Few states can offer the abundance of outdoor activities that Texas does, especially water activities. The blue basins that dot the Texas landscape offer world-class bass fishing opportunities, according to Texas Parks and Wildlife. The busiest times for lake campgrounds in Texas are usually in the summer when it is warm enough to go boating, jet skiing and swimming. However, cool fall weather and spring wildflowers inspire many to pull out their tents as well.
History
In the early 1950s, the Army Corps of Engineers began building dams across the state. With each dam they transformed Texas from land of flowing rivers into one with lakes. According to Texas Parks and Wildlife's "State of Water" article, the state that only had one or two natural lakes now has more inland water than any other state in country, surpassing even Minnesota.
Features
A majority of Texas lakes have overnight camping facilities such as primitive sites, tent campsites, RV campsites, and shelters and cabins. You can also find camps that offer facilities such as equestrian trails, off-highway vehicles, hunting, swimming, kayaking, and birding and nature touring. A majority of the lakes in Texas offer great fishing. Some of the species you can find in Texas lakes are crappie, sunfish, bass and catfish. Most lakes have free, public access boat ramps.
Types
The majority of campgrounds and lakes in Texas are maintained by one of three organizations. Texas Parks and Wildlife maintains the most campgrounds in state parks throughout the state. Texas Army Corps of Engineers maintains campgrounds and facilities surrounding lakes it has constructed. Texas also has four national forests that the National Park Service maintains.
Considerations
Texas is a state that has desert, plains, mountains, coastal and prairie lands with state parks and lakes in each zone. Texas Parks and Wildlife divides the state into seven geographic regions: the Panhandle Plains, Prairies and Lakes, Gulf Coast, South Texas Plains, Hill Country, Big Bend Country and Pineywoods. Most of the lakes built by the Army Corps of Engineers are located in the Prairies and Lakes region along Interstate 35. Go to Possum Kingdom in the Panhandle Plains or visit Choke Canyon in the South Texas Plains. The Highland Lakes area of Lake Buchanan, Inks Lake, Lake LBJ, Lake Marble Falls, Lake Travis and Lake Austin are tourist-frequented lakes in Central Texas.
Warning
While camping is meant to be an enjoyable experience, practice safety when in the outdoors. The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department recommends that you be aware of plants such as poison ivy and sumac or plants with thorns or stickers. A state park is home to abundant wildlife. Never feed the wildlife or try to pet a wild animal. Not only does it encourage bad behavior on the part of the animal, but it is also against park rules. Deer, raccoons, opposum and birds are just a few of the animals you will find in a state park.
Member Comments