Topic · Page 5
The Great Outdoors
Local Notes
The Great Outdoors notes
Fannin County · Fishing
Coffee Mill Lake Feels Tucked into the Grasslands
Coffee Mill Lake is a 650-acre reservoir with mostly natural shoreline, aquatic plants, and a fishery that gives this corner of the grasslands its own rhythm.
Fayette County · Hunting
Deer hunting in Fayette County has a county-specific bag limit
TPWD sets the deer bag limit for Fayette County separately from surrounding areas, so hunters need to check the county-specific rules before the season.
Fayette County · Fishing
Fayette County Reservoir is known for largemouth bass fishing
The Fayette County Reservoir, about 10 miles east of La Grange, is a power plant cooling lake that Texas Parks and Wildlife has ranked highly for largemouth bass.
Floyd County · Geography
Blanco Canyon cuts through the southern edge of Floyd County
Blanco Canyon is a dramatic break in the High Plains near Floydada, carved by the White River along Floyd County's southern border.
Fort Bend County · County Park
Bates Allen Park Blends Orienteering and Black Fort Bend History
Bates M. Allen Park near Kendleton ties a county park, an orienteering course, a heritage museum, and a memorial project together.
Fort Bend County · State Park
Brazos Bend State Park offers 37 miles of trails 45 miles from Houston
Brazos Bend State Park in southern Fort Bend County has hiking, fishing, camping, and live alligators in the lakes.
Fort Bend County · Hunting
Brazos Bend State Park offers limited drawn hunts
Hunters can apply for drawn hunts at Brazos Bend State Park through the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.
Fort Bend County · River Park
Brazos River Park Turns Sugar Land Toward the River
Brazos River Park in Sugar Land has riverfront trails, disc golf, open meadows, picnic space, and a large event overlook.
Fort Bend County · Lake Park
Buffalo Run Park Gives Missouri City Lakes, Trails, and Boat Access
Buffalo Run Park has connected lakes, trails, fishing piers, a boat ramp, a garden, and bird-watching spots.
Fort Bend County · Nature Park
Cullinan Park Is a Big Sugar Land Nature Stop
Cullinan Park gives Sugar Land a large nature park with trails, White Lake, a boardwalk, and birding spots.
Fort Bend County · Parks
Fort Bend is planning a countywide parks and trails network
Fort Bend County adopted a parks and trails vision plan focused on access, safety, and countywide connectivity.
Fort Bend County · Trail Access
Independence Park Connects Missouri City to the GCWA Trail
Independence Park has a walking trail, fishing pier, boat ramp, broad water views, and access to Missouri City's GCWA Trail.
Fort Bend County · County Park
Jones Creek Ranch Park Gives Richmond a Large Event-and-Play Park
Jones Creek Ranch Park near Richmond is a county park with pavilions, play space, sports areas, a pool, and event facilities.
Fort Bend County · County Park
Kitty Hollow Park Is a Big County Park Near Missouri City
Kitty Hollow Park gives Fort Bend County a large park with trails, play areas, a lake, a pier, dog areas, and sports space.
Fort Bend County · Creek Park
Oyster Creek Park Is Sugar Land's Classic Creek Walk
Oyster Creek Park has creek views, a trail, public art, picnic space, and a rock-lined water feature.
Fort Bend County · Nature Park
Seabourne Creek Nature Park Has Prairie, Wetland, and Birding
Seabourne Creek Nature Park is Rosenberg's largest park, with prairie, wetland, lake habitat, birding, and public nature walks.
Fort Bend County · River Park
Sugar Land Memorial Park Has Trails, Water, and a Memorial
Sugar Land Memorial Park sits by the Brazos River with trails, a veterans memorial, play space, picnic space, and lake uses.
Fort Bend County · Astronomy
The George Observatory at Brazos Bend State Park opens Saturday nights for stargazing
A public observatory inside Brazos Bend State Park lets visitors look through high-powered telescopes on Saturday nights, weather permitting.
Fort Bend County · Fishing
You do not need a fishing license inside Brazos Bend State Park
Fishing from the shore or pier inside Brazos Bend State Park does not require a Texas fishing license.
Franklin County · Fishing & Recreation
Lake Cypress Springs Offers Public Fishing and Boating
Lake Cypress Springs is a 3,461-acre reservoir in Franklin County open to the public for fishing, boating, and recreation.
