Great place to visit. Quiet and petty. Found a secret waterfall too. Towns people are super nice…read moreand the lake has lots of places to picnic

Beautiful lake and waterfall. It's a great place to bring small boats, go fishing, and even to…read moreswim. The waterfall is the real hidden gem here though. It is quite a scene to see.

Caddo Mounds is a peaceful and meaningful place to explore history. The trails and ancient mounds…read moregive a strong sense of the past, and the visitor center explains the Caddo culture clearly. It is quiet, well kept, and worth a visit if you enjoy history and nature.

But I truly remarkable experience. Many years ago the Caddo people lived and worked on this land…read more They were resourceful and used their knowledge to make this part of Texas home. I was amazed seeing the different mounds with different purposes. Each mound was constructed by hand out of mud that they collected from a mud pit on site. The burial mound was used to bury the bodies of their people and family. The low platform mound was where they went to have important political discussions. And the amount of separated by the highway was religious purposes. On the vast land that's where they grew crop for food. And unlike other villages the men weren't so much in charge. It was the women that built the mounds grew the food took care of the children they ran the show! It is a beautiful thing that women were able to put their best foot forward and take the lead! I do wonder why did the Caddo people abandon this village? And I also wonder why did the US government force them to move to Binger, Oklahoma? I also wonder do the cuddle people living in contemporary Oklahoma come back to visit where their ancestors lived and worked? Also fun fact: Caddo Lake State Park is a region of where the Caddo people also lived before going to Oklahoma. This historical site cost $5 admission and pets are free! It is very dog friendly museum that you can bring your dog on the inside to watch the small 9-minute video that they have also they have little treats for your pup as well. Sneakers and I had a very fun time! It is a lot of walking but well worth it.

About 15 minutes drive outside of Nacogdoches is a lovely, secluded forest trail that's free and…read moreopen to the public. It's part of the Angelina National Forest. The Jack Creep loop is about a mile, flat path and is a well maintained path with benches along the way. There are a few signs along the way identifying different kinds of trees. There's also a "management loop" trail that's a couple of miles long, but when we visited, it was so overgrown that you couldn't hike much on it. However, it was really lovely to walk along the roads (FS 400 and FS 401 on the map) that are actually meant for cars. They were closed to vehicles when we were there because of recent rain, but I don't think they get any traffic most of the time, and the path is very wide and pleasant. There's a lot of shade, and the trees are tall and simply beautiful. I was so happy in the forest that I literally hugged a tree. There's a small parking lot - turn left when you reach the main gate; if you go straight, you'll wind up far from the trail around a bunch of research buildings. There is a water fountain at the trail head, and bathrooms, though the bathrooms were still closed in June 2021 because of the COVID pandemic. We visited on a weekday morning and saw only two other people on the trail the entire time. Check it out!

A nice quiet place with minimal traffic..loved the winding, scenic route to the trails & picnic arearead more

It was very clean and nice. Nice fairy homes decorations. Just very relaxing. A good get away from…read moreelectronics and daily life

Great hiking trails and the staff is very knowledgeable and helpful! Had a great day fishing at the…read morepond as well.

As an outdoors goer, I love visiting this park with the exception that the people around there wait…read morefor others to pick up trash if they see it. So guess who ends up picking up trash all the time? That's right, me! Sadly, I see more and more trash every time I go, and that is a disgrace. A clean park lies on the citizens like us. If you see trash, please pick it up. Bring a bag with you. Every lit but that we do, will. Ake a big difference collectively. Don't expect others to pick up trash, please help and pick it up!

This is such a beautiful spot just a few minutes from my home. It's so peaceful out here. There are…read moreno motorized boats allowed on the lake. You can bring a kayak/ canoe etc. and throughout the lake are life vests for the kiddos. So please be sure to utilize them. Keep the kids safe.

Great place for picnic, fishing and grandkids love swimming just wish it wasn't so mossy when you…read moreswim but love that you have life jackets for the kids to use we love it here also the new floating deck need more of them and long piers to fish from.

Mission Tejas State Park is a quiet scenic spot that is perfect for a low key outdoor escape. The…read morepark blends history and nature well with a replica mission peaceful hiking trails and tall pines that create a calm East Texas atmosphere. It is not huge or packed with amenities but that is part of its charm making it great for picnics short hikes or simply unplugging for a while.

Park is nice and has a lot of good hiking trails. The first night we were there a bad storm blew…read morethrough and knocked the power out. After several hours with no power called headquarters to see if they had any idea when the power would be back on. The guy on the phone informed me "he doesn't own a power company or generate power". We go to state parks all over Texas and this was our first negative experience with park staff. I understand they can't control the power but a little courtesy would have went a long way.

Looking for a place to hike? Bike? Kayak? Bird? Bring horses for a trail ride?…read moreThis is it. Several marked trails, about 65 miles of paved and unpaved roads with old concrete ruins rising out of the forest. This was once the Longhorn Ammunition Plant and has a lot of history that you can read about in the visitor center (if you can find it!). The visitor center is behind the Refuge offices. Take the first right after you enter the gates, then the first left to find it.

This was a great find by accident. We found out about it while at the state park and it was…read moredefinitely worth the stop. It is an old army ammunition factory that was turned over to the wildlife and fisheries department. Shells of some of the old buildings still stand. Lots of birds and wildlife, but very, very few people.

Fantastic park within the city limits. Wildlife all around- ducks, deer, squirrels. Love the…read morewalking and bike trails

A series of sports fields just south of town with an extension in the back that feeds into some…read morelovely trails.

The staff is very inviting and informative! Did you know you could book a room here for a baby…read moreshower or take wedding, prom photos ? Fall festivals every year! Spring break events are wonderful. The nature and views are so vibrant and beautiful. Calming and peaceful to experience this place. By the way, membership is the cheapest! Love this place and I know you will too!

Went to check it out and get some exercise. Even though it is winter and things weren't in bloom…read moreyou can tell the beauty in the paths and design. It was very clean, well marked and has something for all. It has hiking, history, bridges and tons if photo ops. The person in the office was cheerful and knowledgeable. The memorial to veterans is beautiful. Take s ride and do something different. It does cost bit plenty of discounts if you qualify. January 1st prices will go up. Be careful of the roots on trails. Wear good shoes that support your ankles. Not all the paths are full of roots. Take your time be mindful and be careful. Worth it. It has handicap paths too.