-Official- FACILITIES MAPS ACTIVITIES Get the Mobile App: texasstateparks.org/app T:10.75" T:8.375" Toyota Tundra Let your sense of adventure be your guide with the Toyota BUILT HERE. LIVES HERE. ASSEMBLED IN TEXAS WITH U.S. AND GLOBALLY SOURCED PARTS. Official Vehicle of Tundra — built to help you explore all that the great state the Texas Parks & Wildlife Foundation of Texas has to offer. | toyota.com/trucks F:5.375" F:5.375" Approvals GSTP20041_TPW_State_Park_Guide_Trucks_CampOut_10-875x8-375. Internal Print None CD Saved at 3-4-2020 7:30 PM Studio Artist Rachel Mcentee InDesign 2020 15.0.2 AD Job info Specs Images & Inks Job GSTP200041 Live 10.375" x 8" Images Client Gulf States Toyota Trim 10.75" x 8.375" GSTP20041_TPW_State_Park_Guide_Ad_Trucks_CampOut_Spread_10-75x8-375_v4_4C.tif (CMYK; CW Description TPW State Park Guide "Camp Out" Bleed 11.25" x 8.875" 300 ppi; 100%), toyota_logo_vert_us_White_cmyk.eps (7.12%), TPWF Logo_2015_4C.EPS (10.23%), TPWF_WWNBT_Logo_and_Map_White_CMYK.eps (5.3%), GoTexan_Logo_KO.eps (13.94%), Built_Here_ Component Spread Print Ad Gutter 0.25" Lives_Here.eps (6.43%) Pub TPW State Park Guide Job Colors 4CP Inks AE Media Type Print Ad Production Notes Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black Date Due 3/5/2020 File Type Due PDFx1a PP Retouching N/A Add’l Info TM T:10.75" T:8.375" Toyota Tundra Let your sense of adventure be your guide with the Toyota BUILT HERE. LIVES HERE. ASSEMBLED IN TEXAS WITH U.S. AND GLOBALLY SOURCED PARTS. Official Vehicle of Tundra — built to help you explore all that the great state the Texas Parks & Wildlife Foundation of Texas has to offer. | toyota.com/trucks F:5.375" F:5.375" Approvals GSTP20041_TPW_State_Park_Guide_Trucks_CampOut_10-875x8-375. Internal Print None CD Saved at 3-4-2020 7:30 PM Studio Artist Rachel Mcentee InDesign 2020 15.0.2 AD Job info Specs Images & Inks Job GSTP200041 Live 10.375" x 8" Images Client Gulf States Toyota Trim 10.75" x 8.375" GSTP20041_TPW_State_Park_Guide_Ad_Trucks_CampOut_Spread_10-75x8-375_v4_4C.tif (CMYK; CW Description TPW State Park Guide "Camp Out" Bleed 11.25" x 8.875" 300 ppi; 100%), toyota_logo_vert_us_White_cmyk.eps (7.12%), TPWF Logo_2015_4C.EPS (10.23%), TPWF_WWNBT_Logo_and_Map_White_CMYK.eps (5.3%), GoTexan_Logo_KO.eps (13.94%), Built_Here_ Component Spread Print Ad Gutter 0.25" Lives_Here.eps (6.43%) Pub TPW State Park Guide Job Colors 4CP Inks AE Media Type Print Ad Production Notes Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black Date Due 3/5/2020 File Type Due PDFx1a PP Retouching N/A Add’l Info TM Contents 4 Activities and Programs 6 Parks Near You 8 Places to Stay 10 Recreational Vehicles 12 Tips for Time in Nature 14 Visitor Fees and Passes Ray Roberts TEXAS PARKS AND WILDLIFE DEPARTMENT Carter P. Smith Executive Director Directory Rodney Franklin State Parks Director Josh Havens Communications Director 18 Big Bend Country TPW COMMISSION S. Reed Morian, Chairman Houston Arch “Beaver” Aplin, III, Vice-Chairman Gulf Coast 26 Lake Jackson James E. Abell Kilgore Hill Country 34 Oliver J. Bell Cleveland Anna B. Galo Laredo Panhandle Plains 48 Jeffery D. Hildebrand Houston Jeanne W. Latimer San Antonio Pineywoods 56 Robert L. “Bobby” Patton, Jr. Fort Worth Devils River Dick Scott Wimberley Prairies and Lakes 64 T. Dan Friedkin, Chairman-Emeritus Houston 80 South Texas Plains Lee Marshall Bass, Chairman-Emeritus Fort Worth 86 Facilities and Activities Index Special thanks to Toyota and advertisers, whose generous support made this guide possible. 44 State Parks Map Texas State Parks is a division of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. Cover photo: Tyler State Park, Chase Fountain Texas State Parks Official Guide, eventS eenth Edition © TPWD PWD BK P4000-000A (5/20) TPWD receives funds from the USFWS. TPWD prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, disability, age, and gender, pursuant to state and federal law. To request an accommodation or obtain information in an alternative format, please contact TPWD on a Text Telephone (TTY) at (512) 389-8915 or by Relay Texas at 7-1-1 or (800) 735-2989 or by email at [email protected]. If you believe you have been discriminated against by TPWD, please contact TPWD, 4200 Smith School Road, Austin, TX 78744, or the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Office for Diversity and Workforce Management, 5275 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, VA 22041. In accordance with Texas State Depository Law, this publication is available at the Texas State Publications Clearinghouse and/or Texas Depository Libraries. WELCOME Contents from Rodney Franklin, State Parks Director Texas contains some of the most diverse public lands in the country. There is a wealth of cultural heritage. Wildlife abounds, landscapes flourish with beauty and our