Tucked away in the red dirt and pine-thick landscape of Calhoun, Louisiana, there’s a place that sounds more like a secret coordinates set than a playground. It's called 5313 Off Road Park. If you’re looking for manicured trails or a resort-style welcome center with overpriced lattes, you’re in the wrong zip code. This is 700-ish acres of raw, unfiltered Louisiana terrain. It’s the kind of place where your winch isn’t an accessory—it’s a lifeline.
The park sits right off Highway 80. You’ll know you're there when the pavement ends and the real work begins. Honestly, a lot of people show up here thinking their stock SUV can handle the "easy" trails. They usually end up as a cautionary tale on a local Facebook group. This isn't just a park; it's a test of how well you actually know your rig and how much you trust your spotter.
The Reality of the Louisiana Mud
Louisiana mud is a different beast entirely. It’s not that watery, splashy stuff you see in truck commercials. It’s thick. It’s clay-heavy. It’s got a consistency somewhere between wet concrete and peanut butter. At 5313 Off Road Park, this mud defines the experience.
When the rain hits Ouachita Parish, the park transforms. Low-lying areas become "bounty holes" that swallow 40-inch tires like they’re nothing. You’ve got to understand the geography here. We’re talking about bottomland that holds moisture for weeks. Even if it hasn’t rained in three days, the shaded sections of the trails stay slick and unpredictable.
The elevation changes aren't massive—this isn't the Rockies—but the short, steep inclines are often coated in that slick red clay. It creates a situation where momentum is your best friend and your worst enemy. Too much gas and you’re sliding sideways into a gum tree. Too little, and you’re high-centered on a rut carved out by a Mega Truck.
What kind of rigs actually survive?
You see everything here. Side-by-sides (SXS) are arguably the kings of the park right now. Can-Ams and Polarises handle the tight timber sections much better than a full-size K5 Blazer or a Jeep Gladiator. However, there’s a dedicated crowd of "old school" wheelers who bring out heavily modified rock crawlers and mud trucks.
📖 Related: Seeing Universal Studios Orlando from Above: What the Maps Don't Tell You
- ATVs and UTVs: These make up the bulk of the weekend traffic. The trails are wide enough for them, and they can skim over the top of the muck that sinks heavier vehicles.
- Jeeps and Trucks: If you’re bringing a road-legal vehicle, you better have at least 35-inch mud terrains and a locker. Open differentials are basically an invitation to get stuck within the first twenty minutes.
- Mega Trucks: Occasionally, you’ll see the big boys. We’re talking nitrogen shocks, 5-ton axles, and tires taller than a grown man. Watching them hit the deep pits is basically the local version of a high-stakes sporting event.
Navigating the 5313 Off Road Park Trail System
The layout isn't exactly mapped out like a subway system. It’s organic. You’ve got the main "artery" trails that stay relatively packed down, and then you have the veins that bleed off into the woods.
The Creek Beds and Bottoms
One of the draws of 5313 Off Road Park is the creek access. Depending on the water levels, these sandy-bottomed runs can be a blast. But be careful. Sand in Louisiana is often "sugar sand," which can behave like quicksand if you stop moving. I’ve seen guys sink to their axles in what looked like a shallow puddle because they decided to stop and take a selfie.
The Hill Climbs
The park utilizes the natural ridges of North Louisiana. They aren't mountains, but they are tricky. The "technical" aspect here isn't about rock crawling over boulders; it's about managing traction on slippery slopes. You have to pick a line and commit. If you hesitate halfway up a clay hill at 5313, you're coming back down—potentially backwards.
The Culture: It’s More Than Just Dirt
There is a specific vibe at 5313. It’s communal. In the off-road world, there’s an unwritten rule: you don’t leave a man stuck. At this park, that rule is the law of the land. You’ll see total strangers pulling out recovery straps to help someone they’ve never met.
It’s loud. It’s dusty. It’s exactly what you’d expect from a deep-south off-road park. On big event weekends, the atmosphere is basically a tailgate party that happens to involve engines. There’s a sense of freedom here that’s getting harder to find as more land gets developed or closed off to the public.
