Texas Forest Trail
State: Texas
Length: 835.0 mi / 1343.8 km
Time to Allow: Plan for a few hours to enjoy sections or a week to enjoy the region.
The Texas Forest Trail starts out northeast of Dallas and sprawls down to the ocean, just missing Houston, Galveston, and the Brazos Trails. As the “Gateway to Texas,” you can enter the state from Louisiana, Arkansas, and Oklahoma. No matter where you enter, you are in for rich history from 35 counties sprawling between the Old South and the Wild West, rich with history and gorgeous scenery.
Find nature inside the Forest Trail with several state parks, regional forests, and even a few historical sites. With a focus on forests, this is the trail of choice for nature lovers. Start out in the Angelina Forest before moving down to the Davy Crocket Forest, followed by the Sam Houston Forest to enjoy the largest options in the state. Enjoy bike trails, too, with hundreds of options to see Texas from a more leisurely view.
Enjoy incredible camping at Texas’ favorite park – Caddo Lake, shared with Arkansas. With primeval thicket from cypress trees and narrow channels of Spanish moss decorated trees, the views will take your breath away. Camp at the state park or nearby at the RV park like Buzzard Bay Landing. Or, try these Texas glamping locations near Dallas.Take a journey to the Outback of Texas with backwater tours for a peek at the mystical maze.
Coming in from Louisiana, start with Port Arthur next to the water for Texas history. Local area history includes Paleo-Indians and Spanish explorers. Come in time for family-oriented Mardi Gras celebrations. Head to Beaumont for a feisty mix of Cajan and Texas food, including enchiladas and crawfish. Stay in the historic town for museums and to see the opulent Jefferson Theatre. Finally, escape to a man-made pleasure island for peace and quiet on the water.
East Texas offers a wide range of food without the need to hit up a chain restaurant. Tyler is the place to go for food and flora. Come in October for their Rose Festival and eat at Clear Springs Restaurant for fresh tilapia or at Burger Grind for the juiciest burger available or go Greek at Athena’s. After head to the state park, go golfing, or enjoy a glass of red at a local winery or stroll around the historic downtown.
Step out of the norm and try out zip lines in LaRue with breathtaking views of the countryside for over thirty miles. If you prefer the water, go scuba diving in Athens in search of clay in a crystal clear lake. Take a cruise on the Neches River and see the impressive ecosystem filled with over 200 tree species, 40 mammals, birds, and many more.
East Texas mixes multiple cultures with nature to create a haven with something for everyone. Find old dance halls, old-fashioned soda fountains, vintage hotels, and even the Glade-water Opry for country-western fun.
Local Information
Texas Forest Trail Region – Find photos, maps and plenty of history about this region of Texas. You can also order a free brochure and follow the travels of the regional coordinator on twitter.
More Texas Byways
You can check out additional Byways in Texas by clicking on the list of byways below, or by going to the Texas Byways home section. To find even more of scenic byways in the United States, visit our scenic byways map.