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Campgrounds
north and northwest of DFW
Chickasaw National Recreation Area
P O Box 201 Highway 177
Sulphur
Nature center includes live birds, snakes, and lizards, nature walks, &
educational programs. Six campgrounds, mostly on first come, first serve basis. Some group
sites and a few sites can be reserved. Streams, springs, lakes, waterfalls and nature are
the chief attraction here. However, bingo with the Chickasaw Indians is available in
Sulphur at the Chickasaw Gaming Center, West First Street and Muskogee Avenue.
Call 405 622-2156 for information.
Directions: Located 120 miles north of Dallas. Go north on I-35, exit Highway 7, drive
through Sulphur to Hwy 177, South on Highway 177, one-fourth mile. Park headquarters will
be on your right side.
Copper Breaks State Park
Rt. 2, Box 480
Quanah
The copper deposits in the area give the park its name. The Pease River, a tributary
of the Red River, forms the south boundary of the park which includes almost 1900 acres.
Exhibits at park headquarters include Indian artifacts, fossils, and a geological history
of the area. There are 117 archeological sites in the park, including Medicine Mound, a
sacred site of the Comanche shaman. This location is the heart of Comanche country. Part
of the state's longhorn herd is maintained here.
Wildlife and Vegetation: Roadrunners, great blue herons, as well as ducks, quail, doves,
owls, flickers, and hawks are found here. Lake Copper Breaks is stocked with rainbow trout
each winter. Mammals include mule deer, bobcats, porcupines, armadillos, jack rabbits, and
coyotes. Wildlife and bird checklists are available at park office.
Directions: Park is located between Quanah and Crowell off State Highway 6.
Fort Richardson State Historical Park
Jacksboro
Park contains over 400 acres and was acquired from the City of Jacksboro. Fishing is
allowed in eight-acre Quarry Lake located by park headquarters. Construction is under way
on an 11-mile hike, bike, and equestrian multi-use trail. Seven of the original Fort
Richardson buildings have been restored and include the commanding officer's quarters, a
powder magazine, a commissary, a guardhouse, a bakery, and the morgue. The officers' and
enlisted men's barracks have been replicated. The park offers historical study, camping,
fishing, hiking, nature study, and picnicking. Wading in the creek is also allowed.
Facilities include screened shelters, campsites with water and electricity, hike-in
primitive sites, picnic sites, and lighted group picnic pavilion, restrooms with showers,
horseshoe pits, volleyball court and a trailer dump station.
Directions: To reach the park, travel 1/2 mile south of Jacksboro on Us Highway 281.
Fishing: Quarry Lake is stocked with catfish, bass, and trout periodically during the
year.
Lake Arrowhead
Wichita Falls
Swim on unsupervised beach in a lake which has large oil derricks dotted throughout.
Recreation and the oil industry co-exist in this major recreational site for the North
Central Plains with 106 miles of shoreline. Campsites include those with water nearby and
those with water and electricity, restrooms with showers, group picnic pavilion in
equestrian area, walk-in group primitive area, dump station, launching ramp, lighted
fishing piers with fish-cleaning shelters, floating boat dock and courtesy fuel dock.
940 528-2211
From Wichita Falls, go six miles south on US Highway 281, then east for eight miles on FM
1954 to park.
Fishing: Fish for bass, perch, catfish, and crappie.
Wildlife and Vegetation: Much of this semi-arid terrain is covered with mesquite.
Waterfowl and wading birds are common.
Directions: Take I-35W north from Fort Worth, then US 287 north to FM 1954. Go west on FW
1954 to Lake Arrowhead.
Lake Murray
3301 Lake Murray Dr
Ardmore
12,496 acres with a 6,500 lake clear enough for 'inland' scuba make Lake Murray a
beautiful spot to commune with nature. Camping, fishing, water sports, golf, wildlife are
all available. Public shooting site at Hickory Creek, 18 hole golf course (405 223-6613),
2,500 ft. air strip, lodge, cabin rental, Tucker Tower museum and nature center add to the
allure of Lake Murray. Hiking, mountain biking, motorcycling, horseback riding are
available and there is some unofficial and dangerous rock climbing going on, too. Ardmore
is minutes away with some tourist and some not-so-tourist entertainment.
Directions: North on I-35 to Ardmore, Ok. Follow many, many signs to Lake Murray.
Lake Texoma
Hagerman National Wildlife Refuge with 11,300 acres of land and water, is located on
Lake Texoma just north of Sherman. Habitat includes bottomland, pond, uplands prairie, and
lakeshore, of course. Hagerman provides wildlife observation, interpretive trails,
fishing, limited hunting, hiking, and a haven for migrating and wintering waterfowl.
Contact Hagerman for more information at 903 786-2826. Lake fossils are on display at the
Eisenhower State Park headquarters.
Eisenhower Birthplace State Historical Park, 208 East Day in Denison, call 903 465-8908,
covers six acres with wooded areas, railroad trails, and creek areas. It is an interesting
side trip. Lake Texoma can be very windy. Camping here with the red sand blowing gives
camp food an appearance of being covered with red pepper. Need we say more? Eisenhower
State Park offers water sports, biking, a 4.5 mile hiking trail with nature study &
wildlife observation, fishing, a fish-cleaning facility, and a lighted fishing pier.
