Explore Natural Treasures Throughout Texas Angelina
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United States Department of Agriculture The breathtaking beauty of the great outdoors is evident throughout the National Forests and Grasslands in Texas. The Texas Pineywoods stretch from the urban landscape of Houston to the Louisiana border and are home to the Angelina, Davy Crockett, Sabine and Sam Houston National Forests. These four national forests have an amazing diversity of plant and animal life scattered across gently rolling hills, hardwood bottomlands and world-class fishing lakes. North of the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex are the Lyndon B. Johnson and Caddo National Grasslands. Purchased by the government in the 1930s, these lands are made up of abandoned farms and ranches that suffered severe soil erosion but are now a thriving testament to proper land management. Whether it’s boating, fishing and swimming in the numerous lakes and reservoirs, or camping off the beaten path, the National Forests and Grasslands in Texas offer an experience like no other. Look Inside Explore Natural Treasures Throughout Texas Angelina .............................2 With a wealth of recreation activities ramps, amphitheaters, interpretive trails Lake Crockett is 450 acres with two Davy Crockett ....................3 within easy driving distance, more and and concession services. developed recreation areas—West Lake more vacationers are discovering the Excellent opportunities for bird Crockett has 11 camping units, while Sabine ...............................4 National Forests and Grasslands in watching and wildlife viewing abound. the east side has picnic areas and a boat Sam Houston .....................5 Texas. The National Forests in Texas lie in ramp. Caddo/LBJ .........................6 The Forest Service, U.S. Department the path of warblers, vireos and other The 45-acre Lake Fannin offers Experimental Forest ...........7 of Agriculture, manages more than species of neotropical migrants. fishing from the east side and an 675,000 acres of public land in Texas The Davy Crockett and Sam earthen boat launch site. Safety Information ..............8 consisting of four national forests and Houston National Forests are located In the Lyndon B. Johnson National Contacts .............................8 two national grasslands. where the pine forests of the Deep South Grasslands, Black Creek Lake OHV Regulations ................8 The four national forests in Texas are join the blackland prairies. The result is Recreation Area has picnic units, and a the Angelina, Davy Crockett, Sabine a mix of eastern and western species of boat ramp. and Sam Houston. birds and other wildlife found nowhere Cottonwood Lake is north of Black The national grasslands are north of else in the state. Creek Lake and has a boat ramp, the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex and The Sabine and Angelina National and connecting the two areas is the include the Caddo and the Lyndon B. Forests are on the shores of Toledo Cottonwood-Black Creek Hiking Trail Johnson. Bend and Sam Rayburn Reservoirs, two with nearly 75 miles of multi-use trails The National Forests in Texas large lakes featuring fishing and other near Cottonwood Lake. provide a variety of outdoor recreation water sports. Lake Conroe and Lake opportunities including 25 developed Livingston offer water-related outdoor recreation areas, nearly 200 miles of recreation opportunities on and near the hiking trails, scenic areas, wilderness Sam Houston National Forest. areas, an off-road vehicle trail and more Primitive camping is allowed than 100 miles of horse trails. anywhere in the general forest area, Camping is offered on a first-come, except during hunting season or unless first-served basis in developed recreation posted otherwise. All campers are areas. A daily use fee is charged at most encouraged to practice “leave no trace” areas. camping, leaving an area in the same Campground facilities generally natural condition in which it was found. include tent pads, picnic tables, parking The Caddo National Grasslands spurs for trailers, lantern-holding contains three lakes. The largest, Coral bean adds a splash posts, fireplaces, potable water and Lake Coffee Mill, is 651 acres with of red to the forest. toilets. Some areas also have showers, a developed recreation area with 13 electricity, swimming beaches, boat picnic units and a boat ramp. Forest National Forests and R8-RG 479 Service Grasslands in Texas February 2014 2 National Forests & Grasslands in Texas 122 CR FM 225 CR Angelina National Forest 131 LOOP «¬ FM 353 108 224 «¬147 184 This map is meant to serve as a general guide and does not show exact boundaries Stephen F. Austin or all roads. It is the user’s responsibility to know his or her location in the forest. Users should be aware that some private property exists within the Forest Service boundary. Please respect our neighbors’ rights. Check with the Ranger District regarding special CR 142N Experimental Forest FM regulations or boundary locations. 