Cooper Lake State Park in Texas

Texas is the largest state in the continental United States. Not surprisingly Texas features many large state parks. One of these is Cooper Lake State Park. This 3,000 acre park is located in the northeast part of the state. The park is divided in to two parts. The South Sulfur unit is in Hopkins County while the Doctors Creek unit is north of that in Delta County. This is a full service park that is open year around to campers, hikers, and casual guests. Overnight campers are welcome though the park does have designated hours for daytime activities. It is a one of the more recently established state parks.

The Doctors Creek part of Cooper Lake State Park is home to a large beach with access to the lake. The shore is about six miles in length and includes a sandy beach that is ideal for relaxing under the sun. Swimmers flock to this area for the chance to enjoy the refreshing waters of the lake. Swimming is not supervised so it is important to use caution. If you prefer boating, there is plenty of room for that. Doctors Creek has a large boat launch area that is accessible for those with disabilities. From here you can launch fishing or recreational boats. Water skiing is a popular activity in this area. If you want to fish, the lake is full of different species year round. There are areas where you can clean the fish as well. Doctors Creek is also home to several camping sites. These sites have running water and electricity to help you get the most out of your experience. There is room for RVs as well as tents. There are also several cottages that you can rent for extended stays. The campground in Doctors Creek also features a playground, volleyball court, and amphitheatre.

Choke Canyone State Park

Choke Canyon State Park in Texas is a fisherman’s dream and is also popular for those who enjoy water sports. Choke Canyon State Park is located 80 miles South of San Antonio and 90 miles Northwest of Corpus Christi. There are two park units within the Choke Canyon State Park which are the Calliham Park Unit and the South Shore Park Unit. The Choke Canyon State Park is located on the shores of a 26,000 acre reservoir.

The reservoir at Choke Canyon State Park offers extensive fishing for those seeking to catch various species of bass, catfish, and sunfish. Alligator Gar and crappie are also populated within the reservoir.
The Choke Canyon State Park is populated with an array of wildlife, including wild turkey, white-tail deer, javelina, coyote, squirrel, raccoon, and the American alligator. Many species of birds can also be observed.
There are several activities available. In addition to fishing, visitors can enjoy water skiing, swimming, camping, picnicking, boating, hiking, and sightseeing. There are a variety of sports available at the Calliham Park Unit, including baseball, basketball, tennis, volleyball, and shuffleboard. Nature Trails are also available for hiking.
Bird watching is so popular that there are even scheduled bird walks at certain times. On the weekends, visitors are welcomed, with some restrictions, to the 18 miles of horse trails.
The South Shore Park Unit of the state park is a daytime only park unit, which features a lit fish cleaning table, eight lanes of boat ramps, restrooms, and picnic tables.
Additional attractions near the Choke Canyon State Park include Goliad State Park & Mission Espíritu, Lake Corpus Christi State Park, Santo State Historic Site, Fannin Battleground, and Lipantitlan State Historic Site.
The Choke Canyon State Park is populated with an array of wildlife, including wild turkey, white-tail deer, javelina, coyote, squirrel, raccoon, and the American alligator. Many species of birds can also be observed.
The terrain consists of rolling brush land and valleys.
Winters at the Choke Canyon State Park are mild, while the summer temperatures can reach 95 degrees Fahrenheit.
Facilities at the Calliham Park Unit include an auditorium, a gymnasium, a recreation hall, and picnic pavilions. The Calliham Park Unit at the Choke Canyon State Park also has camping grounds. Campsites have water and electricity, with 50 amp services. In addition, campsites also have grills, tables, fire rings, lantern posts, and restrooms with showers.
Entrance fees to the Choke Canyon State Park are $4.00 per person age 13 and older.
In addition to the entrance fee, there are camping fees. Camp sites are limited to eight people and fees are as follows:
• Walk-in campsites: $12.00 per night.
• Campsites with electric and water hook-ups: $20.00 per night
• Screened Shelter Campsites with air conditioning: $45.00 per night
Facility fees in addition to entrance fees are as follows:
• Gymnasium: $300.00 per day
• Group Dining Hall: $75.00 per day
• Group Recreation Hall (kitchen included): $125.00 per day
• Group Picnic and Group Picnic Pavilion: $35.00 to $40.00 per day
Activity use fee per person for the day or night is $2.00
The gate hours are 6 a.m. to 10 p.m..
The telephone number for reservations is (512) 389-8900.
The business address and telephone number for Choke Canyon State Park is
Calliham Unit
P.O. Box 2
Calliham, TX 78007
(361)786-3868

Brazos Bend State Park

Brazos Bend State Park lies just less than 30 miles southwest of Houston, Texas. The park encompasses 5,000 acres dotted with six lakes, three of which have piers for fishing or just observing the waterfowl and alligators that populate the area. Located at 104 feet over sea level, the park has facilities for camping, picnicking, cycling, and fishing and has three interpretive centers that schools or organizations can reserve for educational events during the week. The Nature Center is open on weekends for the public. The George Observatory is also open on weekends for tours. Visitors can observe the night sky on Saturday nights from the observatory.

This park is open all year long. Thirty-five miles of hiking and cycling trails, eight miles of horse trails and five miles of nature trails provide ample outdoor opportunities for park visitors. One of the trails is handicapped-accessible. A dining hall on site has air conditioning and heat, cooking appliances, running water. This building seats up to 150 people. Barbecue pits are available outside the dining hall.

Texas’ Caprock Canyons State Park & Trailway Shines in the Rugged Panhandle

The Caprock Canyons State Park & Trailway is located in the Texas panhandle near the own of Quitaque, about 100 miles from Amarillo. The park encompasses more than 15,000 acres of scenic canyons, trails, and a 120-acre lake. The 64-mile Trailway, donated to the state in 1992, brought additional interest for hikers, bikers, and horseback riders as it crosses 46 bridges and passes through a railroad tunnel.

The canyons were the home of several different Native American cultures, including the 10,000-year old Folsom culture and the Plainview culture of about 6500 B.C. The Apaches were living in the area when it was explored by Coronado during the 1500s, but the area became part of Comanche territory by the early part of the eighteenth century. After the 1870s, the area saw an increase in cattle ranches and, to a lesser extent, farms.

Big Bend Ranch State Park, A Wilderness Experience

If you enjoy an outdoor experience in a remote and unpopulated park with abundant wildlife, scenic views, hiking, biking, canoeing, horseback and trail riding, then Big Bend Ranch State Park is the place to go. The park is in the Chihuahuan Desert, in Presidio and Brewster counties in southwest Texas. Its western edge is bounded by the Rio Grande River. Big Bend National Park lies a few miles south. Texas Highway FM-170 runs through the park, connecting the towns of Presidio and Lajitas. Fort Leaton State Historic Site is near the park in Presidio County. Barton Warnock Visitor Center is in Lajitas in Brewster County.

Big Bend Ranch State Park, comprised of almost 300,000 acres, was opened in 1991, the largest park in the Texas system. It is a designated natural area and is, with Big Bend National Park, an international biosphere reserve under the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organizations (UNESCO) program. The Chihuahuan Desert is the largest in North America, extending from Arizona to Texas in the United States, with most of its area in Mexico. More information about the Chihuahuan Desert can be found at: http://www.eoearth.org/article/Chihuahuan_desert, http://www.chihuahuandesert.org/.