Texas RV Travel blog

Our last stop was the Big Creek Scenic Area, a rare preserve of over 1400 acres. Driving south on FM 2025 from Double Lake, we went left (east) on FS 221, left on 217 and parked on left. This is a parking lot for the Lone Star Hiking Trail, as well.

Big Creek Scenic area offers four trail loops of various lengths for hikers to enjoy.  Of course, the Lone Star Hiking Trail is also in this area.

Big Creek Scenic Area fills a diverse ecological niche. Anywhere a tree had fallen, a small Magnolia was reaching for the sunlight.

Where water was close to the surface, dwarf palmettos, the only palm native to Texas, pierced the gloom with pointed leaves.

After our walk, we drove back on FS 217 until it ended at FM 2666. We went right on FM 2666 to FM 2025 and went right.  The first thing we saw was the Lone Star Hiking Trail (LSHT).  Part of the Lone Star Hiking Trail has been designated a National Recreational Trail.

We hope to return in the Spring to hike parts of the Lone Star Hiking Trail. However, from what we saw, you have to be a dedicated hiker to manage the last miles of the LSHT.

Here is the description for the last 5.4 miles of the LSHT:

0.0 Trail head at FM 2025
1.3 Very muddy area (see picture above)
1.7 Iron Bridge
2.3 Trail Crosses FM 945
2.5 Base of old Fire tower
3.4 Base of old Fire tower
3.7 Gravel road
4.1 Gravel road and foot bridge
4.6 Bridge on side
4.8 Iron Bridge
4.9 Foot bridge in bad condition
5.0 Power Line
5.1 Two foot bridges within 200 feet
5.4 End of Trail

Well, that ended our trip for the day, but not our back road adventures. We traveled north on FM 2025, and turned left (west) on FM 150. We traveled until we turned left (south) on FM 925. We turned right at the second church onto what I believe was FM 2282, but it was unmarked. The road turned into FM 3081 and we journeyed south until we hit County Line Road, which took us into Willis. From Willis we took the old Highway 75 south to FM 830 and back to our campground.

Posted by CyberCelt under Day Trips & Hike/Bike/Run & Nature & RV Travel & Wildlife Watching | No Comments »

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Double Lake Mountain Bike Trail winds through the pine trees and hardwoods of Double Lake Recreation Area for eight miles.  The single-track Double Lake Mountain Bike Trail is maintained by the United State Department of Agriculture (USDA), the Forest Service and the Houston Area Mountain Bike Riders Association (HAMBRA).

As you enter the recreation area, take the left fork (FS210A) and go past all the camping loop and group areas. Park by the restrooms as the trail head is behind them. From the trail head, go left at the first fork, so you will travel clockwise and be facing the trail markings. You will wind up back at this parking area.

Dangers are three road crossings, other bikers, hikers (who are off the hiking trail), deadfall, mosquitoes, low branches, tree roots and soft corners. There are three bridges on the trail. Make sure you hit them square on. If you have a problem, the trail parallels the park road system, so you can probably get help.

For up to date information on this trail, check with the Greater Houston Off Road Biking Association.

Posted by CyberCelt under Day Trips & Hike/Bike/Run & Nature & Road Trips | No Comments »

The day before we left Lake Conroe, we went out exploring the east side of the Sam Houston National Forest. We drove FM 150 east from New Waverly, almost to Coldspring. We turned right (south) on FM 2025 and made an immediate left on FS 210, entering Double Lake Recreation Area.

As soon as you enter, you you may explore either side of the lake.  On the east (left) side of the lake (as you enter), on FS210A, there is a loop of RV camping. On the right side of the loop (it is one way), sites #29, #32, #36 and #39 are pull through. On the left side, #31, #40-#44 are larger back-in sites. As you make the curve, #51 on right is fair sized back-in site and #55 and #60 are pull through sites. Before you leave the loop #65 is fair sized back-in site.

The reason I am being so detailed is that some of the sites with full hookups were not big enough for anything other than a popup or truck camper.   This was a lovely shaded camping area, with some sites overlooking the lake. Further down FS210A is group camping to the left and right. These sites are not suited for RVs.

