The Big Thicket National Preserve in southeast Texas, near the city of Beaumont, is a wonderful site for backcountry (minimal) camping and hiking all year round. The preserve is close to 100,000 acres in size and is an ideal place to witness a diverse group of animals and plant life. It’s one of the most popular parks in the state for nature enthusiasts because of the variety of things to see and do.
The most popular activities are camping, hiking, and backpacking. There are a number of interesting nature trails that are very enticing for hikers, joggers, cyclists and bird watchers. There’s also ample opportunity to enjoy several types of water activities such as fishing, kayaking and canoeing. You’ll also find that auto tours are allowed and this is a great way to explore as much of the preserve as possible. Trapping, hunter, mineral extraction, and timber harvesting are also allowed with the proper permit.
The Big Thicket National Preserve center operates every day of the year except New Year’s Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas Day. If you’d like to visit the park or enjoy it for any activities, it’s free of charge. However, you need to obtain a permit from the visitor center if you’d like to camp overnight.
