Texas State Parks Quest

TX State Parks Quest: End of Summer

State Parks Visited since July 1st

  • Mother Neff State Park

  • Meridian State Park

  • Lake Whitney State Park

  • Copper Breaks State Park

  • Lake Arrowhead State Park

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Mother Neff State Park

This park is nestled away and offers a variety of features for the hiker. The trails aren’t long, so it’s easy to hike most of the park pretty quickly. I went from expansive prairies to shaded forests with a cave like rock ledge and an observation tower along the way.

Highlights

  • Cool cave to walk through (under, it’s a ledge style)

  • Shaded paths (with big trees and a jungle feel)

  • Observation tower (with a view of trees, better than nothing)

  • There’s a mini library near the campground (if you’re into reading while camping)

  • It’s a really fun park to drive through too

Meridian State Park

I didn’t really know what to expect with this park - other the standard Texas State Park with a lake feel. The trail around the lake is wonderful and offers a lot of shade and spots for picnic lunches. The campsites, which I saw during a brief drive through, were nice and set in the woods with privacy.

Highlights

  • Great lake views, spots of shade, and varied terrain

  • Plenty of space to enjoy camping with a little privacy

  • Lily pads everywhere!

Lake Whitney State Park

This is your typical “lake” state park in Texas - the trails are basically non-existent and it’s very much lakeside camping/boating centric. All that being said, I did enjoy finding a semi-private beach area on one of the trails that not one person was at except out in the water.

Highlights

  • Private (ish) beach area on the Towash Forest Trail

  • Great if you’re into boating, bad if you like shade

Copper Breaks State Park

As one of my new favorite state parks, I can’t recommend going here enough. The trails are fun, and somewhat hilly, and the red rocks are similar to the parks further west and north. The park was expansive, had interesting trails, and plenty of shaded campsites for tents.

Highlights

  • Rocky Ledge Loop was well worth it

  • Check out the Bull Canyon Loop too

  • Enjoy the Juniper Ridge trail, but stay on the trail

Lake Arrowhead State Park

The park is fine, another one geared towards people who want to boat/fish and not much else. The trails are okay, mowed fields basically, but it is in the middle nowhere so it’s mostly quiet. I’d recommend this place if you have a boat or just want to camp close to town.

Highlights

  • View of the causeway

  • Mesquite Ridge trail was “okay”

TX State Parks Quest: Mid-July 2020 Update

State Parks Visited since January

  • Possum Kingdom State Park

  • Fort Richardson State Park & Historical Site

  • Caddo Lake State Park

  • Martin Creek Lake State Park

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Possum Kingdom State Park

I went into this park knowing it was small and mostly made for people to enjoy the lake. The trails were minimal, but the lake amenities and camping were vast. The campsites were nicely laid out, and there were amble restrooms and showers for campers. The beach looked great for swimming, and I’d gladly camp there for a night or two since it is close to the cities. As far as the trails go, they left me wanting more. There was a nice set of trails on the west side of the park that went up the ridge and offered expansive views of the lake. All in all, I’d visit this place again to camp with friends or something - if we can ever do that again.

Highlights

  • Has a great lake for activities - swimming, fishing, boating, paddling

  • Excellent campsite setups

Fort Richardson State Park & Historical Site

What a treat this park and trail system were to visit. I had no expectations, except that the trailway between the two sections of park was going to be nine miles. There is an old train depot, an actual preserved historical fort, and plenty of trails. I did not get a look at the campground portion of this park, but I’m sure it’s similar to most other places.

There are two sections of the park - one along the north side of the lake and the other along the creek. You can take a path from the more historical area to the lakeside area. I walked this path, in the middle of the day, under the beating sun and drank nearly three liters of water.

Highlights

  • Some shade, though few and far between

  • Variety of things to do and see - can easily explore over a weekend

Caddo Lake State Park

Caddo Lake is one of those dreamy lakes with the cypress trees growing along the edges, and through the middle, and murky swamp water. I felt like I was transported to a movie or something, it was very picturesque in a southern bayou kind of way. The park had a few trails, which were not marked that well, but were shaded and through gorgeous hardwood trees.

