What are some outdoor activities near Houston?

Drive north along I-45 past Lake Conroe and you’ll encounter a chain of state parks and national forests. Get out on the water of the lake in Huntsville State Park, or explore the vast woodlands of Sam Houston National Forest (home to three developed campgrounds). Lake Livingston State Park, just east of Huntsville, protects one of the largest lakes in Texas. The giant pines, hardwoods and swamps of Davy Crockett National Forest sit just a bit further north (two hours from downtown Houston).