For years, I have frequented this location with family and friends to unwind and engage in…read morebarbecues, appreciating the tranquil atmosphere afforded by the abundance of trees, which minimizes the risk of sunburn. We have set up hammocks in the area to further connect with nature. Recently, I embarked on a hike, enjoying a leisurely walk while observing wildlife, including a bunny. Following the hike, I relaxed and appreciated the water. During one visit, I encountered a diver who collected various items. Also have a place to rinse off and change. Camping sites and boating are available to rent. The park's safety is assured through routine checks by the rangers, which I find reassuring. Although alligators were spotted, they maintained a distance.

My family and I celebrated one of our young family member's 2nd birthday. My cousin booked a…read morescreened shelter by the lake on July 4th. Since it was a holiday, it was booked way in advance and I would highly recommend everyone to do that. It's a bit of a drive from Houston, but once inside, I felt it was worth it. I had no idea it was even out here. There are fees to enter as well as fees for areas you want to rent for yourself. Huntsville State Park is located in the Sam Houston National Forest and is filled with beautiful trees, hiking trails and lakes. On the lake, you can fish, canoe and even swim. There is a designated spot for swimming which we saw but did not partake in. There is no lifeguard, so swim at your own risk and beware of the alligators. There are plenty of trails that can keep you busy for days. If you're into camping, there have plenty of campsites, including some screened shelter. The screened shelter plot we rented was spacious and had amenities like picnic tables, grill, water hookup, amp hookup, and restrooms and shower facilities nearby. It was a great setup for our large group. We had plenty of space to play, set up some little pools for the kiddos and eat without anybody being right on top of us. After coming here, I realized I need to take advantage of all the state parks in our amazing state and escape the hustle and bustle of the city every once in awhile. I would visit this place again for sure.

Finally made it out to Blue Lagoon in Huntsville, Texas. Vis was 10-15ft due to recent rain. 68° at…read morethe surface and 64° bottom temp at 25ft. They have an underwater rope course you can use to navigate from one side to the other. The waters color and clarity come from its origin. It was originally a Limestone Rock Quarry. Spring water has filled it up making this a good dive location. Another feature I found to be very cool for instructors is the large underwater decks. These are part of the course and make a great place to perform dive skills without disturbing the silt on the bottom. My dive site had an easy entry and exit. The depth ranges depending on the amount of rain throughout the year. This is a great place to teach new students, practice your skills, or train as a dive team. The staff is very friendly and helpful. Being this was my first time here they answered all of my questions.

I have always been curious about this place. Today I finally got the chance to go. I am not a diver…read moreso my perspective is limited to swimming. 1. I kept thinking when I was there that the city of Huntsville or some wealthy person should buy this place and fix it up. It has so much potential. Right now it is "rustic". Roads unpaved, covered picnic areas falling apart. It's a shame. 2. The water itself is like lake water. It's ok but not as lovely as pictures seen online. I kept thinking...at least no alligators! The term BLUE lagoon is misleading. 3. I understand that this is primarily a scuba diving place. But the attitude in phone calls and the employees was like you were second class Citizen if you were a "swimmer". Finally, I was the only one there! I guess $30 is way too much for what you get here. I enjoyed my swim but I will not return is

I can't say how much I enjoyed being with real elephants at such close quarters and being able to…read moretouch them too... As a child, I have seen real elephants in old temples, they don't have them anymore. Other than that its been zoo and safari. But this was different.... Kennedy introduced himself as the guy who was taking care of animals since 5 generations and he is studying to be a vet. The main mahout was a small guy and he was hilarious. He did most of the talking about all the animals. These elephants are rescue elephants which have been handed over by the zoo for various reasons, or, so I understand. There are 3 elephants Paige with longest teeth, Jeanie with a little short ones , and Krissy with none. With poaching increasing, the number of Krissy's are increasing. That will keep them safe I guess. Not sure why the previous reviews are so brief. We got to learn about them, feed them carrots, even phones if u r willing to give away ( ha ha- Paige really seemed to want them), how to keep their foot and nails in shape, bathing them so on and so forth. This was the first time I had heard a live trumpet and it was adorable. In the end we posed for pics. They are tamed and trained no doubt, but seemed to be enjoying our company and well treated by their owners. They have plenty of parking. Tickets are purchased online, most often they are open only one weekend a month. Restrooms are available. Food not allowed, but a bottle of water is ok. Got to meet Abu the camel, his partner, a zebra and a billy goat and his family too. I wanted to hold one and did not know how to- one of the helper guys I approached said just pick them up and hold - really ! Then some other fellow visitor helped.

This was the experience of a lifetime! The owners and staff are awesome and the animals are…read moreobviously loved and cared for perfectly. Of course the elephants are the main attraction and the whole experience met and exceeded every expectation.

