Topic · Page 10
The Great Outdoors
Local Notes
The Great Outdoors notes
Nueces County · National Seashore
Padre Island National Seashore offers 66 miles of wild Gulf Coast beach
Padre Island National Seashore, located near Corpus Christi, protects one of the longest undeveloped barrier island coastlines in the United States.
Nueces County · Bird Habitat
Paradise Pond Is a Two-Acre Birding Pocket Behind the Busy Island
Joan and Scott Holt Paradise Pond is a two-acre habitat in Port Aransas with boardwalk access, restoration plantings, and a short trail connection.
Nueces County · Island Nature
Port Aransas Keeps Four Nature Sites Under One Preserve Idea
The Port Aransas Nature Preserve system ties Charlie's Pasture, Paradise Pond, Leonabelle Turnbull Birding Center, and Wetland Park together.
Nueces County · Port Aransas Park
Roberts Point Park Watches the Ship Channel Like a Front Row Seat
Roberts Point Park is a 50-acre Port Aransas park on the Corpus Christi Ship Channel with a marina, observation tower, and amphitheater.
Nueces County · Wildlife Refuge
Suter Refuge Puts a Boardwalk Right on Oso Bay
Hans and Pat Suter Wildlife Refuge sits on Oso Bay with a one-mile nature trail and an 800-foot boardwalk for birding and bay views.
Nueces County · Coastal Ecology
The Laguna Madre is one of the few hypersaline lagoons in the world
The Laguna Madre, which borders the eastern side of Nueces County, is a shallow, highly salty lagoon that supports unique wildlife and world-class fishing.
Nueces County · Fishing Licenses
You need a Texas fishing license to fish in Nueces County waters
Anyone 17 or older needs a Texas fishing license to fish in Corpus Christi Bay, the Laguna Madre, or other Nueces County waters.
Orange County · Waterfront access
Bluebird Park and Boat Ramp Keeps Water Access Simple
Bluebird Park and Boat Ramp off Simmons Drive is a small county waterfront spot with a boat dock, boat ramp, picnic pavilions, game tables, and a playground.
Orange County · County park
Claiborne West Park Gives Orange County a Wooded I-10 Stop
Claiborne West Park is 453 acres of wooded county land west of Orange, with trails, camp sites, picnic shelters, and a small pond.
Orange County · Wildlife Management Area
Lower Neches WMA Offers Public Hunting and Birding Near Orange
The Lower Neches Wildlife Management Area covers nearly 8,000 acres near Bridge City and is open to public hunting, fishing, and wildlife viewing with a TPWD permit.
Orange County · Fishing and Recreation
The Sabine River Forms Orange County's Eastern Edge
The Sabine River and Sabine Lake border Orange County and offer public fishing access for catfish, crappie, and largemouth bass.
Palo Pinto County · State Park
Possum Kingdom State Park: Camping and Fishing on a Clear-Water Lake
Possum Kingdom State Park sits on a large lake in Palo Pinto County and offers camping, fishing, boating, and swimming about an hour west of DFW.
Panola County · Fishing Access
Free Public Fishing on the Sabine River in Panola County
TPWD leases the Grand Bluff Boat Ramp on the Sabine River near Carthage, giving the public free access to launch a boat or fish from the bank.
Panola County · Paddling
Paddling the Sabine Sandbar Trail Near Panola County
The Sabine Sandbar Paddling Trail offers 4, 15, or 19-mile canoe and kayak routes on the Sabine River through the Piney Woods.
Parker County · Hunting
Deer hunting rules in Parker County follow the North Zone
Parker County is in the Texas North Zone for deer, with a bag limit of four deer per season and a specific legal buck definition.
Parker County · Lakes & Recreation
Lake Weatherford supplies city water and local recreation
Lake Weatherford sits inside Parker County and serves as both the city's water supply and a spot for fishing and boating.
Parker County · Hunting
Parker County has good seasons for turkey, dove, and quail
Hunters in Parker County can pursue wild turkey, dove, quail, and other upland game through most of the year.
Parker County · State Parks
Possum Kingdom State Park is about an hour away
Parker County has no state park of its own, but Possum Kingdom State Park in neighboring Palo Pinto County is a short drive west.
Pecos County · State Park
Big Bend Ranch State Park: What to Know Before You Go
Big Bend Ranch State Park sits along the Rio Grande near Pecos County and offers rugged hiking, paddling, and stargazing with very few services.
Pecos County · Hunting Access
Public Hunting in and Around Pecos County
TPWD offers drawn hunts on public land near Pecos County, but you need a special permit on top of your regular hunting license.
