Big Thicket National Preserve

Backcountry Camp at Big Thicket National Preserve

You can camp for free in much of the Big Thicket backcountry! Pick up a permit at the visitor center.

Become a Big Thicket Junior Ranger

Get a free activity booklet from the visitor center and earn a junior ranger badge. All ages are welcome!

Bike the Big Sandy Trail

Take your mountain bike on a 14.7-mile roundtrip trail through the woods of the Big Sandy Creek Unit. See different kinds of forest habitats along the way.

Birdwatch in a Wetland Pine Savannah

Grab your binoculars and birdwatch in a popular spot for our local and migratory birds.

Explore the Rugged Lance Rosier Unit

The Lance Rosier Unit is the largest, wildest area of the Big Thicket. Discover its secrets on this scenic, unpaved auto tour.

Hike the Beaver Slide Trail

1 mile roundtrip | The Beaver Slide Trail is a hidden gem. This short hike leads hikers past several scenic ponds and sloughs. Keep an eye out for beaver dams along the way!

Hike the Beech Woods Trail

1½ miles roundtrip | See a forest of American beeches on this pleasant loop hike in the northeastern corner of the preserve.

Hike the Big Sandy Trail

14.7 miles roundtrip | The Big Sandy Trail follows old logging roads through the woods. This is the only trail in the preserve open to bicycles and horses.

Hike the Birdwatchers Trail

¾ mile roundtrip | This short hike leads to views of Menard Creek and the Trinity River, an important migration route for birds.

Hike the Kirby Nature Trail

1½ to 2½ miles roundtrip | Experience the Big Thicket on a gentle loop hike through different kinds of forest. See majestic bald cypress trees and knees and Village Creek.

Hike the Longleaf Pine Trail

1 mile roundtrip | Stroll through a longleaf pine forest near the visitor center on Big Thicket's newest trail.

Hike the Pitcher Plant Trail

1 mile roundtrip | Follow an easy loop that leads to a boardwalk through a pitcher plant bog where you can look for carnivorous plants in spring and summer.

Hike the Sundew Trail

0.3 to 1 mile roundtrip | Search for tiny red carnivorous plants known as sundews on an easy loop hike through a lush wetland pine savannah.

Hike the Turkey Creek Trail

14 miles one-way | The Turkey Creek Trail leads into the backcountry of the Turkey Creek Unit. Several trailheads at road crossings provide options for shorter hikes.

Hike the Woodlands Trail

5 miles roundtrip | The Woodlands Trail loops through different kinds of forest landscapes and some hilly terrain. Find a scenic pond near the beginning of the trail.

Hike to the Sandhill Loop Trail

4½ to 9.4 miles roundtrip | Look for longleaf pines, cacti, and solitude on this out-and-back and loop hike that leads to an arid sandyland ecosystem.

Paddle Through a Cypress Slough

Paddle from one river to another through a cypress slough! Explore quiet oxbow lakes and bayous along the way on this 4.8-mile paddling trail.

Paddle Village Creek

Whether you want to go 2.1 miles or 21 miles, Village Creek is a great place for a paddle trip. Tall trees along the creek provide shade and white sand beaches invite paddlers to stop and relax for awhile.

Picnic by the Bayou

Have a picnic next to Pine Island Bayou at Edgewater Day-Use Area. A short trail starts here and follows the bank of the bayou.

Watch the Big Thicket Park Film

Watch a 16-minute film about the story of Big Thicket National Preserve at the visitor center or online.