3.5 We came here for…read morethe historical park next door but were happy to discover this small park behind it. You can walk through the trail and around a large pond full of turtles. There is a butterfly garden and a story section where you can read a book on placards as you walk through. This is a good place for small kids to explore. The only thing sad was that the waterfall wasn't going and the water level there was almost nil. However, if you like koi fish, they have some in the pond.

So serene & beautiful nature setting for a nice stroll. Wish it was closer but still a nice drive…read moreas well.

Love that they have a toddler area and big kid play area. Although the big kid area is easy for…read moretoddlers to navigate. The playground looks new. Like they just replaced it. Definitely wear tennis shoes or closed toe shoes here. The trails are a good mixture of dirt and then some parts are cement. Nice fishing spot as well. Catch and release only. Be careful letting smaller kids near the pond. I have seen a kid slip and fall in. He was okay and got out, but after seeing that I keep an extra eye on my kids if we want to get close to the pond. They have a sand volleyball court. Lots of walking trails. Even behind the trees where a retention pond is. They have covered pavilions with picnic tables and bbq pits. Also love that the playground is covered and kids can play in the shade. That's a MUST for Texas parks!

Super impressed by this park!…read more They've done a really great job with adding beautiful manmade waterfalls and such. The walking trail is very pleasant. FYI: the trail is paved and stroller accessible. On the way back, we took another trail which was dirt and had no issue taking the stroller on that as well. Nice playground for kids. There are bathrooms just past the playground. I initially thought they were closed because the gate had the lock still on it (in a locked position) but luckily, someone advised me that they were actually open. So, don't go by appearances and actually tug on the door! There are two relatively small parking lots that fill up quickly but there is also street parking available.

Our favorite dog park and nearly the only one in Huntsville to begin with. It's not huge, but our…read moredogs live in an apartment so they can run up and down that little fenced in strip of grass for HOURS. There are two benches, a trash can, and a doggy doo disposal can as well. There isn't a lot to it, and I advise you to bring your own bowl for water, as there is a fountain, but there isn't any way for the pups to stay hydrated without you bringing something to put the water in! Anyways, as simple as it is, it's quiet and a nice place to sit and enjoy nature and watch your fur babies have a good time!

Some friends and I went to the park to take wedding invitation photos and had the best time. We all…read moretalked about going back to hike because the Forrest was pretty and clean, trails not too difficult, and we had so many options to choose our adventure. We spent hours there trying to get as many varying backdrops as we could (including by the lake) and it was truly magical. Highly recommend for a full day in nature. Bring water!

Great place to start your camping trip with the family. Great hiking trails and great views.read more

Delapidated,ignored,celebrated! Not sure why this park has been forgotten but likely to do with…read morecivil war veteran recognition. I guess this place has been cancelled by default. The monuments are still in good shape but everything else is a mess.

The park is rather small, but the main attraction is a monument to those who served in the…read moremilitary. The wars memorialized are: Texas Revolutionary, Mexican-American, and the Civil War. It was a great treasure to discover during my time spent camping in Huntsville State Park. Please visit this hidden gem. Sam Houston is buried right across the street in Oakwood Cemetery.

$5 boat launch.... Beautiful undeveloped lake area. Fisherman's paradise…read more I prefer this area in early spring and fall as it is not too hot. Today in mid March water temp 75F and air temp 85F, perfect. Limited parking. One stall outhouse. Basic facilities. Some gators up north in the lake.

Overall Experience Came here on a little fishing trip with…read moremy friends and had a very pleasant time. Lots of nature and wildlife, and the overall vibe is relaxing and enjoyable. Definitely a great place to spend the day. Fishing & Activities Big, wide-open lake where you can fish from the dock or take your kayak out. There were a lot of families and local fishermen around, which made it feel welcoming and active. Cost & Value There is a small entrance fee, but I believe it's worth the experience for what you get. Things to Know Before You Go I wouldn't recommend coming when it's windy or raining, since the water can get pretty rough and take away from the experience.

We pulled in for a 5 night stay and this park is absolutely beautiful and quiet and a terrific…read moreTexas State Park! The sites are spacious and we stayed at Yaupon Loop with full hookups! It's Christmas season so many of the Park Hosts had Christmas decorations setup. We put lights at our sites as well.

Lake Livingston was most certainly a gem !!! I would have never known about this place if my friend…read morewouldn't have told me about it! This was a camping trip with some friends of mine and my family. The spot was really nice and it came with a lake view of lake Livingston. They have trails around this park that lead to a cabin center in which you can rent. My friend had an RV and rented two spots which has running water and a fire pit! The views are dope. Weekends are pretty busy for people glamping and camping, so definitely book in advance ! This will most definitely be a go to spot!