history is abundant. Your state parks are a part of the legacy that makes Texas proud. The people of Texas recently helped secure that legacy for future generations by voting yes to Proposition 5. Thank you! These 630,000-plus acres showcase some of our state’s greatest treasures. Parks help people make memories with family and find respite in nature’s playground. They strengthen local economies and bind communities. Most of all, parks enable each of us to spend time outside to recharge, be healthy and relax in our own way. I invite you to enjoy your state parks, exploring the best of Texas with friends and family. The parks are here for you. They belong to you. Please visit, have fun, and help protect them forever! Thank you, Texas! Texans voted to approve passage of Proposition 5 in the November 5, 2019 election. Now 100% of the sporting goods sales tax will go to fund the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and Texas Historical Commission. This funding will help secure the future of local parks, state parks and historic sites for generations to come, all without increasing taxes. We would like to extend our deepest gratitude. See what’s in store for Texas State Parks: texasstateparks.org/better ACTIVITIES & PROGRAMS What is there to do in state parks? Enjoy a family picnic, tour a hallowed historic site or choose from some of these visitor favorites: Bike Pedal across parks at any speed, in any style, with any group. Choose the routes, surfaces and distances that fit your comfort zone. Walk Start with a shorter loop, tackle tougher terrain or join a guided tour. Fish Fish without a license in as Boat or Paddle many as 70 state parks. Rent canoes and kayaks, Many offer tackle loaner explore a Texas Paddling programs and special learn- Trail or launch a boat. to-fish events. View Wildlife Discover the birds, mammals and plants that live in Texas. Camp Swim Many parks have signage Find a site that meets your Beat the heat at creeks, and checklists to help you needs. Test out new recipes, rivers, lakes, springs, pools learn more about the wildlife share your favorite stories and ocean beaches. around you. and enjoy the stars. 4 More information & reservations: texasstateparks.org (512) 389-8900 Kids 12 Many state parks offer special guided and self-guided and under programs. Below are a few examples. Ask at your park get FREE or visit its events page to find out what’s planned! ADMISSION! Dark Skies Escape the city lights and gaze up at views you won’t find anywhere else. Come to a star party or take a self-guided constellation tour. Visit one of our Dark Sky Parks or Sanctuaries: Big Bend Ranch, Copper Breaks, Devils River, Enchanted Rock or South Llano River. Junior Ranger Pick up a free Junior Ranger activity journal or check out free packs from participating parks. Use the binoculars, magnifying glass, sketchbooks and guidebooks to explore the park. Texas Outdoor Family Choose a workshop and make your own adventure. Set up a tent, cook outdoors, build a campfire and play outside! We provide all the equipment. No experience necessary. Texas Buffalo Soldiers Bring history to life with stories, costumes and tools. Track an animal, Civilian Conservation Corps fish with a cane pole, Tour any of 29 parks to marvel at architectural cook over a campfire, treasures like shelters, bridges, cabins, refec- visit frontier forts and tories and more. See how these diverse work more. Step into the crews (including young adults as well as war life stories of those veterans) weathered the Great Depression and who bravely served in built the first state parks in Texas. Their legacy America’s first African- stands today for future generations. American regular Army regiments. Find events near you: texasstateparks.org/ tpwd.texas.gov/calendar activities #TxStateParks 5 PARKS NEAR YOU Where do you You’ll find many want to go? state parks nearby. Dallas/Fort Worth Area >> Play in the waters at Possum Kingdom. << Houston Area Take a break from city life at Stephen F. Austin. 6 More information & reservations: texasstateparks.org (512) 389-8900 San Antonio Area >> Venture out at Choke Canyon. << Austin Area Get down low in Longhorn Cavern. Discover new wildlife at Lake Casa Blanca. << South Texas Area El Paso Area >> Enjoy a guided hike at Franklin Mountains. #TxStateParks 7 PLACES TO STAY Outdoor Enjoy the softer recreation by day. Indoor comforts side of camping. at night. Indian Lodge - Davis Mountains Choose from a variety of overnight accommodations: Cabins without bathrooms Enjoy amenities such as air conditioning, microwaves and bunk Screened shelter beds, with group restrooms and at Lake showers nearby. Livingston Cabin at Palmetto Screened shelters These protected, enclosed shelters are available in dozens of parks and include amenities such as outdoor fire