Facilities includes restrooms with showers, pull-through campsites with water, sewer,
electricity, campsites with water and electricity, screen shelters, air-conditioned and
heated rec hall, group camp with water and electric campsites and a campground pavilion,
launching ramp, courtesy boat dock, a 10-acre, mini-bike area, and three playground areas.
Eisenhower Yacht Club is a privately-leased marina with boat pump-out station. Nature and
environmental programs are given frequently throughout the year. Park is 423 acres in
Grayson County near Denison and Sherman. Texas State Park fees apply here.
903 465-1956
Directions to Eisenhower State Park: Exit #72 from US Highway 75 north from Dallas. Take
State Highway 91 north to Denison Dam, then take FM 1310W for 1.8 miles to Park Road 20
entrance.
Corps Park(s): Camping is available at the following Corps of Engineers' Parks: Damsite,
Flowing Wells, Juniper Point, Mills Creek, Paradise Cove, and Preston Point. Launching
facilities are available at Cedar Bayou, Damsite, Highport, Juniper Point, Mill Creek,
Paradise Cove, Preston Bend, and Walnut Creek. Hiking and/or interpretive trails are
available at Juniper Point, Cedar Bayou and Paw Paw Point. Swimming area (with facilities
for changing clothes) is available at Preston Bend. Fees vary. Must have permit to camp.
Camping permits can be obtained at either the Corps of Engineers' office at Denison Dam or
at the Juniper Point Park entrance.
903 465-4990
Directions to Corps Park(s): Call Corps of Engineers' office for directions to various
parks. Reach Juniper Point Park: from US 82 about 18 miles west of Sherman, go north on US
377 almost 15 miles.
Other camping: Lake Texoma State Park with golf course and fitness center is in Oklahoma.
Lodge rooms and duplex cabins are available as well as equestrian stables, miniature golf,
RV campgrounds and tennis courts.
Call 405 564-2566 for general information, Call 405 564-3333 for golfing information.
Lake Texoma State Park is south of US 70 and west of Highway 99 in Kingston, Oklahoma.
Fishing: Striped and black bass fishing is good as is fishing for crappie and lunker
catfish. Fishing requires a special Texoma license good for fishing both Oklahoma and
Texas.
Wildlife and Vegetation: Grassy uplands, including rare tall-grass prairie lead to rocky
shorelands, bluffs, and woodlands. See Canada geese, snow, Ross', and white-fronted geese,
ducks, other shorebirds and colonial nesters.
Directions: take US 75 north to Denison, then west on FM 120 or north on FM 84.
Possum Kingdom Lake
Possum Kingdom Lake (20,000 acres) probably has the clearest lake water in this area
of Texas. It is where many DFW people take their test for SCUBA certification. A large
portion of the official Texas Longhorn herd is located in the state park. Try renting
canoes and entering the Brazos River below the dam for an interesting (and potentially
overnight) outdoor experience. Canoe rentals are available in area and the Brazos River is
a favorite of beginning and more experienced canoers. The state park is almost 1530 acres
and is located in the Brazos River Valley. A large portion of the official Texas Longhorn
herd is here. Park offers camping, day use, water sports, and hiking. Facilities include
restrooms with showers, boat ramp, dump station and two miles of hiking and nature trails.
In addition to camp sites, the park offers six cabins that will accommodate four each.
940 549-1803
Take US Highway 180 to Caddo, then go 17 miles north on Park Road 33.
Wildlife and Vegetation: Park is located in the rugged canyon country of the Palo Pinto
Mountains. Many white-tailed deer can be seen here.
Directions: Take US Highway 180 from Fort Worth. Turn north on Highway 16 at Brad.
Ray Roberts Lake
Pilot Point
The Jones Farm, located in the Johnson Branch Unit of Ray Roberts Lake State Park is
available for tour. This farm was first settled by Jackson Jones in the 1850s and contains
an 1898 farm house, a chicken house, a log crib, and barns. The Jones family farmed their
acreage until 1984. State park day-use entry fees apply to touring the farm. Lake Ray
Roberts, on the Elm Fork of the Trinity River, has served as a study area for wetlands and
the environment. State Park(s): Ray Robert Lake State Park has two units: Isle du Bois
Unit on south side of lake and Johnson Branch Unit on the north side of lake. They total
3777 acres with Isle du Bois being the larger unit with 2263 acres. These recreationally
diverse parks offer Wildlife Management Areas, wetlands, waterfowl sanctuaries, camping,
day use, hiking, backpacking, horseback riding, bicycling & mountain biking, roller
blading, unsupervised swimming beach, and water sports. Facilities include campsites with
water and electricity, picnic tables, launching ramp, fishing pier, group pavilions, and
restrooms with showers. Also walk or hike in to developed campsites.
940 686-2148 at Isle du Bois Unit, Johnson Branch Unit is 940 637-2294.
Directions to State Park(s): Isle du Bois Unit is on FM 455, ten miles east of I-35.
Johnson Branch Unit is on FM 3002, seven miles east of I-35.
Fishing: Superb largemouth and white bass fishing here plus good crappie fishing.
Directions: Go north from DFW on I-35 to Sanger, then east on FM 455 to lake. Isle du Bois
State Park Unit in on FM 455, 10 miles east of I-35. Johnson Branch State Park Unit is on
FM 3002, 7 miles east of I-35. |
