Topic · Page 12
The Great Outdoors
Local Notes
The Great Outdoors notes
Tom Green County · Hunting
Tom Green's deer rules change at the license-year line
The county page groups archery, general, youth, and late deer seasons, but dates and bag limits need a fresh check each license year.
Tom Green County · Fishing & Public Lands
Twin Buttes Requires an Access Permit, Not Just a Fishing License
Anglers age 17 and older need a public-land access permit as well as any Texas fishing license required for them at Twin Buttes Reservoir.
Travis County · Preserve system
Balcones Canyonlands Preserve shapes the west side of Travis County
The Balcones Canyonlands Preserve is a 33,000-plus-acre habitat system, not a regular park, spread across more than 140 western Travis County tracts.
Travis County · Greenbelt
Barton Creek Greenbelt gives Austin its creek-and-limestone feel
Austin's Barton Creek Greenbelt threads more than seven miles of limestone canyon, swimming holes, and biking trail through the southwest side of the city.
Travis County · City Swimming Hole
Barton Springs Pool: Year-Round Natural Swimming in Austin
Barton Springs Pool is a three-acre spring-fed pool in Zilker Park that stays around 68–70 degrees all year.
Travis County · Lake Austin park
Commons Ford Ranch keeps Lake Austin's ranch history visible
Commons Ford Ranch is a west Austin park on Lake Austin where old Resaca Ranch buildings still stand.
Travis County · Flash Flood Safety
Flash Floods Move Fast in Travis County
Central Texas sits in 'Flash Flood Alley.' Water can rise faster than expected, and low-water crossings are deadly.
Travis County · Preserve
Hamilton Pool is a natural landmark with reservation reality
Hamilton Pool Preserve is a collapsed-grotto swimming hole in western Travis County that requires a reservation every day, and even then swimming is not guaranteed.
Travis County · Nature & Gardens
Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center in Travis County
The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center in southwest Austin is operated by UT Austin and focuses on native Texas plants.
Travis County · Highland Lakes / LCRA
Lake Travis and the Highland Lakes: Flood Control and Water Supply
Lake Travis is managed by the LCRA for both water supply and flood control — water levels can change dramatically.
Travis County · East Austin lake
Lake Walter E. Long is east Austin's big city lake park
Lake Walter E. Long is a 1,200-acre city lake park in east Austin, but the boat ramp is closed for dam repairs into 2027.
Travis County · State Park
McKinney Falls State Park: Hiking and Swimming Near Downtown Austin
McKinney Falls State Park sits 13 miles from the state capitol and offers hiking, swimming, and camping on Onion Creek.
Travis County · Local Flood Hazard
Onion Creek: Flash Flood Risk in Southeast Travis County
Onion Creek in southeast Travis County has a history of severe flash flooding that has damaged neighborhoods and caused fatalities.
Travis County · Lake Travis park
Pace Bend Park shows the cliff side of Lake Travis
Pace Bend is a 1,368-acre county park with more than nine miles of Lake Travis shoreline, limestone cliffs, and cliff-top camping.
Travis County · Lake Access
Public Boat Ramps and Access Points on Lake Travis
There are 16 public access points on Lake Travis — most charge a fee and are run by LCRA or Travis County.
Travis County · Pedernales River
Reimers Ranch brings the Pedernales River into Travis County life
Milton Reimers Ranch Park is the county's largest park, with nearly three miles of Pedernales River frontage, big climbing and biking, and a dark-sky observatory.
Travis County · Del Valle park
Southeast Metropolitan Park gives Del Valle a big everyday park
Southeast Metropolitan Park near Del Valle is a large county park for ball games, trails, playgrounds, and fishing off Highway 71.
Travis County · Urban trail
The Butler Trail makes Lady Bird Lake part of daily Austin
The roughly 10-mile Ann and Roy Butler Trail loops Lady Bird Lake through the heart of Austin and draws millions of walkers, runners, and riders a year.
Travis County · North Austin park
Walnut Creek Metropolitan Park is a north Austin trail anchor
Walnut Creek Metropolitan Park gives north Austin a large city park with shared-use hike-and-bike trails off North Lamar.
Travis County · Wildfire Hazard
Wildfire Risk in Travis County: Homes Near the Wildland Edge
More than half of Austin falls inside a wildland-urban interface zone where fire risk is high and building rules are stricter.