The drive in and out of this park will be one of the highlights, beyond the bayou. The trees are tall and it’s very green. I felt transported out of the Texas I’m accustomed to and it was glorious. The launch areas are fine, with ample parking. When not in lock down, you may rent boats to paddle through the bayou. It appears there was great fishing and signs even warned of gators.

Highlights

  • All of the glorious trees

  • Bayou feeling, mossy trees, big trees, trails through the trees.. have I mentioned the trees?

Martin Creek Lake State Park

I honestly did not know what to expect at this state park. I was pleasantly surprised that it had a few trails that seems longer than the others on this list. I did a few miles, hiking every trail in the park. I saw an island, a muddy forest, the lake, a power plant, pine trees, oak trees, and everything in between. This park appears to be a family favorite and offers a lot of activities. It would be a great place to launch a kayak!

Highlights

  • Heavily wooded trails

  • Lots to do for the family or not a family, whatever!

TX State Parks Quest: May 2020 Update

State Parks Visited since January

  • Fort Parker State Park

  • Atlanta State Park

  • Daingerfield State Park

  • Lake Bob Sandlin State Park

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Fort Parker State Park

I was looking through parks one afternoon, planning for the weekend, when I stumbled across Fort Parker. I wanted to stick within a couple hours of DFW and maybe knock two out in one day. When I pulled up the trail map I saw a paddling trail that went right across the lake and up the Navasota River which connects Fort Parker Lake and Lake Mexia. I loaded up the kayak and headed down on a Saturday morning. I had no idea how long it would take to kayak where I wanted to, but I gave myself the afternoon. I paddled about 4-5 miles overall, not quite going all the way up to Lake Mexia. I sat on the still river, enjoying the quiet and the birds. It felt so good to relax and float with nothing really going on besides nature. The park itself looked fine, had a neat lakeside campground and a nature center. The wind was at my back across the lake to the river, but heading to car was another story of getting wet and paddling hard through the waves. I would definitely recommend this place if you want a nice little paddle outside the city.

Highlights

  • Most main places are lakeside, which is nice

  • Great paddling river without a current for a peaceful time

Atlanta State Park

This park is a little gem on the northeast corner of the state that I can’t wait to revisit. The trails were dirt, with some roots, and not many rocks - which is a nice change in Texas. Big trees of pine and oak tower over, casting shade and allow for fern and moss to grow below making this place feel a little more “up north” than other Texas State Parks. If you’ve ever been to Tyler State Park, or any of the other ones on the east side, you’ll find it to be similar. I can’t wait for cooler weather so I can bring the tent and hide out for the weekend.

Highlights

  • Shaded paths with varying foliage

  • Lake views or forest walks, either way it’s a lot of peace and quiet

Daingerfield State Park

Daingerfield is another smaller park packed with gorgeous trees, lake views, and just enough trail distance to get away from the potential crowds. We enjoyed a walk around the lake, which was shaded and very green. The place smelled of pine and that breeze off a lake you sometimes get. This is another park I can’t wait to revisit, and camp a few nights in the fall to see the colors in the trees.

Highlights

  • Trails are shaded and gorgeous

  • Varying terrain and scenery offers great retreat from the cities

Lake Bob Sandlin State Park

This park had more towering trees providing much needed shade as the day warmed up and trails with very few people on them thanks to restricted access. On the Homestead trail, look out for an old grave site - pretty cool! Enjoy the shade or the lake and have a good time at this one.

Highlights

  • Lovely wooded trails with tall pines and towering oaks

  • Very active lake area - great for boats

TX State Parks Quest: Jan 2020 Recap

January 2020 in Review - State Parks Quest

A new year means a new calendar and new days to start exploring. January has been an interesting month for me, with not nearly as much time exploring the state as I had hoped. Work sent me to New Mexico for ten days and I went to Baltimore the weekend before and after that, so it was January 20th before I could even sleep in my own bed! While in New Mexico, I managed to sneak off and visit a few Texas NPS sites one afternoon. That same afternoon, I tried to visit Hueco Tanks State Historic Site and State Park but it was a good rock climbing day and there was a line ten vans-full-of-people deep and I didn’t have that kind of time. I’ll have to attempt a re-visit when I get back to El Paso for state parks or back to Guadalupe Mountains just for fun.

