Texas has state parks all over the state, but the biggest concentration is in the eastern section where most of the population lives. Whether camping on the beach, near a lake or in the woods, the outdoor pursuits are endless. You can hike, bicycle, fish, rock climb and boulder at Texas state parks. Most backcountry campsites can be reached by hiking less than five miles. Just remember, it's hot in Texas in the summer and much of the year, so wear a hat, sunscreen and carry water.
Campsite Amenities
Amenities range from full hook-ups to no utilities provided at wilderness sites. Most campgrounds have flush toilets, hot showers, water, picnic tables, fire rings or grills and lantern posts. Some parks have walk-in tent sites and some offer hike-in backpacking sites. Two parks feature boat-in camping.
Beachfront Camping
Texas has a long shoreline on the Gulf of Mexico, and most beaches tend begin near Galveston and extend southward. Galveston Island has beach and bay campsites. Goose Island's beachfront camping includes a shade shelter or open cabana with water and electricity at some sites and tree-shaded campsites and 25 walk-in tent sites. Mustang Island also has shade shelters for beach campsites. These beaches are ideal for hiking, swimming, shelling and kite flying.
Waterfront Campgrounds
Lakes, creeks and rivers abound in East Texas and the Hill Country of central Texas, offering abundant waterfront campgrounds and water-related activities. Motorboats are welcome at Lake Mineral Wells, Lake Tawakoni, Lake Whitney, Ray Roberts and Cooper Lake. Fishing, water skiing and swimming are popular activities at these state parks. Smaller lakes allow rowboats, canoes and kayaks, including Tyler, Caddo Lake, Lake Casa Blanca and Choke Canyon reservoir. Fishing is also popular at these lakes. Creeks and rivers in Texas can be unreliable and unsafe at times due to flooding and fast currents, so check with park rangers before planning water-related activities at McKinley Falls, Martin Dies Jr., Pedernales Falls, Colorado Bend and Guadalupe River. Other parks have fishing such as Lake Colorado City, Longhorn Cavern and Big Bend Ranch. At Balmorhea, you can swim or scuba dive in an artesian spring-fed pool or observe nature in the adjacent desert wetland termed a "cienega," home to endangered species of fish and turtles.
Parks Featuring Woods and Forests
Eastern Texas is the most densely forested section of the state with plenty of places to hike and bike. Tyler, Caddo Lake, Lake Livingston and Valley Creek are heavily wooded state parks with varied types of trees from pine to cypress to mayhaw and yaupon. Tyler and Caddo are especially kid-friendly, so bring bikes for the whole family. Look for parks between Houston and Texarkana if you want wooded campgrounds.
Rock Climbing and Bouldering
Lake Mineral Wells has great climbing up sheer rock walls. Located close to the Dallas-Fort Worth area, many climbers flock there on weekends with good weather. You can beat the crowd by camping in the park, which also has a large lake, perfect for a cool dip after a day of climbing. Bring your own climbing gear. Bouldering at Enchanted Rock State Natural Area is a must. To protect the natural resources the park closes temporarily to new visitors during heavy use periods. Avoid being turned away by making a campsite reservation. Franklin Mountains and Hueco Tanks also allow rock climbing.
Campsite Reservations
You can make campsite reservations via Internet (see Resources for a link), fax, e-mail or telephone up to 11 months in advance. Texas State Parks allow you to make, change, cancel reservations or check site availability 24 hours a day, seven days a week at no charge.
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