Trinity County · Public Land / Hiking / Hunting
Davy Crockett National Forest: Public Land in Your Backyard
More than 160,000 acres of national forest land spans Houston and Trinity counties. It is free and open to the public for hiking, hunting, and fishing.
Trinity County · Fishing / Boating
Lake Livingston: Fishing and Boating on Trinity County's Eastern Edge
Lake Livingston is an 83,000-acre reservoir on the Trinity River. It borders Trinity County and is known for catfish and white bass fishing.
Tyler County · Fishing & Recreation
B.A. Steinhagen Lake: Fishing and Camping on the Neches River
B.A. Steinhagen Lake sits on the Tyler-Jasper County line and offers public fishing, camping, and wildlife viewing managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
Tyler County · National Preserve
Big Thicket National Preserve Has Trails in Tyler County
The Turkey Creek Unit of Big Thicket National Preserve spans Tyler and Hardin counties and offers free hiking, backcountry camping, and fishing.
Tyler County · Public Hunting Land
Public Hunting on the Angelina-Neches WMA
The Angelina-Neches/Dam B Wildlife Management Area covers land in both Tyler and Jasper counties and is open to public hunters with the right permit.
Upshur County · Lake Access
Free Public Boat Ramps Serve Lake O' the Pines
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers operates free public boat ramps at Lake O' the Pines, including the Lone Star ramp open year-round.
Upshur County · Fishing
Lake O' the Pines Offers Fishing on Upshur County's Edge
Lake O' the Pines is a 19,780-acre reservoir on Big Cypress Creek that touches Upshur County and is managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
Upshur County · Geography
Upshur County Sits on Two Major Drainage Divides
The northern part of Upshur County drains toward the Mississippi River, while the southern part drains to the Gulf of Mexico through the Sabine River system.
Uvalde County · Hunting
Deer hunting in Uvalde County follows a split-zone system
U.S. Highway 90 divides Uvalde County into two deer hunting zones with different bag limits and season lengths.
Uvalde County · State Park
Garner State Park is on the Frio River in this county
Garner State Park sits along 2.9 miles of the Frio River and draws families for swimming, camping, and tubing.
Val Verde County · National Recreation Area
Amistad camping is simple, dry, and mostly first-come
Five small NPS campgrounds trade hookups and reservations for covered tables, open sky, and quick access to the reservoir.
Val Verde County · Fishing
At Amistad, the fishing rules can change before the shoreline does
The 64,900-acre reservoir offers several kinds of bass fishing, but border water and invasive mussels add two extra checks.
Val Verde County · State Natural Area
Devils River rewards the plan made before the pavement ends
The two remote units require reservations, carry-in supplies, and a separate permit for paddling beyond their boundaries.
Val Verde County · Rivers / Water Quality
The Devils River's dry-weather flow begins underground
Spring discharge keeps the roughly 100-mile river moving when surface runoff fades, tying it closely to the aquifer below.
Van Zandt County · Fishing
Lake Tawakoni borders Van Zandt County and offers year-round fishing
Lake Tawakoni lies on the Van Zandt County border and is a popular fishing destination managed by Texas Parks and Wildlife.
Van Zandt County · Public Hunting Land
Tawakoni WMA offers public hunting and outdoor access
The Tawakoni Wildlife Management Area includes land in Van Zandt County where you can hunt, fish, hike, and camp with a permit.
Victoria County · Wildlife Management Area
Guadalupe Delta WMA offers public hunting and wildlife access near the coast
The Guadalupe Delta WMA spans about 7,400 acres across Victoria, Calhoun, and Refugio counties and is open for hunting, fishing, and wildlife viewing.
Victoria County · Local Waterways
The Guadalupe River runs through Victoria County on its way to the coast
The Guadalupe River flows through Victoria County into San Antonio Bay. It supports fishing and wildlife but also adds flood risk in low areas.
Walker County · State Park
Huntsville State Park: Camping and Fishing Near Houston
Huntsville State Park sits inside Sam Houston National Forest and offers camping, hiking, and fishing on a 210-acre lake just 60 miles north of Houston.
Walker County · National Forest
Sam Houston National Forest Covers Much of Walker County
Sam Houston National Forest spans 163,000 acres across three counties, with a large share in Walker County, offering trails, camping, and public hunting.
