Topic · Page 4
The Great Outdoors
Local Notes
The Great Outdoors notes
Comal County · River Recreation
Tubing the Guadalupe River Runs Through Comal County
The Guadalupe River below Canyon Dam is a popular spot for tubing, kayaking, and whitewater paddling.
Comanche County · Fishing
Proctor Lake Offers Public Fishing and Boat Ramps
Proctor Lake in Comanche County is a public reservoir known for hybrid striped bass, with four public access points run by the Army Corps of Engineers.
Comanche County · Lake Country
Proctor Lake Works Behind the Boat Ramps
A 13,460-foot earthfill dam turns the Leon River into a lake that handles floodwater, stores water, shelters wildlife, and supports campgrounds at three Corps parks.
Comanche County · Rivers
Two Leon Rivers Thread Two Kinds of Country
The North and South Leon rivers carry water toward the Brazos while the county shifts from sandy Western Cross Timbers to heavier Grand Prairie ground.
Concho County · Hunting
Hunting Seasons in Concho County
Concho County sits in the North Zone for deer and turkey and the Central Zone for dove, a split that can catch hunters who assume one zone map applies to every species.
Cooke County · Fishing & Recreation
Moss Lake is Gainesville's city reservoir and a public fishing spot
Moss Lake sits about 10 miles northwest of Gainesville and offers public fishing for bass, crappie, catfish, and white bass — but you need a boat permit from the city.
Cooke County · State Park
Ray Roberts Lake State Park has a unit in Cooke County
The Pecan Creek unit of Ray Roberts Lake State Park sits in Cooke County and offers camping, fishing, hiking, and water access about an hour north of the DFW metroplex.
Coryell County · Municipal recreation
Copperas Cove's City Course Follows the Hills
Hills of Cove is a city-owned course built into northeast Copperas Cove's rolling ground, not just another flat rectangle of municipal open space.
Coryell County · State park
Mother Neff Makes the Leon River Feel Like a Front Porch
A small park on the Leon River carries Coryell County's state-park origin story, with CCC stonework, canyon trails, and floodplain lessons in one place.
Coryell County · Public Land Access
Public Hunting Permit Opens Access to State Land
A state annual hunting permit lets you hunt on TPWD-managed public land across Texas, including areas accessible from Coryell County.
Coryell County · Creek country
Station Creek Keeps an Older Fort Name on the Map
Station Creek is a small Coryell waterway with a big clue in its name: Fort Station came before the county seat stories many people hear.
Coryell County · Water & Recreation
Two Main Rivers Shape the County
The Leon River drains the north and east, while Cowhouse Creek drains the west and south — both are central to the county's landscape.
Cottle County · Hunting
Cottle County Sits in Both Panhandle and North Zone Hunting Areas
Cottle County hunters can pursue white-tailed deer, mule deer, pheasant, quail, dove, and turkey — each with different seasons and endorsement requirements.
Crane County · Hunting & Wildlife
Hunting in Crane County is almost entirely on private land
There is no state wildlife management area or significant block of public hunting land in Crane County, so access depends on private landowner permission or a paid lease.
Crockett County · Hunting
Crockett County Has Both White-Tailed and Mule Deer Seasons
On the rocky western edge of the Edwards Plateau, you can hunt two kinds of deer, and the rules for each are different.
Crosby County · Silver Falls
Silver Falls Sits Where the High Plains Break
The eastbound US 82 rest area opens onto a dry-falls landscape of stony slopes, oak, mesquite, and White River history.
Crosby County · Reservoir
White River Reservoir Works for Towns and Anglers
Built for municipal water in 1963, the reservoir also holds a rough-edged fishery where a shifting waterline keeps changing the view.
Culberson County · National Park
Guadalupe Mountains National Park sits partly in Culberson County
Guadalupe Mountains National Park protects the highest peaks in Texas and a vast ancient reef, with trails open to hikers and backpackers.
Dallam County · Public Land
Rita Blanca National Grassland Near Texline
The Rita Blanca National Grassland is federal public land near Texline where people can hunt, hike, and picnic at no charge.
Dallas County · Fishing Regulations
Alligator Gar in the Trinity River Have Strict Bag Limits
A designated Trinity River reach has a one-fish daily limit, a 48-inch maximum, and a 24-hour harvest report.
Dallas County · City Lake
Bachman Lake Sits Beside Love Field with a Trail Around the Water
Bachman Lake is a 205-acre northwest Dallas city lake on the north side of Love Field, ringed by a trail with picnic areas, a pool, and water access.