Camping Site

Back around the other side of the lake on FS210, there are 23 camp sites without utilities on both sides of the road. There are decks and piers on the lake, and a hiking trail with bridges and a boardwalk that circles the lake. There is also an eight-mile mountain biking trail that I will write up in separate post.

Double Lake

If you hike on the biking trail, you are endangering yourself and the bike riders. From Double Lake RA, there is a five-mile hiking trail that will take you to the Big Creek Scenic Area.  The Lone Star Hiking Trail makes a short detour through the lower park area.

Double Lake Hiking Trail

Double Lake RA is stocked with bass, bream and catfish. There is one small boat ramp with parking. Only boats with electric motors are allowed on Double Lake. This 23-acre lake has a swimming beach. There is a wonderful CCC built lodge and pavillion that may be rented.  During the season, canoes and paddleboats can be rented at the concession stand at Double Lake which also has groceries, ice, and other items for sale.

This recreation area is a great spot for day use or camping. We will definitely camp in this spot in the future.

Posted by CyberCelt under Campground Reviews & Camping & Camping & Family Fun & Fish/Hunt & Hike/Bike/Run & Lakes & Nature & Wildlife Watching | 1 Comment »

Leaving Stubblefield Lake campground, we turned back toward FM 1375,  passing the cutoff to the multi-use trailhead. We stopped at the Red-cockaded Woodpecker Interpretive site.

Red-headed Cockaded Interpretative Site

The Red-cockaded Woodpecker lives in  mature southern pine forests. Often the woodpecker selects pine trees that have an inside core of  dead wood. This allows the woodpecker to easily dig out a cavity. As the woodpecker pecks, the pine tree bleeds pitch around the nest hole. The heavy flow of gum helps keep tree-climbing snakes away from the nest.  It also makes the nest easier to spot.

We were standing there looking for the woodpeckers and their nests.  All of a sudden, we heard them.  Tok, tok, tok.  We remained still and then realized the woods were full of woodpeckers.

Where the Red-cockaded Woodpeckers Live

Can you spot the cavities in the trees excavated by woodpeckers?  Look for cavities with stains beneath them on the trees.  This is where the sap has run.

Multi-Use Trail

Past the interpretive site was a road crossing for the Lone Star Hiking Trail (LSHT) and one for the multi-use trail.  Horses and mountain bikes are allowed on the multi-use  trail; but, evidently, it is too sandy and not many people use it.  We have heard about a mountain bike trail at Double Lake Recreation Area. We will check it out tomorrow.

Ferns

I continued to be amazed by the lush greenery everywhere.  Look at the ferns growing along the roadside (above).  The only place you see ferns growing in Texas is on a rock face after a hard rain or under a waterfall.

We crossed back over Lake Conroe and turned right on FS 205 into the Cagle Recreation Area.  Cagle RA has a boat ramp, hiking trails, and 47 full-hookup RV camping sites.  The camping sites are situated along two loops under the pines, Sweet Gum Loop (19 sites) and Sycamore Loop (28 sites).  Some of the camp sites are overlooking Lake Conroe.

We followed FM 1375 to Highway 75, the original highway between Houston and Dallas that was replaced by IH-45. We headed south through the small towns of New Waverly, Montgomery, Esperanza and Willis.  When we pulled back into Thousand Trails we were greeted by a newly blooming tree in our camp site.

Posted by CyberCelt under Birding & Camping & Hike/Bike/Run & Horseback Riding & Lakes & Nature & RV Travel | 2 Comments »

Sam Houston National Forest

While we were in Lake Conroe, we explored the Sam Houston National Forest, an incredibly lush, green pine forest. Loblolly pines have rough-textured bark that sticks out from the tree. Shortleaf pines have smoother bark, more like plates of bark. Loblolly pines have large cones and their leaves are groups of three twisted pine needles. The Shortleaf pines have smaller cones and straight pine needles usually found in groups of two. Loblolly pines are found in moist areas, while Shortleaf pines are more drought-resistant.

