Cooper Lake

Cooper Lake SP https://tpwd.texas.gov/state-parks/cooper-lake https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cooper_Lake_State_Park Cooper Lake State Park is located three miles (5 km) south of Cooper, Texas. The park has two separate units: the Doctors Creek unit is located on the north side of the lake, in Delta County, while the South Sulphur unit is located on the south side of the lake, in Hopkins County. Cooper Lake offers a variety of both land- and water-based recreational opportunities. Day visitors can picnic under towering oak trees, swim at the sandy beach, explore developed trails or boat and fish on the 19,300-acre (7,800 ha) lake. Overnighters can choose from well-appointed cabins, shelters and developed or primitive campsites, including equestrian sites for horses. Both units offer limited service cabins. Wildlife watchers are often rewarded with sightings of bald eagles, white pelicans, wild turkey, waterfowl, white-tailed deer, squirrels, raccoons and beavers.

For assistance using this map, contact the park. Cooper Lake Detailed trail maps available at Headquarters State Park – Doctors Creek Unit TexasStateParks.org/App TexasStateParks.org/SocialMedia To Cooper and Commerce After Hours Emergency Number 911 (903) 395-2889 N #TexasStateParks #BetterOutside LEGEND FM 1529 Headquarters State Parks Store Park Road 8154 Watercraft Rental Loaner Tackle Restrooms To Sulphur Springs 14 15 16 Liberty Grove Camping Area 13 12 17 8 21 26 25 24 22 23 36 37 6 4 7 5 5 38 2 3 Dump Station Cre ek N Biking Trail 4 3 40 41 1 Premium Tent Sites Trailhead Picnic Area 2 Picnic Shelter Pelican Point Day Use Area 1 42 Cedar Cr ee k Group Picnic Pavilion Group Camp Sout h Lo op Designated Swimming Area PLEASE NOTE Largemouth Bass Limit: 5 per day Size: 14 in. min. Wheelchair Accessible Hybrid Striped Bass Limit: 5 per day Size: 18 in. min. White Bass Limit: 25 per day Size: 10 in. min. Boat Ramp Fishing Pier Fish Cleaning Playground • For campsites and shelters: CHECK OUT time is noon; CHECK IN time is 2 p.m. • For cottages: CHECK OUT time is 11 a.m.; CHECK IN time is 3 p.m. • Register or renew permit by 9 a.m. (pending site availability). • Public consumption or display of any alcoholic beverage is prohibited. • A maximum of eight people permitted per campsite. Guests must leave the park by 10 p.m. • Quiet time from 10 p.m. – 6 a.m. • An excess parking fee is required at campsites with more than two vehicles (including trailers). • Campsite must be kept clean; all trash must be picked up before leaving. Dumpsters are conveniently located on all camping loops. • GRAY WATER AND BLACK WATER MUST BE DISCHARGED ONLY AT DUMP STATIONS. • Only one unit per site is permitted to hook up to utilities. • Pets must be kept on leash no longer than six feet. Please pick up after them. • Valid permit required on windshield of each vehicle in park. All vehicles are to remain on pavement. • Numbered sites for overnight camping only. NO PICNICKING. TPWD receives funds from the USFWS. TPWD prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, disability, age, and gender, pursuant to state and federal law. To request an accommodation or obtain information in an alternative format, please contact TPWD on a Text Telephone (TTY) at (512) 389-8915 or by Relay Texas at 7-1-1 or (800) 735-2989 or by email at accessibility@tpwd.texas.gov. If you believe you have been discriminated against by TPWD, please contact TPWD, 4200 Smith School Road, Austin, TX 78744, or the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Office for Diversity and Workforce Management, 5275 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, VA 22041. © 2023 TPWD PWD MP P4508-154A (2/23) Parking Group Camping Area (by reservation only) Crappie Limit: 25 per day Size: 10 in. min. Catfish (Flathead) Limit: 5 per day Size: 18 in. min. Cottages Hiking Trail Bluebonnet Day Use Area Granny’s Neck Screened Shelter Area Catfish (Blue and Channel) Limit: 25 per day (aggregate) No minimum length A max of 10 fish 20 in. or greater 4 Lone Pine Boat Ramp or th Loo p t 20 27 6 Water and Electric Sites Screened Shelters ee 7 28 19 Ce dar Str 18 10 9 Cedar Creek West Loop 7th 31 32 33 34 30 35 29 11 Showers Cedar Creek E ast L oop 39 Post Oak Amphitheater This publication can be found at tpwd.texas.gov/spdest/parkinfo/maps/park_maps/ • Gathering of firewood is prohibited. • Campfires are permitted only in fire rings provided at each site. No ground fires are permitted. Please, use extreme caution with any burning materials during the high-fire danger summer brings. • Please deposit all trash in dumpsters. • Swim, at your own risk. NO LIFEGUARD on duty. • No pets, fishing, boats, or glass containers allowed in swimming area. • Always swim with a friend. Children must be supervised by an adult who can swim. • Stop the spread of invasive species. CLEAN, DRAIN and DRY your boat. PARK RESERVATIONS TexasStateParks.org ParquesDeTexas.org (512) 389-8900 Sand Volleyball Court Park Host Residence Maintenance 95 Park Road 8154 Cooper, TX 75432 (903) 395-3100 Proud Sponsor of Texas State Parks 

