Topic · Page 4
The Great Outdoors
Local Notes
The Great Outdoors notes
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.
Dallas County · Fishing License
You Need a Texas Fishing License to Fish in Dallas County
Any angler fishing in Dallas County waters needs a valid Texas fishing license issued by Texas Parks and Wildlife.
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 Lake area has public hunting land through TPWD
TPWD manages the Ray Roberts Public Hunting Lands (Unit 501), which span Denton, Cooke, and Grayson counties and require an annual public hunting permit.
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.
Denton County · Invasive Species
Zebra mussels are in Ray Roberts Lake — boaters must decontaminate
Ray Roberts Lake is infested with zebra mussels, and Texas law requires boaters to clean, drain, and dry all equipment before leaving to avoid spreading them.
Dickens County · Hunting
Dickens County Whitetails, Private Gates, and Public Maps
Dickens County was one of TPWD's whitetail release counties; access today depends on a landowner's permission or a specifically listed public area.
Dimmit County · Hunting
Deer and Turkey Hunting in Dimmit County (South Zone)
TPWD places Dimmit County in the South Zone for white-tailed deer and Rio Grande turkey, with county-specific limits and reporting rules.
Donley County · Lake / Recreation
Greenbelt Reservoir Offers Fishing and Camping Near Clarendon
Greenbelt Reservoir sits just north of Clarendon on the Salt Fork of the Red River and is the main public outdoor recreation spot in Donley County.
Eastland County · Hunting
Deer hunting rules for Eastland County
Eastland County falls under Texas Parks and Wildlife rules that limit deer harvest and set season dates you need to know before you hunt.
Ector County · Dove Hunting
Dove Season Dates in Ector County Depend on Which Side of I-20 You Hunt
Interstate 20 splits Ector County into two TPWD dove zones with different season start and end dates.
Ector County · Small Game & Javelina
Ector County Has Seasons for Quail and Javelina
Quail season runs through late winter and javelina season runs from fall into late February in Ector County.
Ector County · Mule Deer Hunting
Mule Deer Season in Ector County Is Short
Ector County is in the Trans-Pecos mule deer zone, where archery and general season combined run only a few weeks in fall.
Ector County · Public Access
There Is No Public Hunting Land in Ector County
All hunting in Ector County takes place on private land — hunters must have written or verbal permission from the landowner.
El Paso County · County Park
Ascarate Park Gives El Paso a County Lake
Ascarate Park is El Paso County's largest public park, built around a 48-acre lake, with an aquatic center, sports fields, and a 27-hole golf course.
El Paso County · Urban Park
Chamizal Has Grounds, Art, and Boundary History
Chamizal National Memorial gives central El Paso open grounds and a cultural center tied to a peaceful border settlement.
El Paso County · Trailheads
City Trailheads Put Mountain Trails Inside Daily Life
El Paso's city trailhead system lets residents reach Franklin Mountains and foothill trails without treating them as a far-away trip.
El Paso County · County Parks
County Parks Reach Beyond Central El Paso
El Paso County's parks system is not only in central El Paso; it also serves smaller communities out in the valley.
El Paso County · Fishing Rules
El Paso County Has Restrictions on Live Bait for Fishing
Only certain fish species can be used as live or dead bait in El Paso County. TPWD sets these rules to protect local waters from invasive species.
El Paso County · Desert Ecology
El Paso Sits at the Heart of the Chihuahuan Desert
El Paso County sits near the northern edge of the Chihuahuan Desert, one of North America's largest deserts and more biologically rich than it looks.
El Paso County · Trail Safety
El Paso Trail Plans Need Desert Weather Checks
El Paso's official trail guidance reminds hikers that desert sun, wind, heat, and sudden storms can turn a simple outing serious.
El Paso County · State Park
Franklin Mountains State Park Sits Inside El Paso City Limits
Franklin Mountains State Park covers nearly 27,000 acres of desert mountain terrain inside El Paso, with over 100 miles of trails.
El Paso County · State Park and Historic Site
Hueco Tanks Has Ancient Rock Art and Strict Daily Visitor Limits
Hueco Tanks State Park protects thousands of ancient pictographs in the Chihuahuan Desert and limits daily visitors to preserve the site.
El Paso County · Wetlands
Rio Bosque Brings Back River Habitat
Rio Bosque Wetlands Park is a 372-acre City of El Paso park in the lower valley, run by UTEP, where old Rio Grande habitat is being restored.
El Paso County · Scenic Drive
Scenic Drive Turns Into a Sunday Walking Route
The City of El Paso closes Scenic Drive to vehicle traffic on Sunday mornings so people can walk, bike, and take in the view over the city.
El Paso County · Trail Plan
The Paso del Norte Trail Is a Long-Range Plan
The Paso del Norte Trail is a planned countywide trail, so check which segments are actually open before you build a ride around it.
El Paso County · Trail
The Playa Drain Trail Adds a Valley Route
The Playa Drain Trail gives Mission Valley residents a paved walking and biking route near Shawver Park and Yarbrough Drive.
El Paso County · State Park Facility
The Wyler Aerial Tramway at Franklin Mountains Is Being Rebuilt
The Wyler Aerial Tramway at Franklin Mountains State Park is closed for rebuilding. Texas got $27 million to reconstruct it.
El Paso County · Hunting Seasons
What You Can Hunt in El Paso County and When
El Paso County sits in TPWD's Trans-Pecos mule deer country, with separate rules for javelina, dove, quail, and waterfowl.
Ellis County · Deer Hunting
Deer hunters in Ellis County face specific antler rules
Ellis County is under Texas antler restriction rules, which limit how many large-antlered bucks a hunter can take in a season.
Ellis County · Waterways
The Trinity River forms the eastern edge of Ellis County
The Trinity River runs along the eastern edge of Ellis County. Several local creeks drain the county and feed into the Trinity system.
Ellis County · Public Hunting Access
TPWD public hunting land is limited in Ellis County — know your options
Public hunting land is limited in Ellis County. Most hunters use private leases, but a TPWD Annual Public Hunting Permit opens access to areas across Texas.
Ellis County · Turkey Hunting
Turkey season in Ellis County only applies west of I-35
Only the western half of Ellis County, west of Interstate 35, falls within the turkey hunting zone under TPWD regulations.
Falls County · Fishing & River Access
Public fishing access on the Brazos River near Marlin
Texas Parks and Wildlife has a public boat ramp on the Brazos River about 5 miles west of Marlin. You can fish there without needing private land.
Fannin County · New Lake
Bois d'Arc Lake Is Texas's Newest Major Reservoir
Bois d'Arc Lake opened in April 2024 as Texas's first major new reservoir in more than 30 years, with fish habitat built into the lake from the start.
Fannin County · Public Land
Caddo National Grasslands Offers Hunting and Fishing in Fannin County
Caddo National Grasslands WMA is a patchwork of two Fannin County units, so its map matters as much as its long list of outdoor uses.