Topic · Page 15
The Great Outdoors
Local Notes
The Great Outdoors notes
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.
Wharton County · Fishing Access
Fishing the Colorado River in Wharton County
The Colorado River runs through Wharton County and offers bank fishing, with TPWD maintaining leased public access points on the river.
Wheeler County · Hunting
What You Can Hunt in Wheeler County and When
Wheeler County sits in the Texas Panhandle and offers white-tailed deer, mule deer, turkey, pheasant, quail, dove, waterfowl, and sandhill crane hunting under TPWD regulations.
Wichita County · Freshwater Fishing
Lake Arrowhead Is Known for Catfish and Crappie
Lake Arrowhead, southeast of Wichita Falls, holds white crappie, largemouth bass, and large catfish under statewide fishing regulations.
Wichita County · State Park
Lake Arrowhead State Park: Camping and Fishing Near Wichita Falls
Lake Arrowhead State Park sits about 15 minutes south of Wichita Falls (in Clay County) and offers camping, fishing, hiking, and equestrian trails on a 16,200-acre lake.
Wichita County · Lake Park
Lake Wichita Park Holds the North-Shore Trail
Lake Wichita Park puts a long city trail, ballfields, disc golf, and shoreline fishing access on the north side of the reservoir.
Wichita County · River Park
Lucy Park Bends With the Wichita River
Lucy Park sits inside a bend of the Wichita River, with big shade trees, a waterfowl pond, and the west start of the city trail system.
Wichita County · Annual Event
The Hotter 'N Hell Hundred Bike Race Draws Thousands Each August
Wichita Falls hosts a large annual bicycle event in late August, when temperatures typically top 100 degrees, drawing cyclists from across the country.
Wichita County · City Trails
The Wichita River Trail Connects Lucy Park to Lake Wichita
The Circle Trail follows the Wichita River and Holliday Creek, turning separate parks, water views, and lake edges into one long route.
Wichita County · Rivers and Water
Three Rivers Drain Wichita County—And Create Flood Risk
The Red River, Wichita River, and Little Wichita River all flow through Wichita County, shaping land use, flood risk, and water supply.
Wichita County · Off-Road Trail
Wee-Chi-Tah Turns the River Bottom Into an Off-Road Trail
The Wee-Chi-Tah Trail gives Wichita Falls a free, volunteer-run route for walkers, runners, and mountain bikers.
Wichita County · Bluff Trail
Wichita Bluff Gives the Circle Trail a River View
The Wichita Bluff section adds a short concrete trail, a river overlook, and a little rise to the city's trail map.
Wilbarger County · Hunting
Wilbarger County Has a Full Hunting Checklist
Wilbarger County hunters need to check TPWD rules for deer, turkey, quail, dove, duck, pheasant, crane, and javelina.
Willacy County · Birding
Fred Stone Park Sits at the End of Willacy's Birding Road
The Sacahuistale Loop ends at Fred Stone County Park, where Willacy's inland brush gives way to shorebirds and the Laguna Madre.
Willacy County · Wildlife land
Las Palomas' Area 739 Crosses the Willacy County Line
A 57-acre public tract bends around the Arroyo Colorado and crosses from Cameron County into Willacy, one piece of Las Palomas' scattered habitat.
Willacy County · Wildlife habitat
Thornscrub Gives Willacy's Ocelots Room to Disappear
Willacy's thornscrub packs thousands of plants into an acre, making an ordinary-looking wall of brush valuable cover for ocelots.
Willacy County · Bay access
Two Public Ramps Put Port Mansfield on the Laguna Madre
Two public ramps turn the road through Willacy County into a boat route across the shallow Laguna Madre toward Port Mansfield Pass.
Williamson County · County Park
Berry Springs Park Has Creek Shade Near Georgetown
Berry Springs Park and Preserve gives Williamson County creek shade, an old pecan grove, trails, fishing, camping, and picnic space near Georgetown.
Williamson County · River Park
Blue Hole Park Is Georgetown's Limestone Swim Spot
Blue Hole Park is a no-fee Georgetown lagoon with limestone bluffs, South Fork San Gabriel River water, picnic areas, restrooms, and trails.
Williamson County · Fishing
Brushy Creek in Williamson County Has Recorded Sport Fish Catches
Brushy Creek in Williamson County is a recorded sport fishing waterbody tracked in TPWD's all-tackle records.