For assistance using this map, contact the park. For a web version of the map text, visit our Trails Information page. TRAIL DISTANCE TIME DIFFICULTY DESCRIPTION CEDAR CREEK NORTH LOOP 0.6 mi. 40 min. Easy Follow this trail into the South Loop using the i.d. markers for trees and other plants as your guide. Keep an eye out for alien-like mushrooms as you pass the dead oak. This dead tree is actually teeming with life. CEDAR CREEK SOUTH LOOP 0.5 mi. 30 min. Easy Journey to the leopard frog marsh. You’ll pass through woods where vultures perch and pocket prairies that are full of life. Enjoy views of the lakeside just off the main trail. CEDAR CREEK EAST LOOP 1.3 mi. 1 hr. 25 min. Easy This trail is a must for wildlife viewing. Open prairies full of wildflowers and marshy grasslands lead to an exclusive view of the levee where deer abound and hawks patrol. CEDAR CREEK WEST LOOP 0.6 mi. 35 min. Gnarled old oaks line this trail where owls can often be heard in the evenings. The path crosses the old road of farm days past, along remnants of a farm fence line, then into a new-growth prairie and woodland. #TexasStateParks, visit www.texasstateparks.org texasstateparks.org Sign up today for free updates: texasstateparks.org/email For information on Texas State Parks, visit Sign up today for email free email updates: texasstateparks.org/email /TexasStateParks /texasparksandwildlife Easy @TPWDparks @TPWDparks @TexasStateParks #TxStateParks Sponsor:Whole WholeEarth EarthProvision ProvisionCo. Co. Sponsor: 

For assistance using this map, contact the park. Cooper Lake Detailed trail maps available at Headquarters State Park – South Sulphur Unit TexasStateParks.org/App #TexasStateParks TexasStateParks.org/SocialMedia LEGEND PLEASE NOTE • • • • • • • • • • Pecan Ridge Cabins (CB): CHECK OUT time is 11 a.m. or renew permit by 9 a.m. (pending site availability). CHECK IN time is 3 p.m. Maximum six persons in cabins (including children/infants). Eagle Point Cabins (CT): CHECK OUT time is 11 a.m. or renew permit by 9 a.m. (pending site availability). CHECK IN time is 3 p.m. Shelters and Campsites: CHECK OUT time is noon or renew permit by 9 a.m. (pending site availability). CHECK IN time is 2 p.m. Public consumption or display of any alcoholic beverage is prohibited. A maximum of eight people permitted per campsite. Guests must leave the park by 10 p.m. Quiet time from 10 p.m. – 6 a.m. An excess parking fee is required at campsites with more than two vehicles (including trailers). Campsite must be kept clean; all trash must be picked up before leaving. Dumpsters are conveniently located in all camping loops, park headquarters, Gulls Bluff and Heron Harbor. GRAY WATER AND BLACK WATER MUST BE DISCHARGED ONLY AT DUMP STATIONS. Only one unit per site is permitted to hook up to utilities. Valid permit required on windshield of each vehicle in park. All vehicles are to remain on pavement. 99 62 78 70 D79 D54 81 1/5 mile 82 53 83 52 84 30 amp service 85 51 86 50 48 47 49 Amphitheater Honey Creek Day Use Area • • • 97 96 D 116 106 5 11 109 110 111 Buggy Whip Equestrian Camping Area 30 amp service 13 15 Catfish (Blue and Channel) Limit: 25 per day (aggregate) No minimum length A max of 10 fish 20 in. or greater Pecan Ridge Cabin Area Catfish (Flathead) Limit: 5 per day Size: 18 in. min. Gulls Bluff Day Use Area Heron Harbor Day Use Area C 12 13 16 36 35 33 18 10 9 37 30/50 amp service 8 7 6 38 34 17 Bright Star Camping Area 11 14 15 39 32 40 41 42 31 19 20 44 29 28 27 26 25 45 46 s( 2.5 un in, Hik 2.5 ou After Hours Emergency Number 911 (903) 945-5256 Ext. 236 5 43 30 21 ile Special Event Pond 4 3 2 1 FM 3505 T-shirts, caps and one-of-a-kind gift items are available at the Texas State Parks Store. Also, borrow fishing tackle and explorer backpacks here. To Commerce Via FM 71 TPWD receives funds from the USFWS. TPWD prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, disability, age, and gender, pursuant to state and federal law. To request an accommodation or obtain information in an alternative format, please contact TPWD on a Text Telephone (TTY) at (512) 389-8915 or by Relay Texas at 7-1-1 or (800) 735-2989 or by email at accessibility@tpwd.texas.gov. If you believe you have been discriminated against by TPWD, please contact TPWD, 4200 Smith School Road, Austin, TX 78744, or the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Office for Diversity and Workforce Management, 5275 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, VA 22041. © 2023 TPWD PWD MP P4508-155 (2/23) Crappie Limit: 25 per day Size: 10 in. min. White Bass Limit: 25 per day Size: 10 in. min. 7 12 14 Hybrid Striped Bass Limit: 5 per day Size: 18 in. min. 1 Texas State Parks Store 112 D 107 8 11 4 Largemouth Bass Limit: 5 per day Size: 14 in. min. 2 5m 24 D 113 105 6 3 N 95 94 92 Oak Grove 89 90 Camping Area 88 D22 103 Buggy Whip Equestrian Loop Trail 11 miles • • • • 57 56 Deer Haven Camping Area 104 • 10 58 72 87 • 5 R 69 Pets must be kept on leash no longer than six feet. Please pick up after them. Pets are not allowed in any building. NO PETS ALLOWED IN THE PECAN RIDGE CABIN AREA! Visitors with pets will not be allowed to enter the cabin area. Campfires are permitted only in fire rings provided at each site. Eagle Point No ground fires are permitted. Please, use extreme caution with Screened Shelter Area any burning materials during the high-fire danger summer brings. 