Ray Roberts Lake State Park

Here's another trip we took last May that I forgot to post. This trip was for our 9th wedding anniversary!

Ray Roberts Lake State Park has three units, the Jordan Unit, the Johnson Unit and the Isle du Bois Unit. We visited the Jordan Unit, because we wanted to stay in the Lantana Lodge. There are quite a few hiking trails at the park, leading from one unit to the other. We took the trail that leads east from from the lodge (see map on site below) and that goes 3.5 miles to a turn-around loop. I think we only made it about halfway down the trail....the part we did cover was very nice...it paralleled the shoreline and had lots of trees. It was a cool, breezy day and my husband and I tucked ourselves away on blankets in a private spot under the trees with a view of the lake (this is why we didn't make it all the way to the end!). We saw no one else on the trail (amazing on a Saturday) and our dogs enjoyed running up and down the beach and sticking their feet in the water. I hope to go back another time to do the other trails (and maybe finish that first one).

About Lantana Lodge: Our room was tiny but very cute...and we really liked the fact that they let us bring our dogs for a small extra fee. It has a really nice large porch with lots of chairs and deck area with a boat dock....a really beautiful setting. Unfortunately, there was a wedding taking place there that weekend and the walls are very thin! People were partying and yelling outside and music was playing so we couldn't sleep. Finally about midnight we got up and drove home....okay since we only lived about an 90 minutes away. I just discovered by looking at the website that there is also a Lake Ray Roberts-Lake Lewisville Greenbelt Corridor (20 miles of multiuse trails along the Trinity River that lead from one lake to the other). We may have to try that one out as well.

Please see the following site for park information and trail map:

http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/spdest/findadest/parks/ray_roberts_lake/

Martin Creek Lake State Park

My husband and I visited this park last summer, but I forgot to post, so I thought I'd go ahead and share what I remember!

We stayed in one of the park's cabins. It was very basic, but clean and nice overall (and inexpensive). It had a wonderful screened in porch (great for getting away from mosquitoes). We went during the hottest part of the summer, so I had to have my air conditioner! It also has wooded tent sites, mini-cabins w/AC and neat little screened shelters.

The lake water is really warm, because it helps to cool a nearby power plant, and there are several nice isolated places you can swim. Fishing is supposed to be really good for this reason, too. The one problem is that the power plant is HUGE....and really spoils the natural view.

There are several trails, and we hiked 3 or 4 miles of them (mostly the bike loop behind the two cabins which was recommended by park staff--see map). It was thickly wooded with nice views of the lake. One especially nice (but short) trail we took crosses a bridge and circles a small island (with primitive camping sites). It is a beautiful island, and we saw lots of deer (and a cool abandoned outhouse). If you sit at a certain spot on the shore, you can see the deer swimming back and forth from the mainland in the morning and evening. I hope to go back sometime and walk the rest of the trails and visit with friends who live nearby.

Outhouse

The park also has a lighted fishing pier, and my husband and I had great fun staying up late and fishing in the dark (when it was cool). I caught lots of fish (mostly perch on worms, one catfish with grasshopper) and my husband (fishing for bass) didn't have much luck. We also sat on the bank of the lake and just talked. During this time a large beaver swam at me really quickly (and in the dark I thought it was an alligator). Scary!

I would recommend this park if you live nearby (within a few hours' drive). It's lovely, but not spectacular.

See this site for park and trail information:
http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/spdest/findadest/parks/martin_creek/

My perch (tiniest fish of the night)

My catfish (biggest fish of the night)

White Rock Lake

Last weekend we visited White Rock Lake in Dallas. I forgot my camera, so visit one of the following websites for pictures as well as directions to the lake and trail information! They also have a dog park, which I'd like to take Josh and Lola to sometime.

http://www.whiterocklake.org/

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/trails/whiterock_lake.html

http://www.wrldogpark.com/index.php

The trail goes around the entire lake and is about 9 miles long. The "trail" itself is a sidewalk and pretty crowded, at least on the Saturday we were there. It is very pleasant, however, with lots of trees and the view of the lake. Warning: there are lots of people on bikes!

We had planned to walk a a few miles from our car and then turn around, and eventually walk the entire trail by parking at other places in future trips. It would be fun to say we've gone around the whole thing. This time we parked near the spillway, and started by walking across the dam. It was nice and breezy...and a really pretty view....lots and lots of big white birds.

But before we got very far at all, we discovered a series of nature trails leading off from the main trail. We got there by walking down a very steep hill (the dam) and I fell down twice (embarassing). Later we discovered that there's an entry to this area next to the big brick building (possibly the pump station?).

These nature trails (formerly a fish hatchery) were beautiful and much less crowded. We saw only a few other people. We wandered around for several hours, but crossed familiar paths many times, so I'm not really sure how long they are. It's a twisted maze of old fish hatchery ponds (some dry, some with a little water) and big, thick, beautiful trees and other shrubs. You can, of course, always hear the Dallas traffic and other noises, but it's really nice considering it's right in the middle of the city.

I just discovered this website...http://www.watermelon-kid.com/places/wrl/tour/nature_trail.htm. It mentions the fish hatcher trails and also has some interesting historical information and stats about the lake.

Next time we'll try a few miles of the "regular" trail.

DFW Area Hiking Trails

I found this neat site http://www.texasoutside.com/hikebike/dallashike.htm that lists hiking trails in the DFW area. Neat! I may try the White Rock Trail this weekend.

Wow...I haven't posted in a while!

I had totally forgotten about this blog. I've been walking every day, and now that it's getting warmer, I plan to get out there and start hiking again! Look for more posts soon.