Williamson County · Regional Trail
Brushy Creek Trail Links Parks and Neighborhoods
Brushy Creek Regional Trail links creek views, parks, homes, and shops across southwest Williamson County.
Williamson County · County Park
Champion Park Mixes Creek Time and Dinosaur Play
Champion Park near Cedar Park has open space, picnic pavilions, Brushy Creek access, and a play area with dinosaur-bone casts.
Williamson County · Hunting Regulations
Deer Hunting Rules Differ on Each Side of I-35 in Williamson County
TPWD sets different white-tailed deer bag limits for the east and west sides of Interstate 35 in Williamson County.
Williamson County · City Park
Garey Park Is a Ranch-Scale Georgetown Park
Garey Park is Georgetown's 525-acre city park along the South San Gabriel River, with trails, ponds, play space, a dog park, and horse facilities.
Williamson County · Lake Recreation
Lake Georgetown Offers Fishing, Camping, and Hiking
Lake Georgetown is a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers lake on the North Fork of the San Gabriel River, about 3.5 miles northwest of Georgetown, with camping, boating, and fishing.
Williamson County · City Park
Old Settlers Park Is Round Rock's Big Sports-and-Trail Park
Old Settlers Park is Round Rock's largest park, with 645 acres, trails, sports fields, courts, open space, pavilions, and a water park.
Williamson County · County Park
River Ranch County Park Gives Liberty Hill Room to Roam
River Ranch County Park has meadows, woods, hills, trails, camping, river access, and a learning center between Leander and Liberty Hill.
Williamson County · Regional Park
Southwest Regional Park Is a Big County Sports Hub
This county park near Leander brings fields, courts, cricket, trails, a playscape, and a splash pad into one place.
Williamson County · Waterways
The San Gabriel River Is the Only River in Williamson County
The San Gabriel River runs through the center of Williamson County and is the county's only river, flowing through Georgetown and feeding Lake Georgetown.
Williamson County · Turkey Hunting
Turkey Season Only Applies West of I-35 in Williamson County
Wild turkey hunting is only open in the western part of Williamson County, west of Interstate 35, with both fall and spring seasons available.
Wilson County · Wildlife & Hunting
A 171-acre public-hunting unit sits beside US 181 near Floresville
TPWD's Highway 181 Unit offers seasonal permit access, while county wildlife biologists give landowners free habitat guidance.
Winkler County · Sand Dunes
A state park crosses into Winkler County
Monahans Sandhills State Park spans Ward and Winkler counties, with 4,717 acres of dunes and no marked trails across the sand.
Winkler County · Landmark
Blue Mountain is Winkler County's high edge
Winkler County's 3,400-foot high point is an escarpment of the Llano Estacado, with rock shelters that preserve signs of long use.
Winkler County · Sandhills
The Sand Hills marker remembers a travel barrier
A 1967 marker northeast of Kermit records a 100-mile sand belt, dunes taller than 70 feet, shallow water, and difficult travel.
Wise County · Lakes and Fishing
Lake Bridgeport Offers Fishing and Boating in Wise County
Lake Bridgeport sits on the West Fork Trinity River in Wise and Jack counties and supports bass, catfish, crappie, and other fish.
Wise County · Paddling
The Bridgeport Falls Paddling Trail Runs Through Wise County
TPWD's Bridgeport Falls Paddling Trail offers a designated canoe and kayak route near Lake Bridgeport.
Wise County · Trails
The LBJ Multiuse Trail System Has About 75 Miles of Trails
Hikers, mountain bikers, and horse riders share nearly 75 miles of trails on the LBJ National Grasslands in Wise and Montague counties.
Wise County · Federal Public Land
The LBJ National Grasslands Offer Trails, Camping, and Hunting Near Decatur
The Lyndon B. Johnson National Grasslands in Wise and Montague counties provide free public access for hiking, horseback riding, camping, and hunting.
Wood County · Invasive Species Rule
Drain Your Boat When You Leave Lake Fork
Texas law requires boaters to drain all water from their vessel before leaving Lake Fork to help stop zebra mussels from spreading to other lakes.
Wood County · Fishing Regulations
Fishing at Lake Fork: Special Rules You Need to Know
Lake Fork Reservoir in Wood County has strict catch rules for largemouth bass: most fish must be released, and only one trophy-size fish per day may be kept.