8 7 Gathering of firewood is prohibited. 9 10 Please deposit all trash in dumpsters. 6 11 16 15 5 Swim at your own risk. NO LIFEGUARD on duty. 12 4 3 17 13 No pets, boats, fishing, or glass containers allowed 14 1 2 in swimming area. 18 19 21 20 Always swim with a friend. Children must be supervised by an adult who can swim. Equine must have proof of a negative EIA (Coggins) test within the past 12 months. The form VS 10-11 is proof of testing. Equestrian trails are closed when it rains. Stop the spread of invasive species. CLEAN, DRAIN and DRY your boat. Sunset Cove Day Use Area e 71 101 100 102 93 60 59 91 Numbered sites for overnight camping only. NO PICNICKING. • ot D65 98 • oy 67 61 75 76 77 D73 64 63 68 #BetterOutside This publication can be found at tpwd.texas.gov/spdest/parkinfo/maps/park_maps/ To Cooper & Sulphur Springs Via FM 71 / SH 19 PARK RESERVATIONS TexasStateParks.org ParquesDeTexas.org (512) 389-8900 ing t) Tr a i l Headquarters State Parks Sto

For assistance using this map, contact the park. For a web version of the map text, visit our Trails Information page. #TexasStateParks, visit www.texasstateparks.org texasstateparks.org Sign up today for free updates: texasstateparks.org/email For information on Texas State Parks, visit Sign up today for email free email updates: texasstateparks.org/email /TexasStateParks /texasparksandwildlife @TPWDparks @TPWDparks @TexasStateParks #TxStateParks Sponsor:Whole WholeEarth EarthProvision ProvisionCo. Co. Sponsor: 

INTERPRETIVE GUIDE THANK YOU FOR VISITING! WELCOME TO THE LAND OF THE OAKS! COOPER LAKE STATE PARK, THOUGH CLOSE TO THE CITY, FEELS FAR AWAY FROM THE HUSTLE AND BUSTLE. OVER 16 MILES OF HIKING, BIKING AND EQUESTRIAN TRAILS EXIST WITHIN TWO SEPARATE PARK UNITS, SOUTH SULPHUR AND DOCTORS CREEK, AS WELL AS ACCESS TO JIM CHAPMAN LAKE (ORIGINALLY NAMED AND While enjoying this natural beauty, please remember that everything you see in the park is protected. Artifacts, rocks, plants, and animals (even snakes) are all part of the region’s rich cultural and natural heritage. Help us keep recreational use sustainable for the future and protect these resources by leaving things as you find them. We hope you will visit these other state parks while visiting Northeast Texas: Bonham State Park Park Rd. 24, Bonham, TX 75418 • (903) 503-5022 Daingerfield State Park 455 Park Rd. 17, Daingerfield, TX 75638 • (903) 645-2921 Lake Bob Sandlin State Park 341 State Park Rd. 2117, Pittsburg, TX 75686 (903) 572-5531 Visit www.tpwd.texas.gov for more information on these and other Texas state parks and historic sites. Cooper Lake State Park – South Sulphur 1690 FM 3505, Sulphur Springs, TX 75482 • (903) 945-5256 KNOWN AS COOPER LAKE), Cooper Lake State Park – Doctors Creek Unit 1664 FM 1529 South, Cooper, TX 75432 • (903) 395-3100 MAKING COOPER LAKE STATE www.tpwd.texas.gov/cooperlake/ PARK A DESTINATION EVERYONE CAN ENJOY. © 2021 TPWD. PWD BR P4508-0154L (7/21) TPWD receives funds from the USFWS. TPWD prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, disability, age, and gender, pursuant to state and federal law. To request an accommodation or obtain information in an alternative format, please contact TPWD on a Text Telephone (TTY) at (512) 389-8915 or by Relay Texas at 7-1-1 or (800) 735-2989 or by email at accessibility@tpwd.texas.gov. If you believe you have been discriminated against by TPWD, please contact TPWD, 4200 Smith School Road, Austin, TX 78744, or the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Office for Diversity and Workforce Management, 5275 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, VA 22041. COOPER LAKE STATE PARK C O O P E R L A K E S T A T E P A R K REEL IN THE MEMORIES S urrounded by the state park and wildlife management areas, Cooper Lake provides a peaceful fishing and paddling destination. Bring your own boat or kayak or rent one at either unit. While paddling, bring a pole and wet a line out in the open water. Both white bass and hybrid striped bass thrive in the lakes’ open water areas and make for excellent fishing. Although channel and flathead catfish are present, blue catfish are the most abundant in this lake. Mississippi Kite A BIRD’S EYE VIEW INTO THE PAST I tie my hammock off between two proud oak trees, and climb in, ready to relax. A gentle breeze rocks me as I watch a Mississippi Kite make lazy circles in a clear summer sky. I close my eyes and enjoy the warm air on my face when the breeze becomes something stronger. Upon opening my eyes, I’ve become the kite, soaring over the park on narrow, pointed wings. I catch a thermal, or warm pocket of air, and ride it upwards, until the park below me is no longer distinguishable. Circling back down, the view has changed. Gone are the camping loops, and in its place, a dairy farm. Somehow, I’ve travelled back to the 1930s, when dairy farming ruled Hopkins County. I tuck my wings to dive down and get a closer view. A dragonfly distracts me, and I change course to grab my snack from mid-air. Perched on a tree limb, I devour my snack and resume watching the