Walker County · Rivers & Waterways
Two Rivers Drain Walker County
The Trinity River runs along Walker County's northern edge and the San Jacinto River along the south, both draining toward the Gulf Coast.
Waller County · City Parks
Brookshire and Prairie View Put Play Space Close to Home
Brookshire lists three city parks with a splash pad, playground, and exercise equipment, while Prairie View lists Tapscott Public Park with a water park.
Waller County · Creeks and Bottomland
Clear Creek Links Prairie View, Hempstead, and the Brazos
Clear Creek starts north of Prairie View, bends around Hempstead, and reaches the Brazos through sandy-bottomed water, hardwoods, farmland, and wetlands.
Waller County · Hunting Regulations
Deer Hunting in Waller County Has Specific Buck Rules
Hunters in Waller County can take up to four deer per season, but rules on bucks are specific and antlerless deer require mandatory reporting.
Waller County · Water Recreation
The Brazos River Runs Along the Western Edge of the County
The Brazos River forms Waller County's western border and is the main surface water feature, useful for fishing but subject to flooding and access limits.
Ward County · State Park
Monahans Sandhills State Park: dunes you can sled in West Texas
A 4,717-acre park of active sand dunes in Ward and Winkler counties offers camping, horseback riding, and sand-disc sledding year-round.
Washington County · Hunting Regulations
Deer Hunting in Washington County Follows North Zone Rules
Washington County is in the North Zone for white-tailed deer, which sets the season dates and bag limits hunters must follow.
Washington County · Natural Features
The Brazos River Forms the County's Eastern Edge
The Brazos River runs along Washington County's eastern border and shapes flooding risk, land use, and outdoor access in the county.
Washington County · Climate Overview
Washington County Has a Long Growing Season and Wet Climate
Washington County gets about 40 inches of rain per year and has a 277-day growing season, which matters for farming, gardening, and outdoor planning.
Webb County · Sports Complex
Buena Vista Sports Complex Is South Laredo's New Big Field Park
Buena Vista Sports Complex, a 200-acre city sports site in south Laredo, opened in early 2026 with ten all-turf ball fields and room for big tournaments.
Webb County · Creek Trail
Chacon Creek Has Trails, Birds, and Evening Bats
Laredo's Chacon Creek Hike and Bike Trail gives the south side a creek corridor for walking and biking, plus a Mexican free-tailed bat colony you can watch at dusk.
Webb County · Hunting
Deer Hunting Rules for Webb County
Webb County falls under specific TPWD deer seasons and bag limits that hunters need to know before going out.
Webb County · Hunting
Dove and Turkey Seasons in Webb County
Webb County has open dove and turkey seasons — know the limits before you hunt.
Webb County · Birding
Lake Casa Blanca Is Also a Birding Lake
Beyond fishing and camping, Lake Casa Blanca is a TPWD wildlife-trail stop for water birds, desert birds, dragonflies, and sunset bats.
Webb County · State Park
Lake Casa Blanca: The State Park Inside Laredo
Lake Casa Blanca International State Park is a 525-acre park on a 1,680-acre reservoir inside city limits that offers fishing, camping, hiking, and water sports.
Webb County · City Park
North Central Park Anchors Northeast Laredo
North Central Park gives northeast Laredo paved trails, a big playground, a pool, a pond, and a disc golf course in one large city park.
Webb County · Sports Park
Slaughter Park Is a South Laredo Sports Hub
Slaughter Park gives south Laredo a city sports complex with soccer and baseball fields, basketball courts, outdoor exercise equipment, and walking trails.
Webb County · Campus Habitat
TAMIU's Back Brush Is a Birding Stop
TPWD points birders to the undeveloped brush behind Texas A&M International University, an easy-to-reach pocket of South Texas habitat near Loop 20.
Webb County · Birding
The Laredo Loop Turns Webb County Into a Birding Route
TPWD's Laredo Loop strings together Webb County parks, a university campus, creeks, ranchland, and Lake Casa Blanca into one official wildlife-watching route.
Webb County · Creek Park
Zacate Creek Park Shows Laredo's Creek Habitat
Zacate Creek Park is a day-use TPWD wildlife-trail stop where the creek has carved a channel into bedrock and reed beds draw birds and dragonflies.