Beaver Slide Trail

• 1 mile roundtrip | The Beaver Slide Trail is a hidden gem. This short hike leads hikers past several scenic ponds and sloughs. Keep an eye out for beaver dams along the way!

Beech Woods Trail

• 1½ miles roundtrip | See a forest of American beeches on this pleasant loop hike in the northeastern corner of the preserve.

Big Sandy Trail

• 14.7 miles roundtrip | The Big Sandy Trail follows old logging roads through the woods. This is the only trail in the preserve open to bicycles and horses.

Birdwatchers Trail

• ¾ mile roundtrip | This short hike leads to views of Menard Creek and the Trinity River, an important migration route for birds.

Cattail Marsh

• Cattail Marsh provides habitat for many kinds of birds. A boardwalk and shaded viewing area provide opportunities for birding and scenic views. Several miles of trails go along the edge of the wetlands.

Centennial Forest

• In honor of the National Park Service's centennial anniversary in 2016, this former logging site has been replanted in hopes that future generations may enjoy a thriving longleaf pine savannah.

Collier's Ferry Boat Ramp

• Collier's Ferry boat ramp provides access to the Neches River. The Collier's Ferry to Lake Bayou Paddling Trail begins here.

Confluence Boat Ramp

• This boat launch provides access to the confluence of the Neches River and Pine Island Bayou. It's located northwest of Vidor, across the river from the Saltwater Barrier.

Cooks Lake Day-Use Area

• Find a nice view of Pine Island Bayou from Cooks Lake Day-Use Area. This is a popular spot for fishing. Bring your own chairs, as there are no picnic tables or benches here. Located between Beaumont and Lumberton.

Edgewater Day-Use Area

• This pleasant picnic area sits on the bank of Pine Island Bayou. A picnic table and shaded path along the water await you. Edgewater is located north of Beaumont.

Four Oaks Day-Use Area

• This quiet spot is a nice place to have a picnic and fish along the Neches River. It's located northwest of Vidor.

Franklin Lake

• This remote oxbow lake near the Jack Gore Baygall invites paddlers to explore its cypress-tupelo forest.

Has Your GPS Misled You?

• Warning sign for those looking for the visitor center, as it's not down this dirt road.

Kirby Nature Trail

• 1½ to 2½ miles roundtrip | Experience the Big Thicket on a gentle loop hike through different kinds of forest. See majestic bald cypress trees and knees and Village Creek.

Lance Rosier Unit Sign

• Who was Lance Rosier and why is part of the preserve named for him?

Longleaf Pine Trail

• 1 mile roundtrip | Stroll through a longleaf pine forest near the visitor center on Big Thicket's newest trail.

McQueens Landing Boat Launch

• McQueens Landing provides kayak, canoe, and small boat access to the Neches River. This boat launch is just south of B.A. Steinhagen Lake near Jasper.

Neches River: Evadale Boat Ramp

• This boat ramp in Evadale provides access to the Neches River.

Oilfield Cemetery

• Oilfield Cemetery is located in the Saratoga Oilfield, just outside the Lance Rosier Unit.

Pine Island Bayou: US 69/96/287 Boat Ramp

• This location features a paved boat ramp and metal pier on Pine Island Bayou just south of Lumberton.

Pitcher Plant Trail

• 1 mile roundtrip | Follow an easy loop that leads to a boardwalk through a pitcher plant bog where you can look for carnivorous plants in spring and summer.

Roy E. Larsen Sandyland Sanctuary

• This park features trails that explore an arid sandyland, an unusual feature in the rain-soaked Big Thicket because of its variety of desert plants.

Saltwater Barrier Boat Ramp

• This paved boat ramp provides access to the Neches River. Paddlers can start here to reach the Cooks Lake to Scatterman Paddling Trail.

Saratoga Oilfield

• The Saratoga Oilfield, just outside the Lance Rosier Unit, was home to an oil boom in the early 1900s.

Staley Cabin

• This log cabin, built in 1934, was once the home of the Staley family. While the inside of the cabin is not open to the public, visitors can walk around the grounds, shaded beneath a canopy of oaks, and use the picnic tables.

Sundew Trail

• 0.3 to 1 mile roundtrip | Search for tiny red carnivorous plants known as sundews on an easy loop hike through a lush wetland pine savannah.

Teel Cemetery

• This small, secluded, historic cemetery dates back to the late 1800s. It lies deep in the woods of the Big Thicket. A long dirt road leads to the site.

Teel Road Cypress Swamp

• Find a bald cypress swamp full of life on the west side of Teel Road.

Turkey Creek Trail: FM 1943

• 14 miles one-way | This is the northern terminus of the Turkey Creek Trail. The trail heads south from here and roughly follows the course of Turkey Creek.

Turkey Creek Trail: Gore Store Road Northbound

• 14 miles one-way | This is one of several trailheads for the Turkey Creek Trail.

Turkey Creek Trail: Gore Store Road Southbound

• 14 miles one-way | This is one of several trailheads for the Turkey Creek Trail. Head south from here to reach the Sandhill Loop Trail.

Village Creek: Baby Galvez Road Boat Launch

• This is one of several places along Village Creek where you can launch a kayak, canoe, or small boat. From here, it's 7.1 miles downriver to the boat launch on US 96.

Village Creek: FM 418 Boat Launch

• This is one of several places along Village Creek where you can launch a kayak, canoe, or small boat. From here, it's 8.6 miles downriver to the boat launch at TX 327.

Village Creek: TX 327 Boat Launch

• This is one of several places along Village Creek where you can launch a kayak, canoe, or small boat. From here, it's 2.1 miles downriver to the boat launch on Baby Galvez Road.

Village Creek: US 96 Boat Launch

• This is one of several places along Village Creek where you can launch a kayak, canoe, or small boat. From here, it's 3.2 miles downriver to the boat launch at Village Creek State Park.

Woodlands Trail

• 5 miles roundtrip | The Woodlands Trail loops through different kinds of forest landscapes and some hilly terrain. Find a scenic pond near the beginning of the trail.

“Bridge to Nowhere”

• The Bridge to Nowhere is an abandoned bridge at the end of a dirt road in the Lance Rosier Unit. It's a quiet place to enjoy the scenery of Little Pine Island Bayou.

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