie National Forest. The Caroline Dormon Trail is the highlight, with miles of hiking through longleaf pine. In the fall, residents also join the Good Ole Days Festival in nearby Marthaville for concerts, crafts, and food. Outdoor fun includes camping, birding, and spring wildflower walks in Kisatchie. Local schools and churches anchor community life. Wooden churches, frame homes, and modest shops reflect Provencal’s small-town heritage from the early 20th century.
10. Longville
Longville is located in Beauregard Parish and framed by pine forests and open farmland. Bundick Lake provides swimming, boating, and camping for families. Each fall, the Beauregard Parish Fair in DeRidder brings parades, rides, and livestock shows enjoyed by Longville residents. Outdoor activities include hunting, hiking, and country drives. The Beauregard Museum in DeRidder shares exhibits on timber and railroad days. Early homes, family farms, and small stores along the highway reflect Longville’s role as a rural stop in Louisiana’s pine country.
11. Fields
Fields is in far western Beauregard Parish near the Texas border, where pine forests meet farmland. Hunting and fishing in nearby woods are local traditions. Each year, residents join the Beauregard Parish Fair in DeRidder, which brings food stands, rides, and concerts. Backroads and wooded tracts provide places for birding and slow drives. The Beauregard Museum explains parish timber and farming history. Farmhouses, small churches, and country shops still give Fields the look of a close community tied to the land.
12. Evans
Evans is located in Vernon Parish on the Sabine River, giving the town a borderland feel. Fishing, canoeing, and riverside picnics are favorite activities. Each fall, the Evans High School Homecoming Parade brings floats, marching bands, and food stands. Hunters and campers use forest roads nearby, while the Sabine River offers calm waters for boating. The Museum of West Louisiana in Leesville provides exhibits on local history. Wooden churches, cemeteries, and farmhouses reflect Evans’ beginnings as a small riverside community.