3448 400 To Nacogdoches To San Augustine «¬147 SFA FM 1277 Interpretive Trail «¬103 ¤£59 To Milam ¤£69 Turkey Bannister Hill FM 705 !y FM 1 ¬103 « !9 WMA Wilderness Townsend FM 2024 Lufkin! «¬103 !Broaddus LOOP FM 1669 «¬287 FM 83 FM 2109 ! Huntington FM 83 ¤£69 FM 83 «¬147 Harvey FM 2390 FM 705 SamCreek Rayburn Reservoir !y 510A !^ 510F FM 2743 509 ! !y Zavalla «¬63 Caney 510B 531 ¤£59 !9Creek !y Sandy £69 Bayou ¤ !y Creek Boat Upland 303 «¬63 Launch Island 313 333 Wilderness To Houston To !9 Boykin Springs 314 8" Bouton Lake 0 5 10 Miles Sawmill Hiking Trail Ü ocated in the heart of the Pineywoods, the 153,160-acre LAngelina National Forest spans Angelina, Nacogdoches, San Augustine and Jasper counties. The forest lies in the Neches River Basin and on the north and south shores of Sam Rayburn Reservoir, formed by the construction of Sam Rayburn Dam in the early 1960s. Endangered species During winter, bald eagles have been seen soaring over the lake, perched since it was damaged by Hurricane Bouton Lake on a flooded snag or in pines along Rita in 2005. The historic picnic shelter Bouton Lake Recreation Area is on shorelines. and spillway have been restored to its a 12-acre natural lake near the Neches The red-cockaded woodpecker is classic 1930s era look and is a favorite River and offers primitive camping, also found throughout the forest. This spot for camping, picnicking, hiking and fishing and hiking amidst hardwoods small bird makes its home by pecking photography. and cypress trees. cavities in Visitors should note that the west large, older side of Bouton Lake is privately owned living pine and trespassing is forbidden. trees, and was Old Aldridge Wilderness designated an The Aldridge Sawmill and town The 5,473-acre Turkey Hill and the endangered site is located on a spur of the Sawmill 13,390-acre Upland Island Wilderness species Hiking Trail south of Boykin Springs Areas are set aside to allow the earth’s in 1973. Recreation Area. natural processes to shape and influence Wherever The sawmill was built in 1905 and the land. Hunting, horseback riding and these birds ran on a limited basis until 1923 when it hiking are allowed, while bicycles and are found, was closed. motorized equipment are not. emphasis is Although the town’s buildings are Wildlife directed toward providing the special gone, the shells of the four concrete mill Principal game in the forest are deer, habitat they require. buildings, various concrete foundations, Sam Rayburn Reservoir hog, squirrel, wild turkey, woodcock, Timber the mill pond and portions of the old In the middle of the Angelina quail, dove and duck. When the U.S. Forest Service railroad tram still remain. National Forest is the fishing, boating Fish and waterfowl abound in Sam acquired what is now the Angelina Hikers are welcome, but due to and skiing paradise that is Sam Rayburn Rayburn Reservoir and the habitat also National Forest in the 1930s, most of Reservoir. archeological concerns, off-road offers resting grounds for migratory the land was cut over, and almost no At 114,500 acres, it is the largest vehicles and horses are not allowed in birds before they fly south toward the commercial timber was left standing. lake wholly located within Texas. the area. Gulf Coast. Today, the Angelina is a second- or Forest Service boat ramps are located The 20,700-acre Bannister Wildlife As a structure listed on the National third-growth forest and most of the land at Townsend, Harvey Creek, Bayou Management Area is located north Registry of Historic Places, no digging, is productive for growing trees. Boat Launch, Sandy Creek and Caney of Lake Sam Rayburn and is a prime collecting of artifacts, use of metal Timber management practices are Creek where there are also camping and hunting area. detectors, damaging or defacing of the used to provide quality habitat for the site is allowed. picknicking spots. Texas Parks and Wildlife acts Additional boat ramps are located at as an advisor concerning wildlife wildlife as well as restore, enhance and Boykin Springs maintain longleaf pine and shortleaf Boykin Springs Recreation Area numerous U.S. Army Corps of Engineer management and it is a designated pine-oak communities. has undergone extensive renovations parks on the reservoir. Eastern Wild Turkey restoration site. www.fs.usda.gov/texas 3 Davy Crockett«¬21 National Forest This map is meant to serve as a Neches general guide and does not show exact boundaries or all roads. It is the user’s !C Bluff responsibility to know his or her location Houston County in the forest. Users should be aware that some private property