Polk County · National Preserve
Big Sandy Creek is Polk County's piece of the Big Thicket
The 14,343-acre Big Sandy Creek Unit carries a visitor from upland pine into slope forest, sloughs, and creek-bottom floodplain.
Polk County · Fishing
Lake Livingston Is a Major Fishing Lake in East Texas
Lake Livingston covers about 90,000 surface acres on the Trinity River and is rated excellent for blue catfish and white bass.
Polk County · State Park
Lake Livingston State Park sits where river travel became reservoir life
The 635-acre park pairs campsites, trails, ramps, and a fishing pier with a shoreline shaped by the Trinity River's working history.
Potter County · National Monument
Alibates Flint Quarries: Ancient Stone Tools, Guided Tours Only
Alibates Flint Quarries National Monument, north of Amarillo, preserves flint quarry sites used by people for at least 13,000 years and requires a guided tour to visit.
Potter County · Hunting
An Annual Permit Opens Hunting on TPWD Public Lands
Texas Parks and Wildlife offers an Annual Public Hunting Permit that lets you hunt on over 180 TPWD-managed areas across the state, including areas near Potter County.
Potter County · Recreation
Lake Meredith Offers Boating, Fishing, and Camping Near Amarillo
Lake Meredith National Recreation Area sits on the Canadian River northwest of Amarillo and provides free boating, fishing, camping, and hiking in the Texas Panhandle.
Potter County · State Park
Palo Duro Canyon State Park Is a Short Drive from Amarillo
Palo Duro Canyon State Park, located in Randall and Armstrong counties just south of Amarillo, is one of the most visited natural areas in the Texas Panhandle.
Potter County · Geography
The Canadian River Cuts Through Northern Potter County
The Canadian River flows east across the northern part of Potter County and created the canyon landscape that now holds Lake Meredith.
Presidio County · State Park
Big Bend Ranch State Park: What to Know Before You Go
Big Bend Ranch State Park sits mostly in Presidio County along the Rio Grande and requires permits for backcountry use.
Rains County · Freshwater Fishing
Lake Fork Is a Trophy Bass Lake That Touches Rains County
Lake Fork spans three counties including Rains and is one of the most closely regulated bass lakes in Texas.
Rains County · State Park Access
Lake Tawakoni State Park Sits on the Rains County Border
The 376-acre state park on Lake Tawakoni offers camping, boat access, and shore fishing without a license.
Randall County · Wildlife Refuge
Buffalo Lake National Wildlife Refuge Near Umbarger
Buffalo Lake National Wildlife Refuge is a 7,664-acre federal refuge about 10 miles west of Canyon that now hosts grassland wildlife, though the lake itself has been dry for decades.
Randall County · Hunting Regulations
Deer, Pheasant, and Quail Hunting in Randall County
Randall County sits in Texas Panhandle hunting territory with seasons for white-tailed deer, mule deer, pheasant, quail, dove, and waterfowl.
Randall County · Park Hunting
Drawn Hunts Inside Palo Duro Canyon State Park
TPWD offers limited, drawn hunts inside Palo Duro Canyon State Park for exotic species like aoudad sheep and feral hogs.
Randall County · State Park
Palo Duro Canyon State Park: The County's Crown Outdoor Feature
Palo Duro Canyon State Park, located just east of Canyon in Randall County, is a massive canyon that offers hiking, camping, mountain biking, and horseback riding.
Randall County · Wildlife
What Wildlife Lives in Palo Duro Canyon?
Palo Duro Canyon's varied habitats support a surprising range of wildlife, including two threatened species found only in this area.
Reagan County · Hunting & Outdoors
Hunting in Reagan County is mostly on private land
There are no public Wildlife Management Areas in Reagan County, so hunters rely on leases and private landowner access.
Real County · River Access
Floating the Frio: What the Law Says About River Access
The Frio River rises in Real County and much of it is a public waterway, but you cannot cross private land to reach it without permission.
Real County · State Park
Garner State Park: Hill Country Swimming on the Frio
Garner State Park sits along 2.9 miles of the Frio River and draws large crowds in summer — reservations are essential.
Red River County · Hunting Regulations
Deer Hunting in Red River County Has a Specific Antler Rule
White-tailed deer hunters in Red River County can take up to four deer per season, but only one buck can have an inside antler spread of 13 inches or more.
Reeves County · State Park
Balmorhea State Park has a large spring-fed pool open to swimmers
Balmorhea State Park in Toyahvale features a spring-fed pool fed by San Solomon Springs, open year-round for swimming and scuba diving.