As you can see by the map below, the Sam Houston National Forest is in chunks and pieces, intermixed with private lands.

We set out to explore the forest by going west on FM 1097 and crossing Lake Conroe. On the west side of Lake Conroe, we turned right on Lake Mount Pleasant Road. This is a windy road that crosses farmland and forest, we stayed to the left whenever the road forked. This part of the byway was all mature pine trees, so we pulled over to listen to the sound the wind made through the trees.

The road ended in a T-intersection with FM 149, where we turned right (north). The road ran through Loblolly and Shortleaf pines. We came to a crossing of the Lone Star Hiking Trail.  This 128-mile trail is off limits to horses, bikes and ATVs.  It is possible to hike segments of the trail by leaving a car at a designated parking area or having a friend pick you up at the end of the hike.

Stubblefield Lake

We drove east (right) on  FR 237 to FM 1357 where we turned east (right) again.  We headed north (left) on FR 215 to Stubblefield Lake Road.  Stubblefield Lake is an oxbow lake separated from Lake Conroe by the wanderings of the West Fork of the San Jacinto River.  The trees around the lake were mature, mixed hardwoods and pine trees. This is not an RV campground, the sites are short and have tent pads. Some sites overlook the lake. The campground is convenient to hikers of the Lone Star Hiking Trail.

Posted by CyberCelt under Camping & Family Fun & Fish/Hunt & Hike/Bike/Run & Lakes & RV Travel & Road Trips | 2 Comments »

Four of the Lower Colorado River Authority (LCRA) parks are offering discounted RV camping through the end of February. Winter discounts of 25 to 50 percent for prepaid weekly and monthly camp site rentals are available at participating parks (below).

• North Shore and South Shore parks, Lake Bastrop, (512) 498-1922. South Shore has 38 universal camp sites, and North Shore has 15.  Note: These parks are separate from the Bastrop State Park located in Bastrop.
• Matagorda Bay Nature Park, at the mouth of the Colorado River, (979) 863-7120. The 70-site RV area is open year-round with full utility hookups. Near beach and fishing pier.  Read post on this park on Texas RV Travel blog.
• Black Rock Park, Lake Buchanan, (512) 793-3138. Fifteen RV sites have beautiful lake views. Here is information on Black Rock Park on the LCRA website.
• Canyon of the Eagles Nature Park, Burnet County, 75 miles northwest of Austin, (512) 715-0290. The park has 25 RV sites. Read about this park on Texas RV Travel blog.

RV campers should take advantage of the less crowded parks now, especially on weekdays. While you are camping in January and February, be prepared for day time temperatures ranging from 45-85 degrees.  However, humidity should be low, and most likely the days will be mild and pleasant.

Winter means no mosquitoes or fire ants.  You will see more wildlife, such as deer, bobcats, squirrels, rabbits and armadillos. Migrating birds winter in Texas, so you will see some birds to add to your life list.

Posted by CyberCelt under Accommodations & Family Fun & Fish/Hunt & Hike/Bike/Run & Lakes & Nature & RV Parks & RV Travel & Rivers & Wildlife Watching | 4 Comments »

Texas Hell Week #19 is slated for 14-21 March 2009 in Fredericksburg TX. This is the granddaddy of all Hell Weeks. Over 300 riders from the corners of the USA come to Hell Week each March to ride in the hills, enjoy balmy spring weather, and soak up Texas culture. There’s an abundance of motels, campgrounds and B&Bs nearby to accommodate you and your pocketbook. New for 2009 are new routes to the south and west, demonstrating that after all these years, there are still some unexplored roads in Hill Country!  View the routes here: http://www.hellweek.com/texasroutes.html

Earlybird discount registration through 1st December 2008. Basic entries can be yours for $95 if you act fast! More info at: HellWeek.com

Check out the blog for more info: Hell Week Bicycle Adventures

Posted by CyberCelt under Camping & Family Fun & Hike/Bike/Run & RV Travel & Wildflowers | No Comments »