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 »

We are leaving to stay at Medina Lake, east of San Antonio.  This Thousand Trails refuge has a huge herd of White-Tailed deer. We are looking forward to seeing this year’s crop of baby deer.  These deer come up and eat out of your hand. It is such a neat way to end the day.

I  hope we can travel while based at Medina Lake.  I would love to see the Sabinal, Frio and Nueces Rivers again. Especially if they have water flowing.

I also want to drive Hwy 16 to Bandera, which is supposed to be just beautiful (and haunted).  Woo-ooo.

There is wireless access; so I will be checking in with photographs.

Posted by CyberCelt under Ghosts/Paranormal & Lakes & Nature & RV Parks & RV Travel & Road Trips & Skywatching & 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 »

We recently returned from a three week trip in our new travel trailer. We drove from San Marcos to Luling via Highway 80, then switched to CR 133 to Highway 90 and on to Columbus. We stayed at Thousand Trails on the Colorado River for a few days. Due to drought conditions, the land was parched and the river was low.  There were not many wildflowers this year.

Leaving Columbus, we headed north east on CR 109, through gently rolling farmland. We crossed many small creeks and began to notice wildflowers along the roadsides and in pastures. We passed horses with foals and cows with calves; in fact, we saw one little shaky legged calf that had  just been born. We also saw some miniature burros and horses. It was a glorious sunny day and life was good.

There are many wildflower hotspots around Brenham, so we drove old Chappell Hill Road to FM 1155 and headed north. Then we realized we were in historic Washington County, home to Washington-on-the-Brazos State Historic Site, the Monastery of St. Clare Miniature Horse Farm and the Chappell Hill Lavender Farm. This is absolutely some of the most historic and scenic land in Texas.

We left history behind as we turned right on Hwy 105. After crossing the Brazos River, we drove through Navasota and were on our way to Plantersville, where the Texas Renaissance Festival is held in the fall.

As we drove closer to Conroe there were fields of wildflowers and the roadsides were covered with bluebonnets. People were pulling off the road to take photographs. We crossed Lake Conroe and then circled the lake, finally ending up on Old Montgomery Road. At the end of the road was Thousand Trails Lake Conroe.

Posted by CyberCelt under Fairs/Festivals & Historic travel & Lakes & Nature & RV Travel & Road Trips & Wildflowers | 1 Comment »

Great Egret taken at the Rookery in High Island.

7th Annual FeatherFest

April 2-5

Galveston Island, Texas

Support recovery efforts after Hurricane Ike and visit one of the nation’s top birding locations during spring migration  Download this event schedule (PDF) or Galveston birding guide (PDF).

Green Jay Photograph from McAllen Chamber

McAllen International Birding Tour

April 18-May 3
Based in McAllen, Texas

The most spectacular birding experiences throughout South Texas, Mexico, and Central America. April 18-21 Monterrey, Mexico; April 22-24 Rio Grande Valley; and April 26-May 3 Costa Rica.

Visit the Rivers in Texas

10th Annual Nature Quest

April 21-26

Garner State Park, Concan, Texas

Birding, wildflowers, butterflies, stargazing, rivers and Garner State Park.  Golfing and flyfishing.  See event schedule (DOC), Registration required.

Visit the Canyonlands

Celebrate Nature! 2009

April 24-27

Balcones Canyonlands National Wildlife Refuge

See Yellow-Cheeked Warblers, Black-capped Vireos, learn about native plants. Sunday is FREE fun-filled family events.

Brown Pelican from TPWD

Great Texas Birding Classic

April 26-May 3

Based in Lake Jackson, Texas

The Great Texas Birding Classic (GTBC), sponsored by the Gulf Coast Bird Observatory and Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, is a friendly, but serious birding for conservation tournament. Read more on the Texas Parks and Wildlife website.

Posted by CyberCelt under Beach & Birding & Camping & Family Fun & Nature & RV Travel & Rivers & Wildflowers & Wildlife Watching | No Comments »