Called the "biological crossroads of North America" by the National Park Service, the area northwest of Vidor, Texas, includes the Big Thicket National Preserve and the Village Creek State park. Both parks offer many miles of trails and waterways that are open for exploration and recreation. Camping in the area surrounding Vidor is best sought out at the state park, private campgrounds or back country camping is available in the national preserve, and there are plenty of campsites to go around in this "extraordinary abundance of coexisting life."
National Parks
The Big Thicket National Preserve has backcountry camping available. Permits are free and can be obtained at the visitor center. This is minimum impact camping, typically used by backpackers and hunters. There are no other designated campgrounds in the park. Hiking, mountain biking and paddling are all popular sports here. The longest trail is the 18-mile Big Sandy Creek Trail.
State Parks
Village Creek State Park is just 21 miles north of Vidor. There are 25 camp sites with water and electricity that can accommodate both tents or RVs. There are an additional 16 walk-in campsites less than a mile from the parking area. This park has a flat water stream that offers canoe floating as a popular activity. Hiking, mountain biking and swimming are other outdoor activities offered at the park.
Private Campgrounds
The Boomtown U.S.A. RV Resort is less than three miles southwest of Vidor and offers an RV campground, miniature golf course, fishing resort and water park, all set on the shores of a 100-acre lake. There are more than 100 RV camp sites, six cabins and a tent camping area. The tent camping area does not have water or electric hookups. However, tent camping in an RV space is permitted. Other amenities include laundry facilities, showers and Wi-Fi Internet access.
Hiking
Hiking in the area includes the Big Thicket National Preserve that has eight primary trails ranging from a 1/2-mile loop to an 18-mile loop with back country camping available. The trail is shared with horses and mountain bikes and closes for hunting season during the winter. There are eight miles of trails at the Village Creek State Park including ranger-led nature hikes and the Water Oak Trail, an easy 4.2-mile trail that runs along the south end of the park through a diverse ecology vegetation.
Canoeing/Kayaking
There are four water corridors running through the Big Thicket National Preserve. There are ranger-led programs including Basic Canoeing, Canoe Cooks Lake, Canoe Franklin Lake and an advanced canoeing class. The Village Creek State Park is a popular area for canoeists and kayakers to take one-day or overnight paddling trips.
Mountain Biking
The Big Sandy Creek Trail in the Big Thicket National Preserve is a moderate to strenuous 18-mile loop trail. The trail is shared with horseback riders and hikers. The trail is closed from October 1 through February 1 every year for hunting season. The Village Creek State Park has eight miles of shared trails open for mountain biking. These trails are not single-track and can accommodate hikers and bikers simultaneously.
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