Tyler is located in the Piney Woods Region of Texas. Tall pine trees within steep hills make this area great for mountain biking and hiking. With many lakes in the region, there are several popular places to canoe and kayak. The camping options in the Tyler area are plentiful, with several private campgrounds and a state park all offering multiple outdoor activities to enjoy.
State Parks
Tyler State Park has 149 designated campsites located in the Pineywoods Region of Texas. Steep hills, lush vegetation and a 64-acre lake create a diverse amount of outdoor activities including hiking, mountain biking, fishing, canoeing and kayaking. Facilities include restrooms with showers, campsites with full hookups, an amphitheater and boat ramp. The campsite also has a trailer rally area that has 30 water and electrical sites with a group pavilion. Canoe, kayak and mountain bike rentals are available at the Park Store.
Private Campgrounds
The Spring Creek RV Resort is just east of the Tyler Airport. Their facilities include cable television, Wi-Fi Internet, laundry facilities, showers, a swimming pool and a five-acre, stocked fishing lake. Five miles north of Tyler lies a 5-Star RV Park on 20 acres of land. Facilities include full hookups, laundry facilities, Wi-Fi Internet access and cable television. There are walking trails throughout the woods that surround the park and a pond with wildlife living in it. The Palestine Lake Resort has an RV park within a few steps of the lake. All of their sites have full hookups and the resort facilities include a restaurant and store.
Hiking
Whispering Pines Nature Trail at Tyler State Park is an easy 3/4-mile hike. Although a short hike, this hike can be enjoyed by using the Whispering Pines Nature Trail Guide. Numbered posts on the trail that correspond to numbered paragraphs in the guide identify the plant life on the trail as well as other interesting landmarks such as waterfalls, wading pools and stairs built by the Civilian Conservation Corps. The 13-mile mountain bike trail is also open to hikers.
Mountain Biking
There are 13 miles of mountain bike loops at Tyler State Park and can be challenging. There are four loops that get progressively more physically demanding. Trail A is a short easy loop that makes for a good warm-up. Loop B is the longest trail and is mostly downhill that includes bridges and sandy areas. Loop C has some hill climbing and the trail begins to narrow. Loop D is the most technical trail with the most climbing of all the trails. There are plenty of opportunities to “bail out” and head back to the parking lot if the trail gets too tough.
Canoeing/Kayaking
The 64-acre lake at Tyler State Park allows for boats with motors, but there is a 5 mph speed limit. The park rents canoes and kayaks at the Park Store making it a great location to try a paddle sport before investing in an expensive piece of equipment. Palestine Lake, 17 miles southwest of Tyler, is a 25,560-acre lake with seven large bays to explore. The Palestine Lake Resort rents kayaks and canoes.
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