Dallas County · State Park
Cedar Hill State Park Gives Dallas County Lake and Prairie Space
TPWD describes Cedar Hill State Park as a 1,826-acre state park on Joe Pool Lake with trails, camping, fishing, boating, and Penn Farm history.
Dallas County · Nature Preserve
Cedar Ridge Preserve Brings Escarpment Trails to Southwest Dallas
Cedar Ridge Preserve is a roughly 600-acre natural area in southwest Dallas with about nine miles of trails over hill-country escarpment terrain.
Dallas County · County Preserves
Dallas County Has Its Own Preserve System
Dallas County's Parks and Open Space Program lists 21 preserves totaling 4,166 acres across the county.
Dallas County · County Preserve
Goat Island Preserve Shows the Rural Side of the Trinity
Dallas County lists Goat Island Preserve as a 637-acre preserve in unincorporated southeastern Dallas County along the Trinity River Greenbelt.
Dallas County · Fishing License
Public Freshwater Fishing Usually Needs Two Things
Most anglers need a current Texas fishing license and freshwater endorsement before fishing Dallas County's public waters.
Dallas County · County Preserve
Rowlett Creek Preserve Gives Garland a Soft-Trail Network
Dallas County lists Rowlett Creek Preserve as a 94-acre Garland preserve with 16 miles of soft-surface trails.
Dallas County · County Preserve
Spring Creek Forest Preserves an Older Garland Woods
Dallas County describes Lee F. Jackson Spring Creek Forest Preserve as a wooded Garland preserve with paved and soft-surface trails along Spring Creek.
Dallas County · County Preserve
Tenmile Creek Preserve Keeps Lancaster's Woods on the Map
Dallas County describes Tenmile Creek Preserve as a 125-acre Lancaster preserve with wooded areas, meadows, creek land, and soft-surface trails.
Dallas County · Garden
The Dallas Arboretum Adds Garden Color to White Rock Lake
The Dallas Arboretum is a 66-acre display-garden destination on the shore of White Rock Lake in East Dallas.
Dallas County · Trinity Forest
The Great Trinity Forest Gateway Opens a Different Side of Dallas
The Great Trinity Forest Gateway and Horse Trail is a 250-acre Dallas metropolitan park on Dowdy Ferry Road with trails, fishing, a pier, a canoe launch, and a boat ramp.
Dallas County · City Trail
The Santa Fe Trail Carries East Dallas to White Rock Lake
Dallas Parks says the 4.7-mile Santa Fe Trail follows a former rail right of way from East Dallas toward White Rock Lake.
Dallas County · City Trail
The Trinity Skyline Trail Puts the River Beside Downtown
Dallas Parks lists the Trinity Skyline Trail as an 11.6-mile hard-surface trail in the Trinity River floodway with downtown views.
Dallas County · Nature Center
Trinity River Audubon Center Is a Public Door into the Forest
Trinity River Audubon Center is a public nature center on 120 acres in the Great Trinity Forest, about eight miles southeast of downtown Dallas.
Dallas County · Public Hunting
Trinity River Bottomland Drawn Hunts Are Available but Far from Dallas
TPWD offers drawn hunts on Trinity River bottomlands, though these areas are in SE Texas (Liberty County area), not near Dallas County, and access can be limited by flooding.
Dallas County · City Trail
White Rock Creek Trail Links North Dallas Parks to the Lake
Dallas Parks describes White Rock Creek Trail as a 9.2-mile trail that ties greenbelt parks to White Rock Lake.
Dallas County · City Lake
White Rock Lake Gives Dallas an Urban Lake with Trails and Wildlife
White Rock Lake is a 1,015-acre city lake about five miles northeast of downtown Dallas, with a long shoreline trail, piers, boating, and wildlife.
Dallas County · River Fishing
You Can Fish the Trinity River in Dallas, But Read the Advisories
TPWD lists public access points for fishing along the Trinity River in Dallas, but fish consumption advisories are in effect for some stretches.
Dawson County · Hunting Regulations
Deer hunting in Dawson County has specific buck rules you must know
Around Lamesa, TPWD's county rules split deer season between North Zone whitetails and Panhandle mule-deer antler restrictions.
Deaf Smith County · Hunting
Deaf Smith County offers pheasant, mule deer, pronghorn, and quail hunting
Sitting in the Panhandle zones, the county lets you hunt pheasant, mule deer, and pronghorn (game most of Texas never sees), though you'll need a landowner's say-so to do it.
Delta County · State Park
Cooper Lake State Park: Camping and Fishing Near Cooper
Cooper Lake State Park sits on Jim Chapman Lake in Delta County, with camping, fishing, hiking, cabins, and an easy Dallas-to-prairie weekend feel.