cows graze. To my surprise, I’ve travelled further back in time; the cattle have become white-tail deer and the farm replaced with native Post Oak Savannah and small pockets of Blackland Prairie. Taking flight, I ride another thermal up above the prairie, and survey my new surroundings. Along the South Sulphur River, a Caddo couple hunt for fish and forage for freshwater mussels. This river would eventually be dammed to form Cooper Lake. I close my eyes to enjoy the breeze, and something hits my face. Startled, I snap open my eyes only to realize I’d fallen asleep in the hammock and an oak leaf, falling from the trees above, brought me back to reality. Standing and stretching, I can’t wait to explore the park and find pieces of the past woven into the stories of my present. Prefer to fish from solid ground? In the springtime, crappie fishing can be quite good along the park’s retaining walls and structural pilings when the fish are spawning. Both park units have fishing piers, which are perfect for those who want easy access to the lake. For families at Cooper Lake, fishing goes beyond a pastime. Park staff know family fishing experiences are complimented by excellent species management and strive to keep this aquatic environment healthy. Everyone plays a role here; by taking care of this habitat for wildlife, we also protect it for humans. 

COOPER LAKE SP BIRD CHECKLIST This checklist is a list of common and specialty birds seen in the park. Staf and volunteers have used previous checklists as well as eBird data to compile these lists. This list should not be used as a comprehensive list of birds seen in this park. Please help us protect the natural avian communities by refraining from using playback tapes of bird songs. Thank you for your cooperation. Waterfowl Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers ___ Snow Goose ___ Bonaparte’s Gull ___ Ross’s Goose ___ Franklin’s Gull ___ Canada Goose ___ Ring-billed Gull ___ Wood Duck ___ Herring Gull ___ Blue-winged Teal ___ Least Tern ___ Northern Shoveler ___ Caspian Tern ___ Gadwall ___ Black Tern ___ Mallard ___ Forster’s Tern ___ Northern Pintail Cormorants and Anhingas ___ Green-winged Teal ___ Neotropic Cormorant ___ Redhead ___ Double-crested Cormorant ___ Lesser Scaup ___ Bufehead ___ Ruddy Duck Grebes Pelicans ___ American White Pelican Herons, Ibis, and Allies ___ Great Blue Heron ___ Pied-billed Grebe ___ Great Egret ___ Horned Grebe ___ Snowy Egret Pigeons and Doves Vultures, Hawks, and Allies ___ Rock Pigeon ___ Black Vulture ___ Inca Dove ___ Turkey Vulture ___ Mourning Dove ___ Osprey Cuckoos ___ Northern Harrier ___ Greater Roadrunner ___ Sharp-shinned Hawk ___ Yellow-billed Cuckoo ___ Cooper’s Hawk Swifs ___ Chimney Swif Hummingbirds ___ Ruby-throated Hummingbird Rails, Gallinules, and Allies ___ American Coot Shorebirds ___ American Avocet ___ Killdeer ___ Bald Eagle ___ Red-shouldered Hawk ___ Red-tailed Hawk Owls ___ Great Horned Owl ___ Barred Owl Kingfshers ___ Belted Kingfsher Woodpeckers ___ Least Sandpiper ___ Yellow-bellied Sapsucker ___ Spotted Sandpiper ___ Red-bellied Woodpecker ___ Greater Yellowlegs ___ Downy Woodpecker ___ Lesser Yellowlegs ___ Hairy Woodpecker ___ Pileated Woodpecker ___ Northern Flicker Falcons and Caracaras ___ American Kestrel Tyrant Flycatchers: Pewees, Kingbirds, and Allies ___ Eastern Phoebe ___ Great Crested Flycatcher ___ Eastern Kingbird ___ Scissor-tailed Flycatcher Vireos Waxwings ___ Cedar Waxwing Old World Sparrows ___ House Sparrow Wagtails and Pipits ___ American Pipit Finches, Euphonias, and Allies ___ American Goldfnch New World Sparrows ___ White-eyed Vireo ___ Chipping Sparrow ___ Red-eyed Vireo ___ Field Sparrow Shrikes ___ Fox Sparrow ___ Loggerhead Shrike Jays, Magpies, Crows, and Ravens ___ Dark-eyed Junco ___ White-crowned Sparrow ___ Blue Jay ___ Harris’s Sparrow ___ American Crow ___ White-throated Sparrow Tits, Chickadees, and Titmice ___ Savannah Sparrow ___ Carolina Chickadee ___ Song Sparrow ___ Tufed Titmouse ___ Lincoln’s Sparrow Martins and Swallows ___ Purple Martin ___ Eastern Towhee Blackbirds ___ Tree Swallow ___ Eastern Meadowlark ___ Barn Swallow ___ Orchard Oriole ___ Clif Swallow ___ Baltimore Oriole Kinglets ___ Red-winged Blackbird ___ Golden-crowned Kinglet ___ Brown-headed Cowbird ___ Ruby-crowned Kinglet ___ Common Grackle Nuthatches ___ White-breasted Nuthatch Treecreepers ___ Brown Creeper Gnatcatchers ___ Blue-gray Gnatcatcher Wrens ___ Great-tailed Grackle Wood-Warblers ___ Black-and-white Warbler ___ Prothonotary Warbler ___ Orange-crowned Warbler ___ Yellow Warbler ___ Pine Warbler ___ House Wren ___ Carolina Wren Catbirds, Mockingbirds, and Thrashers ___ Brown Thrasher ___ Northern Mockingbird Thrushes ___ Eastern Bluebird ___ Yellow-rumped Warbler Cardinals, Grosbeaks, and Allies ___ Summer Tanager ___ Northern Cardinal ___ Indigo Bunting ___ Painted Bunting ___ Dickcissel ___ Hermit Thrush ___ American Robin © 2021 TPWD PWD CD P4508-0154K (5/21) TPWD receives funds from the USFWS. TPWD prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, disability, age, and gender, pursuant to state and federal law. To request an accommodation or obtain information in an alternative format, please contact TPWD on a Text Telephone (TTY) at (512) 389-8915 or by Relay Texas at 7-1-1 or (800) 735-2989 or by email at accessibility@tpwd.texas.gov. If you believe you have been discriminated against by TPWD, please contact TPWD, 4200 Smith School Road, Austin, TX 78744, or the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Office for Diversity and Workforce Management, 5275 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, VA 22041. 

