Each region of Texas has a distinct beauty, and East Texas is no exception. The terrain is heavily forested with majestic, towering pines, giving the area the name Pineywoods. 

The landscape is dotted with numerous dense forests that show off vibrant colors in the fall and winter, and bloom lush and green in the spring and summer.

East Texas is home to many state parks and National Forests, but our favorites are Tyler State Park, Angelina National Forest, Martin Dies Jr. State Park, and Caddo Lake. Here are some of our favorite parts of each of these parks.

Tyler State Park

Tyler State Park is located an hour and a half east of Dallas, just north of the city of Tyler. It’s a little over 3.5 hours from Houston, and just under 4.5 hours from Austin.

The tall pines of the forest here can reach up to 100 feet high in some places and make you feel as if you’ve stepped into a lush, forested wonderland. 

The 64-acre spring-fed lake is a sparkling blue that isn’t the typical color for most Texas lakes. It offers opportunities for swimming, fishing, and paddling. The park store rents out kayaks, canoes, rowboats, and stand-up paddleboards. You can bring your own boat as well, but motors are limited to 5mph.

Our favorite hike was the Whispering Pines Trail, an easy, ¾ of a mile hike laid out by the CCC more than 70 years ago. The trail takes you through the forest to a children’s wading area the CCC had built for kids to splash in. A mixture of silt and debris has since ceased the flow of water to the pool but it is still very interesting to see. You’ll also see a dam and waterfall feature built by the CCC.

Learn more about Tyler State Park here >>

Angelina National Forest

The Angelina National Forest is home to so many great features. The Boykin Springs Recreation Area boasts numerous little springs that form tiny waterfalls and flow throughout the area into the Boykin Lake.

From the Boykin Springs Recreation Area you can access the 2.5 mile (each way) hike to Aldridge Sawmill, an abandoned sawmill in the forest. Once a vibrant community of 70+ buildings, only a few graffitied ruins remain, but it’s still a site to see.

Learn more about Angelina National Forest here >>

Martin Dies Jr. State Park

Martin Dies Jr. State Park is best known for their paddling trails along the Neches and Angelina Rivers. Canoe and kayak rentals are available here, and the park sometimes offers guided paddling trips.

The park is a mix of pines and bald cypress trees, which jut out from the lake. We hiked the very short, .8 mile Island Trail, which took us over a bridge that gave us expansive views of the cypress trees and the lake.

Learn more about Martin Dies Jr. State Park here >>

Caddo Lake State Park

Caddo Lake State Park is another CCC park built around Caddo Lake, the only originally natural lake in Texas.

While Martin Dies Jr State Park has cypress trees, Caddo Lake has CYPRESS TREES. It’s home to the largest cypress forest in the world. As you paddle or boat on the 26,810-acre lake, you’ll see thousands of beautiful bald cypress trees draped in spanish moss rising up out of the water around you.

The lake is undoubtedly the main attraction at this park, but there are some land trails as well. We took the short Forest Trail to see some CCC-built structures and steps, and see a bit more of the forest surrounding the lake.

Learn more about Caddo Lake State Park here >>

East Texas doesn’t always get as much attention as other areas of Texas, such as the Texas Hill Country, but once you experience it, you’ll realize there is so much beauty here! Have you visited East Texas or is it on your Bucket List?

This article was written by Yo & Moe. You can find more helpful adventure tips and tricks on their Instagram @texaswanderers