Texas State Parks & Trails Vol. 1
The Facts
Location:
565 Park Road 40 W
Huntsville, TX 77340
Things to do:
Hike. Bike. Fish. Swim. Canoe. Kayak. Paddle Boat. Camp.
Date Visited:
Many, many visits, but most recent was December 12, 2020
Day Trip or Camping?:
Day trip. This is my favorite way to enjoy this park.
Pet friendly:
Yes, but leashes are required at all times and pets are not allowed inside any building/shelter.
Reservations:
Reservations for day use are encouraged.
Reservations for camping are required. Be aware, if you’re planning to visit on the weekend, all State Park camping facilities require you to purchase Friday and Saturday night camping reservations.
Tip #1: The Journey is Always Half the Fun
Huntsville State Park is located approximately 60 miles from my “home base”, so I have visited many times. I’ve always enjoyed the drive and the shift from the scenery of the Brazos River Bottom to the emerald color edges of the Pine Curtain of East Texas.
Regardless of where you’re starting, pay attention to the route options when you place the address into your chosen GPS. You want a route that takes you down at least a portion of FM 149.
The park is surrounded by the Sam Houston National Forest. The drive there is beautiful and a lot of fun. It’s not uncommon to pass groups of bikers enjoying the curves, turns, and hills. Maybe put on your favorite playlist, turn the music up, roll the windows down, and soak in the towering trees, speckling sunlight puzzles pieces over the road. It’s truly enchanting.
Tip #2 Plan Your Hike Ahead
My most recent trip was a day of solo hiking in the beautiful weather that Texas sometimes serves up in early December.
My goal was to hike as much of the park as I could in a single day. I used this map from the park’s website to plan where I would park, begin my hike, and end.
I parked behind the nature center and navigated my way to the Chinquapin Trail entrance toward the right.
The trails are relatively well marked, but I always bring the map along, because truth be told, I can get lost in paper sack.
Chinquapin is a loop trail which gives you a great feel for the park, there are some nice views of the lake. The December sun was putting on a show over the water and through the trees.
Chinquapin meets the Prairie Branch Loop Trail, I took that down to the Dogwood Trail, and back up to the Park Road. This route brought my right back to my starting point, with approximately 9 miles covered.
This trail route is a long, but moderate hike. If you’re going for distance, this is a great option for the day.
Tip #3 Wildlife Viewing
Lake Raven is a 203 acre reservoir and home to all kinds of wildlife. I’m no birder, but there are many too see. I always, without fail, see so many cardinals on my hikes that I lose count. The most infamous of creatures surrounding Huntsville State Park are the alligators. I didn’t see any on this trip, as they were all hunkered down in the cooler weather, but they’re definitely there.
Tip #4 If You Don’t Feel Like Hiking…
For a few bucks you can rent a canoe, kayak, or paddle boat. Bring your own rod, reel, and tackle for some fishing. In March of 2018, my son and I secured a canoe and fished for quite a bit (catch & release for us).
The most memorable part of that trip was when we happened upon a mother gator and she quickly and aggressively shooed us away from her nest.
Don’t let that turn you off from braving some paddling. The lake is small, but rugged, swampy in some places, and overall, an experience. We saw huge soft shell turtles, sunning on logs next to dozing alligators and stretches of lily pads all throughout the water.
Tip #5 To Swim or Not to Swim
Personally, HSP is not a swimming park for me. Maybe it’s the muddy bottom or the small, crowded swimming area, but I’ve never wanted to dive in. Could be that I’m turned off by the proximity of the alligators too. It’s their swimming hole, as far as I’m concerned.
With that being said, HSP is categorized, for me, as not the best option for the sweltering summer months. The trees offer some relief, but there’s not much that could convince me to jump into those waters.
Tip #6 Camping
It’s been quite a while since I’ve camped at HSP, but I recall my last visit pretty clearly. We camped at a tent site, with water and electricity. We made dinner on an open fire and dozed off on a sleeping bag under the stars.
HSP offers water sites, water & electric sites, and full hook up sites if you’re rolling out there with your RV. There are also screened shelters available, which I personally LOVE. I bring our cots, sleeping bags, and fun stuff, but I can leave the tent at home. (More on this in future posts.) There are also two cabins on the premises, but truthfully, you’d be just as comfy in a tent!
Summary from All Previous Visits
Huntsville State Park is an easy day trip, if you’re located near enough. The trees are gorgeous, the lake is calm, and it’s a nice reprieve.
The facilities are a little aged. If you plan to camp and need to make use of the showers, be prepared with shower shoes, because they’re a little grimy.
Anecdotes
This park holds a one of a kind “tall tale” in my family. In the late 70’s and early 80’s my father helped the state relocate the bull gators out of the park waters. He wrapped their snouts in silver duct tape and navigated them from the water, into his aluminum, flat bottom boat, into the back of his truck, and (mostly) into the Trinity and Navasota rivers.
There are some priceless photos of him, in full sideburns and a huge grin, fearlessly holding the mouth of a huge gator while crouching down in that murky water.
I want to see the world and take in as much beauty as I can, but I doubt I’ll ever feel the same about any stretch of earth as I do about the places of my favorite stories, my favorite memories…my home.
Now I’m working to make memories of my own out on these protected lands in our sprawling, wild state. They may not involve heroic wildlife relocation, but I’ll cherish them the same.
Now, stop reading this and go start your own plan to GO OUTSIDE.
