Texas is located in the southern part of the United States. Texas State parks offer a variety of recreational activities. These include biking, bird watching, fishing and hiking. State parks in Texas also offer opportunities for tent and RC camping, with sites that have various amenities.
Biking
Texas Parks and Wildlife indicates that most state parks have biking trails that are categorized by level of biking difficulty. For example, the beginner, or L1 trail level, provides for riding that is without hills and requires only basic riding skills. An L3, or difficult level trail, may include trail hazards, such as water crossing the trail, or drop-offs on the path. All state park bike trails have trail difficulty levels posted.
Birdwatching
Birdwatching is a common activity in Texas State parks, with over 620 species recorded. Some of the more popular sites for bird watching in Texas include Davis Mountain State Park in Trans Pecos, Kickapoo Cavern State Park north of Del Rio and Caddo Lake State Park in East Texas.
Fishing
Fishing in Texas State parks requires no fishing license. In all, there are 74 state parks that allow fishing in Texas, including Cedar Hill State Park in the Dallas/Fort Worth area, Brazos Bend State Park in Needville and Colorado Bend State Park in Bend. Fishermen should be aware that some state parks might have restrictions on the number of fish that can be caught, as well as the size of the fish. Therefore, each individual should check with the park rangers at the location to determine what these restrictions may be.
Hiking
Texas Parks and Wildlife recommends hiking in Big Bend Ranch State Park and Brazos Bend State Park. The Rancherias Trail extends 19 miles through Big Bend State Park and it is known for its canyon-type terrain. The trail also allows visitors sites of historic homesteads that are remnants of the past. At Brazos Bend State Park hikers will find marshes and a nature trail. This natural environment is accentuated by the George Observatory, a handicapped accessible facility, that allows visitors to stop and explore the stars.
Family Camping
Texas state parks may require reservations for campsites, depending on the location. You should call the park ahead of time to ensure that you will have access to a campsite or to make a reservation. Family camping in Texas State parks is offered for tent campers, as well as RV travelers. Tent camping is available at parks such as Dinosaur Valley State Park and Franklin Mountains State Park. Campsites at state parks with RV hook-ups include Caddo Lake State Park and Abilene State Park. Many parks, such as Dinosaur Valley, offer both tent and RV accommodations. Dinosaur Valley State Park was named for the dinosaur tracks that can be found throughout the site.
Member Comments