Two parks I did manage to get into and explore were Cooper Lake State Park - Doctors Creek Unit and Bonham State Park. I’d been to Cooper Lake before, but it was the south side Sulphur Unit. These two were close enough to one another to visit in one afternoon, and I managed to get a couple hikes in to boot.

Bonham State Park

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Bonham State Park was okay, but I don’t think I need to revisit. The trails were a bit hard to follow and the bathrooms were locked, which was not ideal. I’m sure it’s a great place, but it is similar to many of the other parks I have visited in terrain and setup. I can drive half the distance for the same atmosphere, so I’ll just keep it local if I need some trail therapy.

Highlights: beautiful Lake Loop trail, tall trees, very quiet, and of course the lake

Low Points: poor trail signage

Check out my HIKE 4 blog post for more info and thoughts

Cooper Lake State Park - Doctors Creek Unit

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Cooper Lake, though, was a real treat. The trail there was through the woods and prairie, much like any other park in Texas, but it just felt different. Peaceful and fresh are my two main adjectives when I describe the trails at this state park. My hike at this unit was relaxed and truly an escape from the city. There was no ambient noise and very few people around the day I visited. The lake area had a cute pavilion and family gathering space, plenty of neat little campsites, and clean bathrooms.

Highlights: The trails, the lake, pavilion/day use area, very quiet

Low Points: A little soggy, but probably not all year

Check out my HIKE 3 blog post for more info and thoughts

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Looking Ahead

Looking ahead, February is a bit more open for exploration. I hope to get a few more state parks ticked off the list as well as another NPS site. The more I can see before summer, the better. Where are your quests taking you this month? Answer in the comments! Happy Questing.

TX State Parks Quest: 2019 Wrap-Up

When I launched the Texas State Parks Quest, I became overwhelmed by the number of parks to visit. I made a plan, worked through a map, and started to devise ways to visit many of them in one sweeping road trip. Here are my 2019 stats and some ideas I have for 2020. Thanks for following along.

2019 TX State Parks (7)

  • Abilene State Park

  • Big Spring State Park

  • Eisenhower State Park

  • Lake Colorado City State Park

  • Purtis Creek State Park

  • Ray Roberts Lake State Park - Isle du Bois Unit

  • Ray Roberts Lake State Park - Johnson Unit (ha)

2020 Ideas

  • I’m setting monthly park goals - to see a minimum of ONE, but ideally ONE to FIVE

  • I’m setting an end date TBD (but likely August 2021)

  • I’m part of a questing community and you should be too! It’s a place to discuss all of your quests and adventures relating to them. Click Here for my referral! It’s a neat little app and website created by my friend Scott Jones. He’s the kind of quests.

Its time to buckle down and see what Texas has to offer. I have a twin air mattress and new hiking boots, so there’s no reason not to take a weekend adventure!

TX State Parks Quest: July Update

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July 2019 took me to one new state park on the Texas-Oklahoma border. Eisenhower State Park is about 86 miles from DFW airport, and an hour or less in traffic from the north suburbs of Dallas. I visited the park with the intention to do an evening/sunset hike and not much else. The park was clean and well kept, offered plenty of wooded campsites, lake access, and boat launches. The cliffs along Lake Texoma were a nice treat and the place wasn’t too crowded for a Saturday night.

Highlights: Plenty of parking, plenty of trails, and a variety of terrain

Read all about my hike on the Ike’s Hike & Bike Trail HERE!

Texas State Parks Total: 16/104

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TX State Parks Quest: Mid-June Update

I started June off by visiting two units of the same state park. Ray Roberts Lake State Park has a north and a south unit on Lake Ray Roberts. I don’t get it either, shouldn’t it be Ray Roberts Lake or the park be Lake Ray Roberts State Park? Either way, I visited each half and enjoyed them both enough to want to camp there in the future. Since the park is divided, it does technically count as two on the list of 104 I’m tackling.