PWD BK P4508-155B Honey 12/21/05 7:58 AM Page 1 texas parks and wildlife THE HONEY CREEK NATURE TRAIL COMMON TREES AND SHRUBS OF COOPER LA KE S T A T E PA R K SOUTH SULPHUR UNIT A SELF-GUIDED TOUR PWD BK P4508-155B Honey 12/21/05 7:58 AM Page 2 Welcome to Cooper Lake State Park! Welcome to Cooper Lake State Park! The Honey Creek selfguided nature trail is approximately one-fifth of a mile long and is located in the South Sulphur Unit. Along the trail, fifteen markers indicate the common flora of the Post Oak Savannah. The numbers correspond with this booklet which includes facts and other interesting information. We hope you enjoy the trail, take time to look at the trees and keep an eye open for wildlife. PWD BK P4508-155B Honey 12/21/05 7:58 AM Page 3 1 SMOOTH SUMAC Rhus glabra This thicket forming shrub grows in moist rich soil, or on dry sandy hills. Sumac is an important food source for seed-eating birds, and also provides shelter for birds and small mammals. Native Americans used various species of sumac for basketry, dyes and medicines. 2 BOIS D’ARC Maclura pomifera The Bois d’Arc can grow in poor soil with low moisture. The common name, Osage-orange, comes from the Osage tribe which traded the trees, wood and bows of the wood with numerous other tribes. This tree contains a fruit most people refer to as a horse apple or hedge apple. The name comes from the French, meaning ‘wood of bow,’ because Native Americans and early settlers used this wood to create their bow and arrows. T. M. Hamilton in Native American Bows (1972) reported that in 1810 a bow made of Osage-orange wood cost one horse and one blanket. Resistant to insects and rot, the wood was used by early settlers for fence posts. 1 PWD BK P4508-155B Honey 12/21/05 7:58 AM Page 4 3 HACKBERRY Celtis occidentalis This tree has a distinct bark that is gray or light brown, and contains smooth corky “warts” or ridges. The spots on the leaves are actually a nipple gall caused by very small insects called a psyllid. They lay eggs in the emerging leaves and the larval develop-ment causes the nipple-like growth to develop around them. The damage is cosmetic, not lethal. 4 EASTERN COTTONWOOD Populus deltoids The cottonwood is a short-lived, fast growing tree that thrives near water. On average, the cottonwood only lives for 30-60 years. The tree received its name because the seeds have tiny cottony hairs that drift in the wind. When blown by the wind the leaves make a watery sound. 2 PWD BK P4508-155B Honey 12/21/05 7:58 AM Page 5 5 PERSIMMON Diospyros virginiana These trees turn yellow, orange, red and purple during the fall. The fruit is edible by humans and wildlife. Unripe fruit has a sour taste that will make your mouth pucker. The fruit is widely eaten by foxes, deer, raccoons, skunks and songbirds. 6 EASTERN RED CEDAR Juniperus virginiana An evergreen, this cedar grows well in many different soil types and cannot live in the shade. The male red cedar produces yellow pollen that is known to irritate allergies. The female produces a little blue berry that is toxic to humans, but is used as a spice in very small amounts. Because it is evergreen, this tree provides good winter shelter for wildlife seeking refuge from wind and precipitation. 3 PWD BK P4508-155B Honey 12/21/05 7:58 AM Page 6 7 WINGED ELM Ulmus alata The winged elm grows only in the eastern third of Texas. This tree is a good source of browse for white-tailed deer. The elm received its name because if you look at the branches they have corky projections on each side of the limbs that resemble wings. This elm is also known as the cork elm, witch elm and wahoo elm. 8 HONEY LOCUST Gleditsia triacanthos The honey locust is undesirable to landowners because of its three-pronged thorns that can grow up to 12 inches long. These thorns have been the cause of many punctured tires. They are easy to identify by their numerous thorns, distinctive bark and compound leaves. This tree produces beans which may be eaten by white-tailed deer. 4 PWD BK P4508-155B Honey 12/21/05 7:58 AM Page 7 9 HERCULES’-CLUB Zanthoxyllum clava-herculis In this region, the Hercules’-club grows in acidic almost sterile soil. It is commonly found along fence lines, because it produces berries that are carried by birds and then deposited in the soil. The Hercules’-club is also known as the toothache tree. It gets this name because if the bark is chewed it causes a numbing sensation in the mouth. 10 WILLOW OAK Quercus phellos This tree grows in frequently flooded areas, and is found throughout East Texas. The willow oak will thrive in soils that are flooded for more than half the year. his oak produces acorns and has a very high value to wildlife. A variety of wildlife and birds eat the acorns once they have fallen. 5 PWD BK P4508-155B Honey 12/21/05 7:58 AM Page 8 11 BLACK HICKORY Carya texana The black hickory is very adapted to growing in regions with rainfall ra