Refugio County · Hunting
Refugio County sits in TPWD's South Zone for deer and dove hunting
Refugio County hunters work from TPWD's South Zone table, where deer, dove, turkey, and reporting rules sit on one county page.
Roberts County · Hunting
Roberts County is in the Panhandle and North zones for hunting seasons
Hunters in Roberts County can go after white-tailed deer, mule deer, wild turkey, quail, pheasant, and pronghorn. Different zone rules apply. Almost all land here is private, so you need permission from the landowner.
Robertson County · Public Hunting
Over 1,000 Acres of Public Hunting Land in Robertson County
TPWD's Annual Public Hunting Permit gives access to the Luminant Texas Unit in Robertson County, a 1,071-acre tract open for hunting and other outdoor use.
Rockwall County · Lake & Recreation
Lake Ray Hubbard borders Rockwall County and offers public access
Lake Ray Hubbard is a large reservoir that forms the western edge of Rockwall County and provides fishing, boating, and shoreline access close to the DFW metro.
Rockwall County · Water Supply
Lake Ray Hubbard is a Dallas water supply reservoir, not just a recreation lake
Lake Ray Hubbard was built by the City of Dallas to supply drinking water, and Dallas Water Utilities still owns and operates the dam today.
Rockwall County · Fishing structure
On Lake Ray Hubbard, the fishing follows bridges and old timber
Ray Hubbard was flooded over old river bottom and laced with road crossings, so the fish stack up on standing timber, riprap, and submerged brush rather than open water.
Rockwall County · Trail network
Rockwall's 20-plus miles of trails are the everyday outdoors here
The lake gets the postcards, but Rockwall's more than 20 miles of stitched-together trails are what people actually use to walk the dog, run before work, and bike to a park.
Rockwall County · Mountain bike trail
Squabble Creek is Rockwall's real mountain-bike trail system
Off Dickson Lane, Squabble Creek packs six miles of connected single-track into one trailhead, with hills, tight switchbacks, and rollers along the creek, open to bikes, runners, and dog-walkers alike.
Rockwall County · Lakefront park
Terry Park is Heath's public window onto Lake Ray Hubbard
Terry Park gives Heath a public Lake Ray Hubbard access point with a boat ramp, docks, picnic space, and a sunset-facing bench.
Rockwall County · Lake access
The free Highway 66 boat ramp puts Rockwall on the water
On the Rockwall shore of Lake Ray Hubbard, the city-run Highway 66 ramp launches boats for free, year-round, with three ramps and parking for about 40 rigs.
Rockwall County · Nature trails
The Reserve Nature Trails keep 70-plus acres of Heath wild on purpose
The Reserve Nature Trails keep more than 70 acres of Heath open for natural trails, trailheads, benches, wildlife, and wildflowers.
Rockwall County · Signature park
Towne Center Park is Heath's bet on a real town center
At 200 Laurence Drive, Towne Center Park adds an event lawn, pickleball courts, a splashpad, sports fields, and food-truck space to Heath's center.
Runnels County · Hunting
Hunting in Runnels County: Deer, Dove, and Turkey
Runnels County sits in solid hunting country for white-tailed deer, mourning dove, and wild turkey, but seasons and limits change yearly, so always check TPWD before you go.
Runnels County · Fishing
Winters-Elm Creek Reservoir: A Quiet Place to Fish
Winters-Elm Creek Reservoir is a 337-acre lake in Runnels County with largemouth bass, blue catfish, and white crappie — plus public access from a city park.
Rusk County · Bayou Headwaters
Attoyac Bayou Starts Near Mount Enterprise
Attoyac Bayou rises near Mount Enterprise before running southeast toward the Angelina River and Sam Rayburn Reservoir.
Rusk County · Hunting Regulations
Deer, Dove, and Duck Hunting Follow Specific Rusk County Rules
Rusk County falls in the North Zone for deer and Central Zone for dove, which sets the season dates and bag limits that apply here.
Rusk County · Lake Landscape
Lake Cherokee Puts Rusk County on the Sabine Water Map
Lake Cherokee spreads into northeastern Rusk County on Cherokee Bayou, tying shoreline, water supply, power, and recreation into one Sabine River basin reservoir.
Rusk County · State Park
Martin Creek Lake State Park Is the County's Main Outdoor Destination
Martin Creek Lake State Park near Tatum offers year-round fishing, camping, and trails on a warm-water lake in East Texas Piney Woods.
Sabine County · Lake Fishing
Fishing Toledo Bend Reservoir
Toledo Bend is a 181,600-acre reservoir on the Texas-Louisiana border, and a large part of it runs along Sabine County's eastern edge.