Currently, I’m at 15/104 and it’ll likely stay that way until July when I return to the state. I’ll be working remotely the rest of June, and hopefully visiting some Michigan State Parks in my free time.

Johnson Branch Unit

  • Wooded, lakeside park with plenty of shady spots to hide out on a hot day

  • Great paved trail ideal for walking or running (wooded/shaded in many parts)

  • When it’s not flooded, the beach area looks fun

  • Several cool looking walk-in camp sites along previously mentioned paved path - some along the beach

  • Probably gets very busy since it’s water in Texas

  • Because of flooding, the biking trails were closed so I did not get to investigate. There are roughly 18 miles of those, though.

  • There is one main hiking path, the 2.6 mile Dogwood Canyon Trail. Again, it was a sloppy day and I was only able to enjoy the paved path.

  • Will revisit someday, maybe, if there’s time

Isle Du Bois Unit

  • Similar in wooded nature to the Johnson Branch Unit, the paved Randy Bell Scenic trail is enjoyable but was flooded

  • Most of this park was closed to my nosy eyes due to flooding

  • Over 15 miles of biking trails, a few hiking trails, and a 10 mile multi-use equestrian trail

From the Isle Du Bois Unit one can take a greenbelt corridor south for about 4-5 miles one-way. There is a hard surface trail and a horse trail, both follow the river. All maps and park information can be found here. It is best to call the park to get up to date closures that may not be listed on the website. I’ve found that most parks have a Facebook page that will be updated with more relevant information if you want to try that before making a call. Stay safe out there and enjoy the state parks wherever you are.

Texas State Parks Quest - I have a map now!

I don’t know why it took so long, but I learned about “My Maps” on Google and I’ve been adding places like crazy. All of the plotting has lead to some planning. Many of the state parks are near one another, which will make weekend adventures even more fun.

Some locations are going to be a challenge for me. Devils River State Natural Area is located down a rugged, 22-mile road that may be too jagged for my current tires. A workaround would be to book a kayak trip with one of the several companies that rent equipment and shuttle people to/from. This visit will be an adventure, no matter what happens, and will require the entirety of no less than three days plus travel.

The Wyler Aerial Tramway is located in El Paso, TX and is permanently closed but offers guided hiking on certain days of the month. The social media for the location is updated well, so hopefully the stars align for the perfect visit. I was bummed to learn the tram is shut down, though, as all the photos from it look so cool. Luckily, there are other hiking and historical locations in El Paso so a trip out there will be well worth it.

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As I added each location to my Google Maps, I viewed the respective Texas Parks and Wildlife website and learned briefly about the park. Several places are SO popular it’s recommended to purchase a day pass ahead of time, which is fine, and others look like they get very few visitors which is even better. Either way, I am excited for this journey and all of the unique places I get to see throughout this giant state.

If you’d like to adventure/hike/camp, and/or have a Jeep/4x4/sturdy tires, get in touch and we can make a weekend of it sometime!

Quests with Mike: Texas State Parks

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The Quest

Texas has 103 State Park Units throughout the expansive state. I have been to 12 of them, and hope to visit all 103 within the next two years. Some of the locations I’ve been to have an associated trailway with them, so I will revisit for those and actually walk the trailway. Texas is a HUGE place and the thought of visiting all 103 parks is a little overwhelming, so I’ll give myself some time to get it all done.

Questions I’ve Asked Myself

  • What constitutes a visit? A visit will include at least driving through the front gate and either walking a paved path, hiking a trail, and/or camping overnight.

  • Can there be multiple state parks per day? I can visit more than one per day, in fact, I plan to do so with many of them.

  • What exactly does this quest include? State Parks, State Nature Areas, and State Historical Sites listed on this website

  • Will I have to revisit parks I’ve already visited? No! I am not requiring myself to revisit parks I’ve already visited. This quest is about expanding my adventure scope.

The Texas terrain is wide and varied, which is something I’m thankful for living in such a flat and urban area of the state. I can’t wait to explore the pine forests and western landscapes a bit more as well as visit the seashore.

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