Cross Lake, Louisiana, USA

Cross Lake is a popular fishing and boating lake near Shreveport in Northwest Louisiana. The 8,575 acre freshwater reservoir supplies water to the city of Shreveport. Cross Lake is partially surrounded by forest land and wetlands, with the rest of the shoreline being rapidly developed for residential properties. Cross Lake was formed in 1926 with the construction of Cross Lake Dam and Spillway, which impounded Cross Bayou….
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    • All About Cross Lake, LA

    Lake Locations: USA - US South Region - Louisiana - Sportsman's Paradise Region, LA -

    Cross Lake is a popular fishing and boating lake near Shreveport in Northwest Louisiana. The 8,575 acre freshwater reservoir supplies water to the city of Shreveport. Cross Lake is partially surrounded by forest land and wetlands, with the rest of the shoreline being rapidly developed for residential properties.

    Cross Lake was formed in 1926 with the construction of Cross Lake Dam and Spillway, which impounded Cross Bayou. The dam served the purposes of creating a water supply for the area and to support two existing rail lines.

    Cross Lake is well known for its bass fishing opportunities, often hosting local and even national fishing tournaments. It is a “slot lake”, with a requirement that any bass caught measuring between 14 to 17 inches be released. Aside from bass, the shallow lake is also populated with catfish, white perch, blue gill and red ear sunfish. There are several regulations regarding fishing on Cross Lake. There is no fishing allowed between 1:00 am and just before daylight, anglers must obtain special boating permits and there is no fishing permitted within 100 feet of a boat dock. Though fishing and boating are especially popular activities on Cross Lake, swimming and waterskiing are also permitted. Swimmers should be aware that the lake is home to alligators.

    There are two parks on Cross Lake, Ford Park and Richard Fleming Park. Ford Park spans 85 acres, with two ball fields, two tennis courts, a disc golf course, a walking trail and pier. Both parks have playground equipment, boat ramps and picnic areas. The Shreveport Yacht Club is located near Ford Park on Cross Lake.

    Cross Lake is within the Shreveport/Bossier City area, where visitors and residents have many options for cultural and recreational activities. The sister cities are well known for their festivals celebrating art, music and food. There are many Cajun and Creole-style restaurants in the area for those who want a taste of the local cuisine. The Louisiana Boardwalk is a popular spot for shopping. And of course, the famed riverboat casinos are hot spots for gaming and entertainment.

    Cross Lake is an ideal place for recreational boating and fishing. Those who prefer to stay on dry land can relax and enjoy the view of the lake and its shoreline, dotted with moss-covered cypress trees and steeped in Louisiana charm.

    Things to Do at Cross Lake

    These are some activities in the Cross Lake, LA area visitors can enjoy:

    • Vacation Rentals
    • Fishing
    • Fishing Tournaments
    • Boating
    • Swimming
    • Water Skiing
    • Golf
    • Tennis
    • Picnicking
    • Hiking
    • Wildlife Viewing
    • Playground
    • Shopping
    • Casino Gambling

    What Kind of Fish Are in Cross Lake?

    Cross Lake has been known to have the following fish species:

    • Bass
    • Catfish
    • Perch
    • Redear Sunfish (Shellcracker)
    • Sunfish
    • White Perch
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    Find Places to Stay at Cross Lake

    If you’re considering a Cross Lake lake house rental or hotel, we’ve made it super easy to find the best rates and compare vacation accommodations at a glance. Save time using this interactive map below.

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    More Sites to Book a Cross Lake Vacation

    Our interactive Cross Lake lodging map above is an easy tool for comparing VRBO rental homes and nearby hotels with Booking.com, but there could be times when you need to expand your search for different types of accommodations. Here are some other lake lodging partners we recommend:

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    Cross Lake Statistics & Helpful Links

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    Lake Type: Artificial Reservoir, Dammed

    Water Level Control: City of Shreveport

    Surface Area: 8,575 acres

    Shoreline Length: 70 miles

    Normal Elevation (Full Pond): 171 feet

    Average Depth: 9 feet

    Maximum Depth: 18 feet

    Water Volume: 65,807 acre-feet

    Completion Year: 1928

    Trophic State: Meso-eutrophic

    Cross Lake Map
    Local Weather Forecast

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