Favorite Tx state park

With the new truck payment eating up my travel budget for a while, gonna be using the Tacoma for some camping trips this spring. Would love to hear what ya'lls favorite state parks are, especially those up closer to Dallas, but state wide will be helpful too. Also interested to hearing about parks not worth visiting.

Primary interested in hiking, photography and fishing opportunities.

Thanks!

-- and anyone interested in meeting for hiking and/or photography trips at one of the state parks this spring I'm open to ideas.

 

Not a state park, but Padre Island National Seashore. You may here it referred to as PINS.

 

I went to Palo Duro canyon today. It was cool, I would definitely go again.

 

Palo Duro= Hard Stick ..if you know what I mean.
JK. Hill Country has many great places for camping. Enchanted Rock SNA is a Texas favorite and Lost Maples is another great place. Check out the Texas Parks and Wildlife page. If you have time, west Texas. BiBe and Big Bend NP are two of my favorite places. Pedernales SP and Garner SP are good for summers (provided water levels are up).

 

Visited Caprock and Palo Duro last year. Thinking of heading south towards the Hill Country this year, but also wanting to find some locations closer to DFW.

 

Inks Lake SP is really nice.

 

Lake Livingston SP is really nice too, only about a 3 hour drive from Dallas. If you feel like driving to the Jasper area the Martin Dies Jr SP is a great place to camp, hike and fish, as well as Toledo bend.

 

Guadalupe Mountains National Park. TX's highest mountain is there...good hike, with good views.

 

Although I never been, Devils River State Natural Area looks very nice.

 

Canyon Lake. Especially Potter Creek Park.

 

Guadalupe state park and big bend are on my must list

 

Being in North Texas don't forget to look just north of you to Oklahoma and Arkansas. Both have great parks and 3-5 hour drive some are closer than many parks in Texas.

 

Palo Duro Is my favorite so far, but still lots I haven't been to. I have an annual pass since I mountain bike at Pedernales Falls regularly. Have intentions of going back to Colorado Bend again soon, and Loss Maples especially if I can time it with the Fall color change. I hear Government Canyon is great for mountain bikeing too, especially if you get out past the first few sections.
Look at Corps of Engineers parks and LCRA parks (Central Texas) too. Lake Georgetown has a trail all the way around, about 25 miles.

 

tex - went up to Beavers Bend OK in October, will definitely be going back. May just make that my first spring trip. Wanted to explore more out towards Mena, AR - but the weather turned against me. Made for some interesting photos, but not all that enjoyable.

greeneggsnspam - nice shots, looks like a nice area.

jstanley - all the Corps parks up my way are closed (low water at the lakes) and don't have much in the way of facilities so hadn't put a lot of thought into them. Good suggestions, thanks!

 

Is Beavers Bend up by Broken Bow, OK. I think thats the one I been too a few times as well. My cousin leaves nearby there, nice to place to get get away from the city.

 

Went to Caddo Lake last weekend. Only 2 hours from Dallas. Decent hiking, and good fishing. They have canoe rentals as well, $20 for 3 hours. Caught a ton of Bass and saw a gator. It was a fun time.

Beaver Bend was fun as well. Tons of river fishing and good hikes.

Big Bend is quite the drive (but totally worth it), so plan on taking an extended trip out there to see everything.

 

Yes, just north of Broken Bow. Want to go back up there and do the Skyline hiking trail, but would need a group for portage back to camp.

Have wanted to check out Caddo for a long time now, trying to figure out when best to get out that way. Guessing mid-spring before the bugs and the heat become oppressive.

Big Bend is certainly a hike and a half from Dallas, but will make it out that way sooner or later.

 

Caddo was awesome in May when I was there a few years back. Definitely get a canoe and explore. Bring a camera and a fishing pole.

Big bend is awesome. I will go back out there in a few years. Definitely will spend more than 4 days next time.

 

Pedernales is really nice as well. I haven't been there in the summer.

Inks Lake is good for swimming. The Devil's Waterhole is pretty cool to watch people jump off the rock into.

 

I love Mineral Wells. They have great biking and great rock climbing whether its with ropes or just bouldering.