The Sabine National Forest
The Sabine National Forest is located near the Texas-Louisiana border, and covers a total of 160,609 acres in five counties: Sabine (95,410 acres), Shelby (59,037 acres), San Augustine (4,317 acres), Newton (1,781 acres), and Jasper (64 acres). The forest is administered with the other three National Forests, and two National Grasslands in East Texas, from offices in Lufkin. The local ranger district office is located in Hemphill. These National forest were established by an act of the Texas legislature in 1933. The national forests are managed on a multiple-use philosophy and used for lumbering, grazing, oil production, hunting, as well as recreation. In 2000, the Sabine River Authority of Texas (SRA-Tx) took over management and maintenance of most of the parks. Since that time they have upgraded the parks and changed the fees and some operations.
The area’s history stretches back several thousand years. Beneath the nearby Toledo Bend Reservoir lies remnants of ancient Caddo Indian villages and religious mounds. In the 1800’s, when Spain and the United States contested the area’s boundaries, the area was known as no-man’s land, and settled by only the most hardy characters. When Texas was established as a state and the area was settled, agriculture-based communities sprang up. Heavy logging practices during the area’s early history as a state along with intense cotton and corn farming, the land was exhausted by the 1930s. Farmers began to default on their land, leading the an acquisition by the Texas Forest Service. Since, a concentrated reforestation program has re-established the land’s productiveness. Today one can see the effectiveness of the forest management program that was implanted. The area is has recovered from the harsh erosion and is richly diverse with vegetation and wildlife.
The recreational opportunities found in the Sabine National Forest vary from birding, canoeing, fishing and wildlife watching to hiking and camping into the Toledeo Bend Reservoir. The rich diversity of recreational opportunities found in the Sabine National Forest are related to Forest Service efforts of land recovery. There are also large wilderness areas for exploring the Sabine National Forest and primitive camping and hunting. Several other hiking trails in the area offer possibilities for a challenging workout, or a gentle walk in the woods, proving the forest has something to offer everyone looking to get in tune with nature.
Camping
Boles Field
Open Year
RESERVATIONS: 1-409-787-3870
DIRECTIONS:
From Center, TX, take State Rt. 87 south about 6 miles to FM Rd.
417 (Shelbyville, TX). Turn left onto Rt. 417 and go about 1.5
miles to a “Y” intersection. Bear right onto FM Rd. 2694 and go
5.5 miles to the campground.
RATE AND MAXIMUM STAY PERMITTED
$6 per day
Maximum Stay Permitted- 14days
Combined Tent/RV Sites- 20
Bath and shower facilities available
Indian Mounds
Open Year Round
DIRECTIONS:
From Hemphill, TX, take Farm Rd. 83 east 6.9 miles to Indian Mounds Recreation Area sign (Farm Rd. 3382). Turn right onto Rd.3382 and go 3.9 miles to another Indian Mounds Recreation Area sign (Forest Rt. 130). Turn left onto Rt. 130 and go 0.6 miles to campground entrance.
RATE AND MAXIMUM STAY PERMITTED
$4 per day
Maximum Stay Permitted- 14 days
Tables and grills on site
Bath and shower facilities available
Lakeview
Open Year Round
DIRECTIONS:
From Yellowpine, TX, take State Rt. 87 south for 3.3 miles to Six Mile, TX and Farm Rd. 2928. Turn left on Farm Rd. 2928 and go 7 miles to campground sign (Forest Rt. 120). Turn left onto Rt. 120 and proceed to campground.
RATE AND MAXIMUM STAY PERMITTED
$3 per day
Maximum Stay Permitted- 14 days
Tables and grills on site.
Bath and shower facilities available.
Tent Sites- 5
Combines Tent/RV Sites- 5
Ragtown
Open Year Round
DIRECTIONS:
From Patroon, TX, take State Rt. 87 north 4.3 miles to Farm Rd. 139. Turn right onto Rt. 139 and go 6.7 miles to Farm Rd. 3184. Proceed on Rt. 3184 for 3.7 miles to Forest Rt. 132. Continue straight ahead on Rt. 132 for 1.6 miles to campground.
RATE AND MAXIMUM STAY PERMITTED
$5 single occupancy
$8 double occupancy
Maximum Stay Permitted- 14 days
Tent Sites- 3
Combined Tent/RV Sites- 21
Tables and grills on site
Bath and shower facilities available.
Red Hills Lake
Open Year Round
DIRECTIONS:
In Milam, TX, take State Rt. 87 north 2.7 miles to campground sign. Turn right at sign into campground.
RATE AND MAXIMUM STAY PERMITTED
$6 per day without electric hookups
$10 per day with electric hookups
Maximum Stay Permitted- 14 days
Tent Sites: 20
Combined Tent/RV Sites- 8
Grills and tables on site.
Bath and shower facilities available.
Willow Oak
Open Year Round
DIRECTIONS:
In Fairmount, TX, off State Rt. 87, turn into campground at Willow Oak Recreational Area sign.
RATE AND MAXIMUM STAY PERMITTED
$4 per day
Maximum Stay Permitted- 14 days
Tent Sites- 11
Grills and tables on site.
Bath and shower facilities available.