Recreation Guide to the Sabine River Basin, Texas

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Sabine National Forest

Boles Field Recreation Area (Center, Texas; Shelby County): Tent or RV camping, 20 campsites with electricity, water and bathhouse near camp sites. Open all year.
East Hamilton (Center, Texas; Shelby County): Located on Toledo Bend Reservoir. Includes a one-lane boat ramp, limited facilities. Day-use only. Operated by the Sabine River Authority of Texas.
Haley's Ferry (Center, Texas; Shelby County): On Toledo Bend Reservoir. Primitive camping with no facilities at this time. A new boat ramp is located at Haley's Ferry. Open year round, no fee. Operated by the Sabine River Authority of Texas.
Indian Mounds Campground (Hemphill, Texas; Sabine): This developed USFS site on Toledo Bend Reservoir offers access to the nearby Indian Mounds Wilderness Area and an alternative to wilderness camping. Facilities include 38 travel trailer or tent sites, picnic tables, grills and chemical flush toilets. Operated by the Sabine River Authority of Texas.
Indian Mounds Wilderness Area (Hemphill, Texas; Sabine): Located in the Pineywoods of East Texas on Toledo Bend Reservoir. Established October 30, 1984, under the Texas Wilderness Act and is 11,037 acres in size. Recreation opportunities include hiking, backpacking, horseback riding, photography, bird watching, fishing, and hunting. The nearby Indian Mounds Campground provides camping facilities and access to the wilderness area for day visitors. No motorized vehicles are allowed in wilderness areas, visitors can only enter the area on foot or by horseback.
Lakeview Campground (Hemphill, Texas; Sabine): Located on Toledo Bend Reservoir. 10 camping sites with a table, grill, tent pad and garbage can at each site. Trailhead for Trail Between the Lakes. Water is available from two centrally located hydrants. The area has chemical flush toilets and a primitive boat ramp. Operated by the Sabine River Authority of Texas.
Ragtown Recreation Area (Shelbyville, Texas; Shelbyville County): Ragtown offers something for everyone: camping, hiking, fishing, bird watching and viewing nature at its best. It is on the Texas shore of Toledo Bend. The campground is nestled high on a bluff that faces east. There are 12 double-family camping units, 13 single-family camping units, a double-laned public boat ramp and a parking lot. Ragtown campsites are surrounded by southern pine and hardwood trees. Each is equipped with a picnic table, tent pad, parking spur and a campfire ring which can be used as a cooking grill. Visitors can enjoy Mother Nature's Hiking Trail which loops around the campground for one mile. Ragtown is a bird watcher's paradise. Operated by the Sabine River Authority of Texas.
Red Hills Lake Recreation Area (Milam, Texas; Sabine): Located on 19-acre Red Hills Lake. Facilities include 28 family camping units (9 with electrical hook-ups), 15 single-family picnicking units, and a picnic shelter. There is also a swimming beach and bath house. Visitors who desire to learn more about the living forest will want to stroll down a short interpretive walk within the recreation area.
Trail Between the Lakes (Hemphill, Texas; Sabine County): 28-mile hiking trail that winds through the Sabine National Forest. It extends from Lakeview Recreation Area on Toledo Bend Reservoir to US 96 within sight of the easternmost point of Sam Rayburn Reservoir . The trail is the result of efforts between the Golden Triangle Group of the Sierra Club and the USDA Forest Service in Texas . Hikers can see different plant communities, interesting topography, wildlife, beautiful scenery, and various forest management activities. A portion of the trail is adjacent to Toledo Bend Reservoir, and many portions lie along streams or special wildlife areas. The trail crosses roads at a number of locations, so it's easy to plan shorter hikes of varying lengths. The trail is designated for hiking only; horses, off-road vehicles, and mountain bikes are not allowed. There are many opportunities to camp in primitive or natural settings along the route. Camping is not allowed in the Moore Plantation Wildlife Management Area during deer hunting season or in colonies of red-cockaded woodpeckers, which are an endangered species. Woodpecker colony boundaries are marked with aqua-green paint and boundary signs.
Willow Oak Campground (Hemphill, Texas; Sabine County): This area has 10 tent camping sites located on the shoreline of Toledo Bend Reservoir. Each site has a tent platform, table, cooking grill and lantern post. Water hydrants, garbage cans and chemical flush toilets are located near the camping sites. Operated by the Sabine River Authority of Texas

Sabine National Forest

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