Delta County · Wildlife Management Area
Cooper WMA: Public Hunting and Hiking on 14,000 Acres
Cooper WMA is a 14,480-acre wildlife management area in Delta and Hopkins counties, open year-round for hunting, fishing, hiking, and wildlife viewing.
Denton County · Nature Center
Clear Creek keeps Denton close to prairie, woods, and water
Clear Creek Natural Heritage Center is a city-run nature area outside Denton with bottomland forest, upland prairie, and aquatic habitats.
Denton County · Geography
Denton County sits where two different Texas landscapes meet
Denton County spans three terrain zones: the Grand Prairie in the west, the Eastern Cross Timbers in the central portion, and a sliver of the Blackland Prairie along the eastern edge.
Denton County · Lake Park
Lewisville Lake Park is the city's big shoreline park
Lewisville Lake Park is a 662-acre lakefront park with golf, ballfields, beaches, camping, boat ramps, and a marina on Corps land.
Denton County · Lake Beach
Little Elm Park has one of the area's few public sand beaches
Little Elm Park has a public swim beach on Lewisville Lake, an enclosed sand area kept separate from boat traffic.
Denton County · Nature Preserve
LLELA is Lewisville's big river nature preserve
LLELA, below Lewisville Dam, offers trails, birding, fishing, paddling, camping, and outdoor classes across thousands of acres of restored Texas habitat.
Denton County · Denton Park
North Lakes Park is Denton's big north-side park
North Lakes Park gives north Denton a 351-acre park with lakes, trails, ballfields, a rec center, disc golf, and even a model-aircraft runway.
Denton County · Lake Park
Pilot Knoll Park gives Highland Village its lake access
Pilot Knoll Park on Lake Lewisville offers camping, hiking, horse trails, a boat ramp, and day use, with acreage that shifts as the lake rises and falls.
Denton County · Public Hunting
Ray Roberts has public hunting land, but the map changes each season
Ray Roberts Unit 501 spans Denton, Cooke, and Grayson counties. Hunters need a current APH permit, hunting license, and any required endorsement.
Denton County · Invasive Species
Ray Roberts Lake has zebra mussels, so clean, drain, and dry
Texas law requires boaters to drain vessels and onboard containers and bars moving invasive mussels. Cleaning and drying help protect the next lake.
Denton County · State Park
Ray Roberts Lake State Park offers camping, trails, and fishing near Denton
Ray Roberts Lake State Park sits about 10 miles north of Denton and has three overnight units, a 20-mile multiuse trail corridor, and fishing on a 29,000-acre reservoir.
Denton County · Denton Park
South Lakes Park mixes trails, fishing piers, and the Eureka playground
South Lakes Park in south Denton has 187 acres of lakes, fishing piers, sport courts, trails, and the Eureka 2 Playground.
Denton County · Rail Trail
The A-train Rail Trail links Denton and Lewisville
The DCTA A-train Rail Trail runs about 19 miles alongside the commuter rail line from downtown Denton to the Hebron station in Lewisville.
Denton County · Waterways
The Elm Fork of the Trinity River runs through Denton County
The Elm Fork Trinity River drains much of Denton County and feeds Ray Roberts Lake and Lake Lewisville, two major DFW-area water supplies.
Denton County · Greenbelt Trail
The Greenbelt links Ray Roberts Dam toward Lake Lewisville
The 20-mile Greenbelt Corridor follows the Elm Fork of the Trinity River between Ray Roberts Lake and Lake Lewisville for hiking, biking, and horseback riding.
Denton County · Lake Park
Twin Coves Park gives Flower Mound a lake campground
Twin Coves Park and Campground on Grapevine Lake has cabins, RV and tent sites, trails, a boat launch, kayak rentals, and a lake overlook.
DeWitt County · Guadalupe River
Cuero's River Bridges Double as Paddling Mileposts
The 13.8-mile Guadalupe Valley Paddling Trail splits at SH 72, with Hell's Gate upstream, FM 236 downstream, and a dam remnant in between.
DeWitt County · Local landscape
Elm Creek Joins Sandies Before Sandies Reaches Cuero
A 24-mile creek joins a 65-mile creek near FM 1116, then Sandies reaches the Guadalupe just west of Cuero.
DeWitt County · Birding and blooms
In Cuero, the Birding Trail Runs Along Fence Lines
TPWD's Cuero stop pairs winter sparrows along grassland roads with spring wildflower information at the DeWitt Historical Museum.