Also, check out www.leefamilybabyblog.blogspot.com, my other blog!

Rowlett Nature Trail

Rowlett Nature Trail is a nice trail along the edge of Lake Ray Hubbard near Garland. My husband and I go here often on the weekends when we don't have time to go farther away from home. Our dogs love it too, as we're often the only people on the trail and they can run free.

It is not a true "wilderness experience," but still enjoyable, at 2.6 miles round-trip. A nice hour-long journey. The path is wide and covered in gravel and dirt, and is well-maintained by local boy scout groups.

The first third of the trail is through tall, beautiful trees. The second third is still in the forest, but is lined on one side by houses (extremely nice ones that are fun to look at). The final third has nice views of the lake. The trail then dead ends at private property and you must turn around and return they way you came. Overall, the path is easy to follow and not strenuous (no major ups and downs).

Last time we took the hike we saw two brown cotton-tail rabbits (cute), two grass snakes (not so cute), lots of monarch butterflies, a blue heron, a great egret, two longhorn cows, two turtles, two kayakers, and an old abandoned boat.

To reach the trail, go to the intersection of Centerville and Miller in Garland, Texas. Go east on Miller less than a mile, and turn left in to the parking lot at a sign that says "Rowlett Nature Trail." Near the trailhead is a place to fish from the bank or to put a small boat in to the lake.

See this site for other parks in the Rowlett area. There are a couple other trails, and some of the undeveloped park sites along the lake could be fun, too.
http://www.ci.rowlett.tx.us/Rowlett/Departments/Parks+and+Recreation/City+Parks+and+Trails/

Beaver dam on lake near trail

Lake Tawakoni State Park

Small park, but nice (though nothing like my two recent hikes in the piney woods). Lots of grassland (tallgrass prairie) and some trees (hot in the summer!).

We hiked the trails on the north end of the park, though we often left trail to walk along the shoreline, which our dogs loved. No one was around so they could happily run and play off-leash (I do love it when you can be off by yourself!). They have a nice swimming beach, too. Since the park is fairly close to our house, I hope to come back and walk the rest of the trails (or shoreline).

Recommended if you live nearby, but I wouldn't make a long trip for it!

See this site for park and trail information:
http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/spdest/findadest/parks/lake_tawakoni/
I guess I missed the giant spiderweb (see site for cool picture)!

Lake Fairfield State Park

Another beautiful hike in the piney woods.

See this site for park and trail information.
http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/spdest/findadest/parks/fairfield_lake/

Huntsville State Park, Lake Raven

This was a beautiful hike (maybe my favorite one ever). The park is in the pineywoods of the Sam Houston National Forest.....the trees are amazingly tall and beautiful, and there are quite a few trails. We only had a few hours (we were on the way to a friend's wedding), so we talked to the ranger and asked for recommendations. We ended up taking the Prairie Branch trail up and and then crossed the lake (here actually a mysterious, marshy area) on a boardwalk. It was beautiful. We went on a ways, and then turned around because we didn't have time to make the complete circle. We can't wait to go back to see more of the park!

Visit this site for park and trail information:
http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/spdest/findadest/parks/huntsville/

Lovely picture of the lake with lily pads!

This is me, reading the map! Boardwalks on this trail take you over marshy-bayou areas.

Caddo Lake State Park

One of the most beautiful spots I've ever seen. A few weeks ago my family and some friends visited. Our plan was to take a ten mile canoe trip, then take the 2.5 mile hike. On the canoe trip we got lost (ended up going 26 miles and having to be rescued by a Jet Ski--I'm sure we looked hilarious....three canoes tied together being pulled by a jet ski). After that we were too tired to do the hiking trail! We're definitely going to go back. If you've never been here, you must go soon. It's really an unforgettable experience. Take the canoe trail, but be sure to turn left when you see the "return to state park" sign (our mistake). Also make time to fish a little (my husband had great luck).

See the following site for park information and trail map.
http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/spdest/findadest/parks/caddo_lake/

See this site for more great pictures of the lake.
http://www.caddo-lake.net/

We stayed in the guesthouse (aka mobile home) of Bell's View. The setting is gorgeous....our friends and I had a great time. They do have a really nice hot tub, and the B&B part looked nicer than the guesthouse (which was a little rough around the edges but nice overall). See their website for information and beautiful pictures of the lake.
http://www.bellsview.com/guest_house.htm

Grapevine Lake

There are several trails around Grapevine Lake. My husband and I recently walked the Northshore Trail--about seven miles! My longest single trip so far.

Info about the lake & trails:
http://www.swf-wc.usace.army.mil/Grapevine/index.asp

According to the site, hikers are welcome on the biking and equestrian trails, but there are no trails just for hikers. Click on "recreation" and "trails" for trail listings. The Northshore Trail (see above) was a bicycle trail, and had lots and lots of bikes. I think I'll try an equestrian trail next time.

Lake Lavon #1

The hiking trails at Lake Lavon are the closest to my house in Garland. My husband and I have walked these several times!

Info about the trail and lake itself:
http://www.trinitytrailriders.org/index.html
http://www.swf-wc.usace.army.mil/lavon/index.asp

Welcome!

Welcome to my blog! Soon I will be sharing my hiking adventures and photos.

My goal is to hike all the trails in Texas within the next five years! I'll be using the following hiking guides as well as information from the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (see my links) to decide where to go:
Hiking and Backpacking Trails of Texas by Mildred Little
Hiking Texas by Laurence Parent
Hiker's Guide to Texas by Laurence Parent

Let me know if you have any other good Texas hiking resources. I'd love to hear about them.


Below are my hiking partners, Josh(with the bear) and Lola.