Martin Dies, Jr. State Park was known as Dam B State Park until 1965. The park is a 705 acre area in Jasper and Tyler counties, located between Woodville and Jasper on the 15,000 acre B.A. Steinhagen Reservoir. The property was acquired under a 50-year lease from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in 1964 and opened to the public in 1965.
The park lies near the edge of the Big Thicket Preserve, and is heavily forested. Numerous creeks run through the park. The Walnut Slough Paddling Trail, Sandy Creek Paddling Trail and Neches Paddling Trail are three trails through and around Martin Dies, Jr. State Park that offer a variety of experiences on the park’s backwater sloughs along Spring Creek, the wide open B.A. Steinhagen Reservoir, and the fast-moving Neches River, all filled with amazing wildlife watching opportunities. Enjoy 3 to 16 miles of trails, depending on the route you choose. Hiking trails in the park also provide excellent wildlife viewing opportunities. Woodland warblers, woodpeckers, bluebirds, herons, wood ducks, cranes, bald eagles and swallow tailed kites can all be spotted in the park. Alligators can be spotted in the water, as the park is adjacent to Angelina-Neches-Dam B Wildlife Management Area.
Martin Dies, Jr. State Park offers camping, hiking, boating, canoeing, fishing, swimming, biking as well as wildlife and bird watching. Canoes, bicycles, volleyballs, and horseshoes can be rented at the park. There are naturalist activities and outdoor educational facilities at the park. For information on the schedule for these activities, contact the park. Group tours by reservation. Canoe trips down the Angelina or Neches River are taken on the third Saturday of every month, except August. Call the park at least one week in advance to make reservations for scheduled canoe trips. Park facilities include two Limited Use Cabins (also known as mini-cabins), one in the “Hen House Ridge” shelter area and one in the “Walnut Ridge” shelter area. The cabins have heat, air conditioning, bunk beds (bring your own linen) and a screened porch. The outside has water, a fire-ring with a grill, a BBQ pit, and a picnic table. 4 Screen shelters have been remodeled to include heat and air conditioning. These Shelters with Amenities are located in the “Hen House” and “Walnut Ridge” shelter areas. Other facilities include screened shelters; campsites with water; campsites with water and electricity; a group dining/meeting hall; restrooms with hot showers; trailer dump stations; playgrounds; lighted fishing piers; fish-cleaning facilities; boat ramps; 4 miles of multi-use trails for hiking and mountain biking; 2 miles of nature/interpretive trail.
Elevation: 221 ft.
Weather: July average high is 93; January average low is 38; first/last freeze: November 6/March 23; September is wettest month.
Directions: To reach the park from US Highway 69, travel 17 miles east from Woodville on US Highway 190; from US Highway 96, travel 12 miles west from Jasper on US Highway 190; or from Houston, take US Highway 59 north to Livingston, and then travel east on US Highway 190 for 65 miles to the park via Park Road 48.
Entrance Fees
$3 per day, per person 13 and older for day use only
$2 per day, per person 13 and older for overnight use
Special entrance rates for holders of:
Youth Group Annual Entrance Permit.
Texas Parklands Passport (Bluebonnet Pass)
Facility Fees
Applicable daily entrance fees are charged in addition to the campsite or facility fee. Pets are not allowed in any Texas State Park buildings. For other general pet restrictions check the Texas State Park Regulations. For park specific pet restrictions and more information contact the park at 1-800-792-1112.
Camping
Maximum 8 people per campsite unless otherwise noted. Applicable daily entrance fees are charged in addition to the campsite or facility fee. An excess occupancy fee is charged for each person in excess of 8 people per night. Each campsite is limited to 2 vehicles (including RV), an excess vehicle fee is charged, per night, for additional vehicles. RV Camping is prohibited in the Shelter Camping Loops. Cooking is not allowed inside the shelters or the shelters with amenities.
67 – Campsites with water hook-ups:
$12 per night (March through November); $10 per night (December through February)
$72 per week (March through November); $60 per week (December through February)
$288 per month (March through November); $240 per month (December through February)
33 – Campsites with (30 amp) electric and water hookups:
$15 per night (March through November); $13 per night (December through February)
$90 per week (March through November); $78 per week (December through February)
$360 per month (March through November); $312 per month (December through February)
82 – Campsites with (50 amp) electric and water hookups:
$18 per night (March through November); $16 per night (December through February)
$108 per week (March through November); $96 per week (December through February)
$432 per month (March through November); $384 per month (December through February)
Screened Shelters – No RV’s are allowed at the screened shelters:
$25 per night (March through November); $23 per night (December through February)
$150 per week (March through November); $138 per week (December through February)
$600 per month (March through November); $552 per month (December through February)
Shelters with amenities – Sites have water, heat, A/C, a fire ring with grill, picnic table, and is well lighted. SA1 and SA19 are in the “Walnut Ridge” shelter loop. SA39 and SA40 are located in the Hen House shelter loop. These modified shelters do not have beds. Site specific reservations are available for these units:
$40 per night
Limited Use Cabins
2 – Limited Use Cabins – Cabins have water, heat, A/C, bunk beds, fire ring with a grill, BBQ pit, picnic table, screened porch, and is well lighted. One bunk bed has a full size mattress on the bottom. Linens are not provided. One cabin is in the “Hen House Ridge” unit and one is in the “Walnut Ridge” unit. Cooking is not allowed inside the limited use cabins. Site specific reservations are available for these units :
$50 per night plus tax
Day Use Facilities
Group Dining Hall / Meeting Hall / Recreation Hall with a capacity of 100 is available by reservation only. Rental hours are from 10:00 am to 9:00 pm. This facility has tables, chairs, stove, refrigerator, heat, A/C, kitchen, volleyball court, outside tables, restrooms, and some audio / visual equipment:
$125 per day (overnight rental must book 2 consecutive day reservations)