T E X A S S T A T E P A R K S Doctors Creek COOPER LAKE STATE PARK PRAIRIES AND LAKES Doctors Creek CO O P E R LAKE STATE PA RK Nestled among gently rolling mixed woodland, Doctors Creek, one of the two units of Cooper Lake State Park, offers a diversity of recreational opportunities. With 466 acres and more than 6.2 miles of shoreline, visitors can enjoy the park’s beautiful scenery by boat or foot, or just relax and appreciate the refreshing breezes from the 19,300-acre lake. Overnight guests can experience the great outdoors from one of numerous tree-shaded campsites or from a screened shelter near the lake’s shoreline. Day-use visitors can picnic under towering oak trees, swim at the sandy beach, or just enjoy the beauty of the lake. Wildlife observers are often rewarded with sightings of bald eagles, white pelicans, wild turkey, waterfowl, white-tailed deer, squirrels, raccoons and beavers. Camping: Multi-use campsites with water and electricity, some with lake frontage; most a short distance from the water. Screened shelters and shelters with amenities all near the lake. Picnicking: Two day-use areas with water, tables and grills; playground; group picnic shelter (seats 50). Fishing: Floating fishing pier. Fish-cleaning table. Good catches of bass, catfish and crappie. Boating: Three-lane boat ramp. Swimming: Designated sandy beach area (unsupervised). Trails: 3 miles of hike and bike trails. Wildlife Observation: Excellent opportunities to see birds and mammals. Texas State Park Store: T-shirts, caps, gifts, books, ice. Cooper Doctors Creek 71 Unit – Cooper Lake State Park 24 71 Commerce 19 30 271 154 30 Mount Pleasant Sulphur Springs Located in Delta County, two miles south of Cooper, on the northern shore of Cooper Lake; accessible via State Highway 154 and FM 1529. Doctors Creek–Cooper Lake State Park 1664 FM 1529 South, Cooper, TX 75432 • (903) 395-3100 www.texasstateparks.org Rates and reservations: (512) 389-8900. For info only: (800) 792-1112. © 2015 TPWD PWD CD P4508-154 (8/15) In accordance with Texas State Depository Law, this publication is available at the Texas State Publications Clearinghouse and/or Texas Depository Libraries. TPWD receives funds from the USFWS. TPWD prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, disability, age, and gender, pursuant to state and federal law. To request an accommodation or obtain information in an alternative format, please contact TPWD on a Text Telephone (TDD) at (512) 389-8915 or by Relay Texas at 7-1-1 or (800) 735-2989. If you believe you have been discriminated against by TPWD, please contact TPWD or the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Office for Diversity and Workforce Management, 5275 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, VA 22041. 

T E X A S S T A T E P A R K S South Sulphur COOPER LAKE STATE PARK PRAIRIES AND LAKES South Sulphur CO O P E R LAKE STATE PA RK South Sulphur, one of the two units of Cooper Lake State Park, offers a great variety of water and land recreation. With 2,560 acres and more than 25 miles of shoreline, visitors can enjoy the park’s spectacular scenery by boat, foot or on horseback, or just relax and enjoy breathtaking sunsets over a 19,300-acre lake. Experiencing the great outdoors ranges from “roughing it” in a cabin with central heat and air, to primitive camping beneath the stars. Wildlife observation can be very rewarding with sightings of bald eagles, white pelicans, wild turkey, waterfowl, white-tailed deer, squirrels, raccoons and beavers. Camping: Sites with water/electricity; walk-in water-only sites; equestrian sites with water/electricity; screened shelters; shelters with amenities. Cabins: Central heat and air-conditioning, each with full bath, kitchen and patio (sleep 4). Picnicking: Group picnic pavilion; playground; also tables with grills overlooking lake. Fishing: Fish-cleaning tables; lighted piers; good catches of Florida largemouth bass, hybrid striped bass, catfish, crappie. Boating: Six-lane and two-lane boat ramps. Swimming: Designated sandy beach (unsupervised). Trails: 11-mile equestrian trail and 5-mile hiking trail. Self-guided nature trail. Wildlife Observation: Excellent opportunities to see birds and mammals. Texas State Parks Store: T-shirts, caps, gifts; also ice. Cooper South Sulphur 71 Unit – Cooper Lake State Park 24 71 Commerce 19 30 271 154 30 Mount Pleasant Sulphur Springs Located in Hopkins County; 14 miles northwest of Sulphur Springs on the southern shores of Cooper Lake; accessible via State Hwy. 154, F.M. 71 and F.M. 3505. www.texasstateparks.org Rates and reservations, (512) 389-8900. For information only, (800) 792-1112. South Sulphur– Cooper Lake SP 1690 F.M. 3505, Sulphur Springs, TX 75482 (903) 945-5256 In accordance with Texas State Depository Law, this publication is available at the Texas State Publications Clearinghouse and/or Texas Depository Libraries. © 2012 TPWD PWD CD P4508-155D (7/12) Printed on recycled paper. Scan with your QR code reader for more info. 

