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Cross Lake

Cross Lake, located in Caddo Parish in northwest Louisiana, was formed with the creation of Cross Lake Dam and Spillway in 1926, which impounded Cross Bayou. The reservoir is partially surrounded by forest and wetlands. With the lake's proximity to western Shreveport, the rest of the lake's 70-mile shoreline is becoming highly developed. Even though this lake is a cozy home for alligators, visitors enjoy fishing, water skiing, and swimming here.

The City of Shreveport owns and operates Cross Lake, and all activities are under the Shreveport Police Department's jurisdiction. Officers assigned to the lake's unit usually monitor activities at this popular lake by boat.

Fishing

Fishing is a popular sport on Cross Lake. The lake, home to several fishing tournaments, is well known for its bass populations. Other fish in this lake include bream, white perch, redear sunfish, and catfish. Stocking takes place on an annual schedule. As the City of Shreveport owns this lake, anglers can find several regulations not seen elsewhere. See our "boating" section below to learn more.

This lake also has 14-17-inch slot limit, requiring that any angler catching a bass caught within that range to release it immediately. Note also that this lake receives a lot of pressure with its proximity to a large city and the water and jet skiing activities. With all that aside, this lake is ideal for anyone who wants the luxury of being near a city while enjoying some of the relatively isolated parts of this lake on the west end.

       

  Search Cross Lake Resources
    Cross Lake Louisiana Coordinates:
32.5127N -93.7982W
Map It:
Lake Type:
Reservoir
Surface Area:
8,900 acres
Maximum Depth:
19 ft
Elevation:
174 ft
Normal Water Clarity:
3 ft
Major City:
Shreveport
Airport:
Shreveport
Boating

Since the City of Shreveport owns this lake, boaters and anglers will see regulations that are particular to Cross Lake. Boaters are prohibited from using the lake between 1:00 am and just before daylight. Boats must be registered at the lake, and fishing is not permitted within 100 feet of a boat dock after sunset. Boat docks and cypress trees line the banks, but most of the lake is open water. The west end of Cross Lake is filled with Cypress trees, but it can be navigated by boat easily at slow speeds. The average depth of the lake is about 10 feet.

       
Lodging

With Cross Lake's close proximity to Shreveport, lodging -- including camping at private campgrounds -- is easy to find. If you'd prefer to stay in less populated surroundings, several other locations are available. I-220 crosses the east end of the lake, and I-20 runs close to the south side of Cross Lake, providing easy access to accommodations outside Shreveport in towns such as Greenwood and Blanchard.

Review the Lake Resource Guide for additional lodging.



Communities

Cross Lake is located in Caddo Parish, Louisiana, on the west side of Shreveport. Other towns in the area include Blanchard and Greenwood. This lake is ideal for anyone who wants to fly into Shreveport and rent a car (less than an hour's drive to any point on the lake from Shreveport Regional Airport), and rent a boat. Several marinas in the area offer boat rentals.

Fun times at Cross Lake  Cross Lake

Cross Lake  Cross Lake



 
Average Temperatures Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
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Avg. Low  45 Avg. Low  48 Avg. Low  54 Avg. Low  60 Avg. Low  68 Avg. Low  74 Avg. Low  75 Avg. Low  75 Avg. Low  72 Avg. Low  63 Avg. Low  54 Avg. Low  47