👉 See also: How Long Ago Did the Titanic Sink? The Real Timeline of History's Most Famous Shipwreck
Events and Night Riding
The park often hosts specific "event" weekends—bounty holes, night rides, or holiday bashes. Night riding at 5313 Off Road Park is a completely different experience. The woods close in on you. The LED light bars cut through the dust, and the sounds of the swamp mix with the roar of exhausts. It’s chaotic in the best way possible.
Safety and Ethics (The "Don't Be a Jerk" Section)
Let’s be real: off-roading has a reputation for being destructive. If you want parks like 5313 to stay open, you have to follow the basic etiquette.
- Pack it in, pack it out. The amount of crushed aluminum cans left on trails is the fastest way to get a park shut down. Don't be that person.
- Stay on the trails. Yes, it's an off-road park, but "blazing your own trail" through protected wetlands or neighboring property is a legal nightmare for the owners.
- Know your limits. Don't try to follow a 600-horsepower mud bogger into a pit if you're driving a stock Honda Pioneer. You aren't proving anything; you're just blocking the trail for everyone else while you wait three hours for a tow.
Planning Your Trip: Practical Logistics
5313 Off Road Park isn't a 24/7/365 operation with a concierge. You need to check their social media (specifically their Facebook page) before you load up the trailer. They are weather-dependent. Sometimes the park closes because it's too wet—believe it or not, there's a point where the trails become unsalvageable for the season if they get chewed up too much during a flood.
- Location: 5313 Hwy 80, Calhoun, LA. It’s easy to find, but GPS can sometimes be wonky once you get close to the tree line.
- Pricing: Usually, it’s a per-person or per-machine fee. Expect to pay cash in many cases, though some parks are moving toward digital. Always have some green on you just in case.
- Amenities: This is "primitive" territory. There might be some portable toilets, and maybe a food truck during big events, but you should act like you’re going camping. Bring your own water, your own tools, and plenty of extra fuel. Cell service is spotty at best once you get deep into the trees.
What Most People Get Wrong About 5313
The biggest misconception is that you can "conquer" this place. You don't conquer Louisiana mud; you just survive it until the next wash-down. People show up with pristine rigs and leave with "Louisiana pinstripes"—scratches from the thick brush that lines the narrower trails.
Another mistake? Underestimating the heat. If you’re visiting in July or August, the humidity is a physical weight. You aren't just battling the terrain; you’re battling 95-degree heat with 90% humidity. If you don't have a cooling system that’s up to snuff, your machine will overheat long before you do.
✨ Don't miss: Why the Newport Back Bay Science Center is the Best Kept Secret in Orange County
The Gear You Actually Need
Forget the fancy gadgets. If you’re heading to 5313 Off Road Park, make sure you have these three things:
- A high-quality snatch block: Sometimes a straight pull isn't enough when you're suctioned into the clay.
- Pressure washer at home: You need to get that clay off your radiator and out of your brakes the second you get home. If it dries, it’s basically brick.
- A solid GPS or trail app: Apps like OnX Offroad are starting to map these private parks more accurately, but a dedicated handheld GPS is a lifesaver when the sun goes down and every tree starts looking the same.
Actionable Steps for Your First Visit
If you're ready to hit the dirt, don't just wing it. Start by checking the local weather for Calhoun, LA, a week out. If there's a massive storm front, prepare for a winch-fest.
Next, join a few North Louisiana off-road groups on social media. People are surprisingly helpful and will tell you exactly what the trail conditions were like the previous weekend.
Finally, do a "bolt check" on your rig. The vibration and jarring impacts of the 5313 trails will rattle anything loose that isn't torqued down. Check your fluids, especially your diff oil, because you will be crossing water. Once you're through the gate, air down your tires to about 12-15 PSI for better traction, keep your eyes on the trail, and remember that the mud hole is always deeper than it looks.
The best way to experience 5313 is with a group. Find a buddy, pack a cooler, and prepare to spend a lot of time cleaning your gear on Monday morning. It’s messy, it’s loud, and it’s one of the last true off-road havens in the region.