Topic · Page 6
The Great Outdoors
Local Notes
The Great Outdoors notes
Franklin County · Lake Habitat
Lake Cypress Springs Makes Franklin County Feel Like Water, Not Just Woods
Lake Cypress Springs gives Franklin County shallow bays, piney shorelines, winter waterfowl, and a different outdoor mood from the courthouse square.
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.
Freestone County · County Landscape
Freestone County Changes From Sandy Woods to River Bottom
Freestone County drains mostly toward the Trinity River, but the west and east sides do not feel the same.
Freestone County · Public Land
Richland Creek WMA Is Freestone County's Public Bottomland
South of Streetman, Richland Creek WMA gives Freestone County a public look at Trinity River bottomland, sloughs, and wet woods.
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
At Stonewall, the State Park Is the Front Door to the LBJ Ranch
One Stonewall visitor center opens onto a living-history farm, bison and longhorn country, and the self-guided drive through the LBJ Ranch.
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.
Gillespie County · River Geology
The Pedernales Cuts a Stair-Step Valley Near Stonewall
Near the LBJ Ranch, limestone layers, oak and juniper hills, and a flood-shaped river corridor make the Pedernales valley look almost terraced.
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.
Gonzales County · State Park
Palmetto State Park Mixes Dwarf Palmettos With CCC Waterworks
Palmetto State Park pairs an ecological crossroads of dwarf palmettos, oxbow water, and seasonal swamps with a CCC-built water system.
Gonzales County · River Paddle
The Come and Take It Trail Begins Below One Dam and Ends Before Another
This 11-mile Guadalupe River route for experienced paddlers passes the San Marcos confluence between a launch below H-5 Dam and a marked exit before another dam.
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.
Gray County · Prairie & Breaks
Gray County changes shape where the High Plains meet the Red River breaks
Gray County sits on the eastern edge of the High Plains, where level prairie gives way to Red River breaks and creek bottoms.
Gray County · National Grassland
Gray County's national grassland began as Dust Bowl repair
A 1,449-acre tract near Pampa preserves a Dust Bowl recovery story alongside Lake McClellan and Forest Service recreation.
Gray County · Camping
Lake McClellan Campground can stay open when the lake is dry
As checked July 30, 2026, the campground was listed open and Lake McClellan dry; call before a water-based trip.
Grayson County · Wildlife Refuge
At Hagerman, Lake Texoma Meets Marsh and Cross Timbers
The 11,320-acre refuge on Big Mineral Arm holds marshes, hardwood bottoms, grasslands, farm fields, and Cross Timbers oaks in one Grayson County landscape.
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 · City Trails
Waterloo Lake Gives Denison Both Paved Walks and Sandy Trails
Denison's 211-acre Waterloo Lake Regional Park gathers a 52-acre lake, paved walking, sandy trails, a fishing pier, and boat access at one city address.
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's record bass comes with private-water rules
Cherokee Lake straddles Gregg and Rusk counties, and a 1987 largemouth bass still holds its TPWD water-body record, but the lake is privately owned and access is controlled.
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 is in TPWD's North Zone, where the 2026-27 white-tailed deer rules allow four deer with limits on bucks, antlerless deer, and legal antlers.
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
TPWD's Annual Public Hunting Permit opens listed units around Texas to residents and nonresidents, but the map, schedule, and allowed activities control each trip.
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 crosses Gregg County before it becomes a state line
The Sabine runs northwest to southeast through Gregg County, while flood maps, stream gauges, and water-quality reports each answer a different question about the river.
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.
Guadalupe County · City Parks
Cibolo's Park System Is Small but Very Local
Cibolo maintains about 200 acres of parkland across four city parks, with sports, picnic, pavilion, and play amenities.
Guadalupe County · Nature Park
Crescent Bend Nature Park Puts Schertz on Cibolo Creek
Crescent Bend Nature Park is a 180-acre Schertz park with trails, two bird blinds, picnic areas, scout camping, and Cibolo Creek fishing access.
Guadalupe County · Hunting
Deer Hunting Rules for Guadalupe County
Guadalupe County has specific deer bag limits and season dates that hunters need to know before heading out.
Guadalupe County · State Park
Guadalupe River State Park Is Not in Guadalupe County
The park takes its name from the river, not the county: it sits on the Comal-Kendall county line near Spring Branch.
Guadalupe County · Upland Bird Hunting
I-10 Splits Guadalupe County's Dove Rules
North of I-10 is the Central Dove Zone and south is the South Zone, so one county can carry two season calendars.
Guadalupe County · Paddling
Lake Seguin Has a Beginner-Friendly Paddling Trail
The Lake Seguin paddling trail starts at Max Starcke Park West and is a four-mile route built for beginning or novice paddlers.
Guadalupe County · River Park
Max Starcke Park Keeps Seguin Close to the Guadalupe River
Seguin's Max Starcke Park is a 227-acre Guadalupe River park with trails, fishing, paddling access, an 18-hole golf course, a dog park, and picnic space on both banks.