Topic · Page 14
The Great Outdoors
Local Notes
The Great Outdoors notes
Tarrant County · Lake Recreation
TRWD Also Runs Parks and Trails
TRWD supplies raw water and manages floodways. It also runs four lakes, three parks, and more than 100 miles of trails.
Taylor County · State Park
Black CCC veterans built Abilene State Park's red-stone heart
Along Elm Creek, Civilian Conservation Corps veterans quarried local stone and built the red sandstone arches that still give Abilene State Park its character.
Taylor County · Geography
Buffalo Gap cuts 400 feet through the Callahan Divide
The Callahan Divide separates the Brazos and Colorado watersheds, but at Buffalo Gap the old travel route sits about 400 feet below the nearby summits.
Taylor County · Freshwater Fishing
Lake Abilene holds bass, crappie, and catfish
Lake Abilene is a 595-acre reservoir inside Abilene State Park where you can fish for largemouth bass, white crappie, and channel catfish.
Taylor County · Hunting
White-tailed deer and quail are both legal to hunt in Taylor County
Taylor County is open for white-tailed deer, quail, dove, turkey, javelina, and several other species under TPWD regulations that change each year.
Terrell County · Hunting Regulations
Deer Hunting in Terrell County: Two Species, Different Rules
Terrell County has both white-tailed and mule deer, and each species has its own season dates and bag limits set by Texas Parks and Wildlife.
Terry County · Public Hunting
Huddleston Is Nearby Public Hunting, Not Terry County Land
TPWD's Huddleston Unit 2504 is public hunting land just below Terry County in Dawson County, with daily OSR required for dove and quail.
Terry County · High Plains Landscape
Terry County's Flat Map Is Full of Playas and Draws
The county has no natural rivers or streams, but rain still gathers in shallow playas and slips through draws across the southern High Plains.
Throckmorton County · Public Land Access
Public hunting land is available in Throckmorton County
A TPWD Annual Public Hunting Permit can open public hunting areas around Texas, while a local wildlife association helps Throckmorton-area landowners coordinate habitat and harvest work.
Titus County · TPWD Licenses
Hunting and Fishing Licenses in Titus County
You need a valid Texas hunting or fishing license before you go after game or fish in Titus County, with limited exceptions.
Titus County · Camping and Fishing
Lake Bob Sandlin State Park
Lake Bob Sandlin State Park sits about twelve miles southwest of Mount Pleasant and offers camping, fishing, and hiking on a 9,000-acre lake.
Tom Green County · State Park
Fifty Miles of Trail Meet the Concho at San Angelo State Park
On San Angelo's west side, 50 miles of trail cross reservoir shore, river bottom, grassland, and rocky West Texas ridges.
Tom Green County · Fishing
O.C. Fisher Reservoir Is Inside San Angelo State Park
O.C. Fisher sits inside San Angelo State Park, where shore and pier fishing have a clear license exception but on-water boundaries deserve a check.
Tom Green County · Hunting
One county page, three very different bird hunts
Turkey, dove, and quail use different seasons, zones, endorsements, and reporting rules on Tom Green County's TPWD page.
Tom Green County · Wildlife
Roadrunner Loop Passes San Angelo's Bison and Longhorn Herds
A short South Unit trail passes the viewing area for San Angelo State Park's bison and members of the official State of Texas Longhorn Herd.
Tom Green County · Nature & History
The Dinosaur Trail is older than dinosaurs
A two-mile state-park trail passes tracks left by Permian creatures before dinosaurs appeared.
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 Is Austin's Cold-Water Swimming Hole
A three-acre spring-fed pool in Zilker Park holds near 68 to 70 degrees and shares its water with rare salamanders.
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 Puts Limestone Waterfalls Inside Austin
Thirteen miles from the Capitol, Onion Creek drops over limestone shelves beside trails, campsites, and old Hill Country remains.
Travis County · Local Flood Hazard
Onion Creek: Flash Flood Risk in Southeast Travis County
Onion Creek can rise fast through southeast Austin, so mapped risk and live road conditions both belong in a property or travel check.
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
Ramps circle Lake Travis, but the useful choice changes with water level, flood operations, and park access.
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 · Big Thicket
Beech Creek Turns an Old Dirt Road Into a Six-Mile Forest Walk
The Beech Creek Unit pairs a one-mile loop with an unmaintained old road into spring-fed Big Thicket woods east of Woodville.
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 · State Park
A Stage Road Runs Along Purtis Creek's South Edge
Purtis Creek crosses the Van Zandt line, pairing an old road corridor with a 355-acre no-wake lake and named trails.
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 · Reservoir Park
Coleto Creek is Victoria County's working reservoir and weekend lake
Coleto Creek Park sits between Victoria and Goliad on a 3,100-acre reservoir with camping, shoreline, and public boat access.
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 · Riverfront Park
Riverside Park gives Victoria a real Guadalupe River backyard
Riverside Park is a 660-acre woodland park along 4.5 miles of the Guadalupe River, right inside Victoria.
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.
Victoria County · Paddling Trail
The Victoria Paddling Trail turns the Guadalupe into a 25-mile local route
The Guadalupe River paddling trail through Victoria has four named sections, from long half-day water to a short town float.
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.