Discover the most magical spots to pitch your tent or park your rig on your next Cooper Lake State Park adventure.
By land, water, or horseback—this two-section national park was made for exploring.
Split into two “units”—Doctors Creek on the north shore of Jim Chapman Lake and South Sulphur on the south side—Cooper Lake has everything you need for an outdoor adventure, just 90 minutes from Dallas. Miles of hiking, biking, geocaching, and horseback riding trails lead through oak forests and marshy grasslands, where you can spot birds and wild deer. Along the waterfront, cool off with a dip in the dedicated swimming area, rent a kayak, or fish for bass, catfish, and crappie. There’s camping on both sides of the lake with a choice of RV, tent, and equestrian sites.
Cooper Lake State Park is open year-round and can get crowded on weekends and holidays from spring through fall. Summertime temperatures can reach more than 90°F, so you’ll probably want to stay lakeside—spring and fall offer more comfortable temperatures for hiking. Horse riding trails are often closed if it gets too wet.