Freestone County · State Park
Fairfield Lake State Park closed in 2023 — public access is gone for now
Fairfield Lake State Park permanently closed in February 2023 when the land was sold to a private developer, ending public access to the lake and its facilities.
Frio County · Hunting & Wildlife
Frio County Sits in Prime South Texas Hunting Country
Frio County is in the South Texas Plains, one of the state's top regions for white-tailed deer, feral hog, and dove hunting on private ranch land.
Gaines County · Salt lake
Cedar Lake explains a lot about northeast Gaines County
Cedar Lake, the salt flat twenty-five miles northeast of Seminole, was a Comanche trading ground, buffalo water, and possibly Quanah Parker's birthplace before the cotton and oil came.
Gaines County · County park
Gaines County Park and the golf course sit together north of Seminole
Gaines County Park puts a community center, RV hookups, and the county golf course in one north-of-Seminole gathering spot.
Gaines County · Natural feature
McKenzie Lake is the kind of shallow basin that shapes the High Plains
McKenzie Lake, a mile-long dry basin off U.S. 180, is the kind of feature that teaches you how to read flat West Texas land.
Gaines County · Water context
Seminole Draw is a good reminder to verify water conditions
Seminole Draw once ran on live springs, and Indian Wells, nine miles south of Seminole, was a real camping water before oil drilling and irrigation pumped most of them dry.
Gaines County · City parks
Seminole's city parks are the easiest everyday outdoor stops
City Park on N.W. 5th has the splash pad, the sand volleyball, and RV hookups; S. S. Forrest Park out on S.W. 21st is the place for a walk. Seminole's everyday outdoors runs through a handful of in-town parks.
Gaines County · Sports fields
Seminole's sports complex makes youth ball part of the place
Seminole's Baseball/Softball Complex gives local leagues four fields at 301 Sunland Dr., with room for regional tournament play.
Galveston County · Nature Center
Dudney Nature Center Keeps 148 Acres of Clear Creek Wetland Wild
On the south bank of Clear Creek in League City, the Dudney Nature Center holds 148 acres of marsh, pond, and bird blinds — one of the last big undeveloped wetlands on the county's north side.
Galveston County · County Park
Fort Travis Guards the Tip of Bolivar With Old Gun Batteries and Picnic Tables
At the far west tip of Bolivar Peninsula, Fort Travis is a Galveston County park built on a century-old coastal fort that once aimed twelve-inch guns at the mouth of the harbor.
Galveston County · Fishing
Galveston Bay Is One of Texas's Most Productive Fishing Areas
The bay, jetties, surf, and marsh edges put several kinds of saltwater fishing within one county.
Galveston County · Water Quality
Galveston Bay Water Quality Affects Swimming and Shellfish Harvesting
Shellfish areas can open or close as bay conditions change, so yesterday's map is not enough for today's harvest.
Galveston County · Paddling
Galveston County Has Coastal Paddling Trails on the Bay and Bayous
Three state-park paddle loops move from quiet bayous into coves, seagrass, marsh restoration, and open bay water.
Galveston County · Birding
Galveston County Is a Major Spot for Migrating Birds
Woodlots, marsh, beach, and bay make Galveston a rest stop for birds crossing the Gulf and following the Texas coast.
Galveston County · County Park
Jack Brooks Park Opens Onto an Old WWII Training Ground
The county's 678-acre park at SH 6 carries a wartime layer: Camp Wallace spread between Hitchcock and Alta Loma, and a Navy blimp base stood just south.
Galveston County · State Park
One State Park Crosses Galveston Island From Gulf to Bay
Galveston Island State Park preserves a public path from Gulf beach through coastal prairie to the wetlands of West Bay.
Galveston County · Beach Access
Pocket Park #4 Is a Free Beach Landing on Galveston's West End
Far down the West End toward San Luis Pass, Pocket Park #4 is a small city beach access with a free lot, a no-fee alternative to the paid Seawall and the state park.
Galveston County · Island Park
Seawolf Park Puts a Fishing Pier Next to a WWII Submarine
Out on Pelican Island, Seawolf Park hands you a fishing pier, a picnic spot, and a tour of a real submarine and destroyer escort on the same patch of ground.
Galveston County · Bay Access
The Texas City Dike Runs Five Miles Out Into Galveston Bay
On the mainland side of the county, the Texas City Dike juts 5.3 miles straight into Galveston Bay: a road, a beach, and a fishing pier the city calls the longest man-made one anywhere.