-Official- FACILITIES Get the Mobile App: MAPS ACTIVITIES TexasStateParks.org/app T O Y O T A T U N D R A The Toyota Tundra is built to explore the great outdoors. No matter what the weekend throws at you, your Tundra takes it on with ease. | toyota.com/tundra Official Vehicle of the Texas Parks & Wildlife Foundation CONTENTS 4 100 Years of Texas Parks 6 Parks Near You 8 90 Checklist DIRECTORY TEXAS PARKS AND WILDLIFE DEPARTMENT 52 68 20 38 60 30 84 68 David Yoskowitz, Ph.D. Executive Director Rodney Franklin State Parks Director Mischelle Diaz Communications Director TPW COMMISSION Arch “Beaver” Aplin, III, Chairman Lake Jackson Dick Scott, Vice-Chairman Wimberley James E. Abell Kilgore Oliver J. Bell Cleveland Paul L. Foster El Paso Anna B. Galo Laredo Jeffery D. Hildebrand Houston Robert L. “Bobby” Patton, Jr. Fort Worth Travis B. “Blake” Rowling Dallas T. Dan Friedkin, Chairman-Emeritus Houston Lee Marshall Bass, Chairman-Emeritus Fort Worth 52 Panhandle Plains 48 State Parks Map Special thanks to Toyota and advertisers, whose generous support made this guide possible. Texas State Parks is a division of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. Cover illustration: Brad Woodard, bravethewoods.com Texas State Parks Official Guide, Nineteenth Edition © TPWD PWD BK P4000-000A (3/23) TPWD receives funds from DHS and USFWS. TPWD prohibits discrimination based on race, color, religion, national origin (including limited English proficiency), disability, age, and gender, pursuant to state and federal law. If you believe you have been discriminated against by TPWD, visit tpwd.texas. gov/nondiscrimination or call (512) 389-4800 for information on filing a complaint. To obtain information in an alternative format, contact TPWD on a Text Telephone (TTY) at (512) 389-8915, by Relay Texas at 7-1-1, (800) 735-2989, or by email at accessibility@tpwd.texas.gov. If you speak a language other than English and need assistance, email lep@tpwd.texas.gov. You can also contact Department of the Interior Office of Diversity, Inclusion, and Civil Rights, 1849 C Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20240, and/or U.S. Department of Homeland Security Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties (CRCL), Mail Stop #0190 2707, Martin Luther King, Jr. Ave., S.E. Washington, D.C. 20528. In accordance with Texas State Depository Law, this publication is available at the Texas State Publications Clearinghouse and/or Texas Depository Libraries. WELCOME from Rodney Franklin, State Parks Director This year is very special for Texas State Parks: We are celebrating our 100-year anniversary in 2023. More and more Texans are discovering the beauty of State Parks and exploring the outdoors in new and adventurous ways. Our teams across the state are incredibly excited to welcome outdoor enthusiasts, especially those who have yet to discover what our parks have to offer. The variety of Texas’ lands is unmatched; from the mountains of west Texas to the Gulf shores, the Texas State Park system celebrates and preserves the natural and cultural treasures that make Texas such a special place. The 640,000-plus acres that make up the state park system are nearly as diverse as the people of Texas. Since 1923, our mission has been to help connect our visitors with the outdoors. As we honor those who have come before us, I invite a new generation to be a part of the story of the lands that connect us all. There is more to enjoy in our parks than you know, so please join us in our celebrations and activities. Every day we look for new and better ways to ensure your state parks are welcoming to every Texan, regardless of their background or experience being outside. I hope you’ll visit soon and often, while bringing your friends and family along. YOU are a natural and we’re looking forward to celebrating the 100-year anniversary of state parks with you! WHAT’S NEW IN STATE PARKS Galveston Island State Park reopened the beachside of the park with a new headquarters, campsites, restrooms, and more. Bastrop State Park unveiled an extensive new group of trails, the “Tree Army Trails,” many of which are ADA-accessible. Improvements and major repairs are planned for Indian Lodge, Tyler, Inks Lake, Cedar Hill, South Llano River, Eisenhower and several other state parks All-terrain “GRIT” wheelchairs are now available at 10 parks with more adaptive equipment on the way to help people of all abilities experience Texas State Parks. Learn more about our accessibility efforts, page 14. More information: TexasStateParks.org/whatsnew 100 Years of Texas Parks The crown jewels of Texas road trips started as an unfunded wish list before the Depression. Back in 1923, Governor Pat Neff realized rising numbers of new car travelers needed places to camp overnight on multi-day trips. Neff convinced the state legislature to create a six-member State Parks Board, half men, half women. Isabella, the Governor’s mother, and her family donated acreage on the Leon

