Texas State Parks

Picture this!

State parks and photographs – they just go together.

Odds are, your current (or future) favorite state park has an Instagram account. See beautiful photos from all over Texas by following park accounts!

  Find park Instagram accounts

  Follow TPWD's Instagram account

Prime State Park Campsites

Subscribe to Texas Parks & Wildlife magazine right now, and you'll receive our Prime State Park Campsites guide. It's chock-full of insider information on the best places to set up camp around the state. It even includes s'mores recipes to spice up your next camping trip!

The guide is a digital download that you can access from a mobile device or your browser.

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Hike Pick: Lake Tawakoni State Park

Spring Point Trail

Whether you are looking for a shoreline stroll or a shaded hike through the forest, the Spring Point Trail at Lake Tawakoni State Park offers the best of both worlds.

From the trailhead at the edge of a meadow, the nearly one-mile hike begins among dense foliage. Spring hikes give up-close views of new growth, lush greenery, and possible glimpses of the many bird species here. Fall lets you take in the bright autumn colors of the hardwoods that line the trail.

At the mid-point of your hike, the forest opens up and a refreshing breeze and an unobstructed view across Lake Tawakoni greets you. You may want to bring your pole and drop in a line, as the shore fishing here is hard to beat.

This easy-to-moderate hike carries you back through the woods before circling around to the trailhead.

Park Pick: Government Canyon State Natural Area

Ranch Reverie

As I stand on the front porch of the foreman's house at Kallison Ranch, I'm caught between the past and future. Breezes blow and the sky expands to the horizon, much as it did when Nathan Kallison bought the property in 1910.

TPWD and its conservation partners acquired 1,172 acres of the ranch in 2002. It became part of Government Canyon State Natural Area.

The Kallison Ranch may have run its course, yet its heart and soul still seem to resonate over the landscape.

  Read more in TPW magazine

Activities and Programs

Cool Escapes

Beat the heat with a swim, paddle, star party and more at Texas State Parks.

 Top Ways to Stay Cool