Galveston County · Paddling
Three Parks Made Clear Creek a 6.5-Mile Trail
League City and Galveston County joined two city parks and one county park into a 6.5-mile paddle route along League City's northern waterway.
Garza County · Hunting
Deer hunting rules for Garza County
Garza County is in the North Zone for white-tailed deer and also has a mule deer season, so the rules are different depending on which deer you are hunting.
Gillespie County · State Park
Enchanted Rock Requires a Reservation on Busy Days
Enchanted Rock State Natural Area sits near Fredericksburg and draws large crowds, so planning ahead is essential.
Goliad County · Fishing
Coleto Creek Reservoir offers public fishing near Goliad County
A 3,100-acre reservoir on the Goliad-Victoria county line gives anglers public access to largemouth bass, catfish, crappie, and more.
Gonzales County · Fishing
Lake Gonzales Offers Good Bass and Crappie Fishing
Twelve miles west of town on US 90A, the 696-acre Lake Gonzales has been holding bass, crappie, and catfish since the dam went up in 1931.
Gray County · Hunting
Gray County Allows Both White-Tailed and Mule Deer Hunting
Gray County has white-tailed deer, mule deer, and pronghorn seasons, but each one has a different TPWD rule.
Grayson County · State Park
Eisenhower State Park Sits on Lake Texoma's Rocky Northern Shore
Eisenhower State Park near Denison offers camping, fishing, hiking, and water access on Lake Texoma, about an hour north of Dallas.
Grayson County · Fishing Licenses
Lake Texoma Has a Special Fishing License That Covers Both States
Because Lake Texoma straddles the Texas-Oklahoma border, a special low-cost license lets you fish the whole lake without needing two state licenses.
Grayson County · Lake Access
Lake Texoma Has Multiple Public Access Points in Grayson County
Besides Eisenhower State Park, several other public parks and boat ramps give access to Lake Texoma from the Texas side.
Grayson County · Fishing
Lake Texoma Has One of the Few Self-Sustaining Striped Bass Populations in the U.S.
Lake Texoma's striped bass reproduce on their own in the Red River inlet, making it a well-known destination for freshwater striped bass fishing.
Grayson County · Aquatic Invasive Species
Zebra Mussels in Lake Texoma Mean You Must Drain Your Boat Before Leaving
Lake Texoma has established zebra mussels, an invasive species, so state law requires boaters to drain all water from boats, livewells, and bait buckets before leaving.
Gregg County · Walking trail
Boorman Trail follows Grace Creek through Longview
Boorman Trail gives Longview a three-mile creek-corridor walk with quarter-mile pavement markers and emergency location signs.
Gregg County · Fishing
Cherokee Lake offers fishing in Gregg County
Cherokee Lake in Gregg County is a documented fishing destination tracked by Texas Parks and Wildlife, with largemouth bass among the recorded species.
Gregg County · Trail system
Creekside Trail follows Bighead Creek through Kilgore
Creekside Trail gives Kilgore more than 3.5 miles of paths beside Bighead Creek, with trailheads from Stone Road to Leach Street.
Gregg County · Hunting
Deer hunting rules for Gregg County
Gregg County falls in the North Zone for white-tailed deer, with specific antler restrictions and bag limits set by Texas Parks and Wildlife.
Gregg County · City park
Lear Park is Longview's big field-and-trail park
Lear Park on H. G. Mosley Parkway puts ballfields, a walking trail, a fishing pier, a playground, and a splash pad in one Longview park.
Gregg County · Public Hunting Access
The Annual Public Hunting Permit opens land across Texas
Texas residents can buy an Annual Public Hunting Permit from TPWD to access over a million acres of public hunting land statewide.
Gregg County · Garden walk
The Longview Arboretum brings a garden walk to Cotton Street
The Longview Arboretum and Nature Center sits on 26 acres between the convention complex and a Grace Creek tributary.
Gregg County · Rivers & Waterways
The Sabine River runs through Gregg County
The Sabine River flows northwest to southeast through Gregg County and is a key water feature shaping both the landscape and flood risk.
Gregg County · Downtown walk
Walk Kilgore's World's Richest Acre under the derricks
On North Commerce Street in Kilgore, the World's Richest Acre turns the East Texas oil boom into a street-level landmark.
Grimes County · Hunting & Fishing
Hunting and Fishing Opportunities Near Grimes County
Grimes County has a white-tailed deer season with a local antler rule, and nearby Lake Limestone offers accessible freshwater fishing.