Guía de Parques INSTALACIONES Descarga la Aplicacíon Móvil MAPAS ACTIVIDADES texasstateparks.org/app ¡Los niños entran gratis! La entrada es gratis para los niños de 12 años y menores. Encuentra un parque: parquesdetexas.org Contenido Estero Llano Grande SP 2 Actividades y Programas 4 Parques Cercanos 6 Lugares para Quedarse 8 Tarifas y Pases 9 Directorio 10 Mapa de Parques 18 Instalaciones y Actividades BIENVENIDO Rodney Franklin, Director de Parques Texas tiene algunas de las tierras públicas más diversas del país, con una gran riqueza natural y cultural. La vida silvestre está por todas partes, los paisajes florecen con belleza, y la historia es abundante. Sus parques estatales son parte del legado que nos enorgullece. La gente de Texas ayuda a asegurar ese legado para las generaciones futuras al visitar y ser voluntarios. ¡Gracias! Estos más de 630,000 acres exhiben algunos de los grandes tesoros del estado. Los parques nos ayudan a crear recuerdos con la familia y a encontrar consuelo en la naturaleza. Los parques fortalecen las economías locales y unen a las comunidades. Sobre todo, los parques nos permiten pasar tiempo al aire libre para recargar energías, estar saludables y relajarnos a nuestra manera. Les invito a disfrutar de sus parques estatales, explorando lo mejor de Texas con amigos y familia. Los parques están aquí para todos. Nos pertenecen a todos. ¡Visítelos, diviértase y ayude a protegerlos para siempre! Foto de portada: Estero Llano State Park, Chase Fountain © 2021 TPWD PWD BK P4000-000A (5/21) TPWD recibe fondos del Servicio de Pesca y Vida Silvestre de EE.UU. (USFWS por sus siglas en ingles). TPWD prohíbe la discriminación por raza, color, religión, nacionalidad de origen, discapacidad, edad y género, conforme la ley estatal y federal. Para solicitar un acomodo especial u obtener información en un formato alternativo, por favor contacte a TPWD en un Teléfono de Texto (TTY) al (512) 3898915 ó por medio de “Relay Texas” al 7-1-1 ó (800) 735-2989 ó por email a accessibility@tpwd.texas.gov. Si usted cree que TPWD ha discriminado en su contra, favor de comunicarse con TPWD, 4200 Smith School Road, Austin, TX 78744, o con el Servicio de Pesca y Vida Silvestre de EE.UU., Office for Diversity and Workforce Management, 5275 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, VA 22041. De acuerdo con la Ley de Depósito del Estado de Texas, esta publicación está disponible en el centro de Distribución de Publicaciones del Estado de Texas y/o las Bibliotecas de Depósito de Texas. ACTIVIDADES Y PROGRAMAS ¿Qué puedo hacer en los parques estatales? ¡Disfruta de un día de campo, visita un sitio histórico o elige entre muchas otras opciones! Bicicletas Pedalea a lo largo de los parques a cualquier velocidad, en cualquier estilo, con cualquier grupo. Elige las rutas, el tipo de terreno y las distancias que cumplan con tu zona de confort. Caminatas Empieza con un circuito más corto, avanza a terrenos más difíciles o únete a una caminata guiada. Pescar Puedes pescar sin licencia en tantos como 70 parques estatales. Muchos parques ofrecen equipo para pescar a manera de préstamo y eventos especiales para aprender a pescar. Barcos Renta canoas y kayacs y explora uno de los senderos acuáticos en Texas. Nadar Animales Silvestres Acampar Descubre aves, mamíferos y plantas que tienen su hogar en Texas. Muchos parques tienen señalamientos y listados que te ayudan a aprender más. Encuentra un lugar que cumpla con lo que quieres. Prueba nuevas recetas, comparte historias favoritas y disfruta de las estrellas. 2 Más información y reservaciones: parquesdetexas.org Escape del calor en arroyos, ríos, lagos, manantiales, piletas y playas del mar. Tu seguridad en el agua es muy importante. Lleva el chaleco salvavidas. Aprende a nadar. Guarda a los niños. (512) 389-8900 ¡Pregunta en tu parque cuáles están disponibles! Los niños de 12 años y menores entran GRATIS Cielos Estrellados Escapa de las luces de la ciudad y goza de maravillosas vistas del cielo que no encontrarás en ninguna otra parte. Ven a una fiesta de estrellas o toma una excursión de constelaciones auto-guiada. Familias en la Naturaleza Elige un taller o diseña tu propia aventura. ¡Monta una tienda de campaña, cocina al exterior, prende una fogata y juega al exterior! Nosotros te Toma una publicación gratuita de actividades o pregunta por los paquetes gratuitos con los parques proporcionamos todo el equipo. No es necesario tener experiencia. participantes. Usa los binoculares, lupas, libros de bosquejos y libros de guías para explorar el parque. Mochilas para Exploradores Soldados Búfalo de Texas Descubre la historia con cuentos, vestuarios y herramientas. Sigue la pista de un animal, pesca con caña, cocina sobre una fogata, visita los fuertes y más. Adéntrate en las historias de vida de aquellos que sirvieron valientemente en los primeros regimientos Áfrico-Americanos de las Fuerzas Armadas. ! Seguridad en el Parque Ten cuidado con el agua Pre