Huntsville State Park, Texas

Once you discover the majestic flora and fauna of the East Texas Piney Woods in Huntsville State Park you may never want to leave! By water, you’ll find endless activities on the 210-acre Lake Raven including fishing for largemouth bass and crappie, boating, and swimming with the alligators. Wait, definitely don’t swim with the gators! Make sure to stay in the designated swimming area and brush up on local swimming safety tips before going for your morning or evening dip. By land, you can journey among 21 miles of trails, or go off the grid and embark on the 129-mile Lone Star Hiking Trail that crosses the Sam Houston National Forest. If the air is your avenue of exploration, you’ll discover a plethora of feathered friends, at around 250 identified species in the park. There really isn’t a bad spot in Huntsville State Park, as most sites - whether a comfy screened shelter or one of 160 tent campsites - border Lake Raven in this wooded wonderland.