Fort Richardson & Lost Creek Reservoir

Fort Richardson & Lost Creek Reservoir https://tpwd.texas.gov/state-parks/fort-richardson https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_Richardson_(Texas) Fort Richardson was a United States Army installation located in present-day Jacksboro, Texas. Named in honor of Union General Israel B. Richardson, who died in the Battle of Antietam during the American Civil War, it was active from 1867 to 1878. Today, the site, with a few surviving buildings, is called Fort Richardson State Park, Historic Site and Lost Creek Reservoir State Trailway.

For assistance using this map, contact the park. Fort Richardson State Park and Historic Site TexasStateParks.org/App Park Boundary us y e Fort Richardson Historic Area l k Bo Headquarters 281 State Parks Store Restrooms 199 ry da Barracks 380 To • Check out time for campsites is noon. or renew permit by 9 a.m. (pending availability). Wheelchair Accessible SPEED LIMIT Tent Sites 20 C9 C11 C7 C1-C8: Water, electric, sewer k Tra il se Dump Station lti-u Volleyball N 28 27 Multi-use Trail Trailhead Hiking Trail 30 C8 Biking Trail 31 Park Host Equestrian Trail 32 r Pa 34 da 35 22 19 17 15 ty Playground er 41 Rumbling Spring Pr 18 40 Pr op 20 39 te 37 38 21 5 16 dary Park Boun 13 8 7 Residence 14 6 • Gathering of firewood is prohibited. Maintenance iva 36 3 4 • Numbered sites are for overnight camping only. NO PICNICKING. Group Picnic ry • Valid permit required on windshield of each vehicle in park. All vehicles must remain on pavement. un Kicking Bird Trail Bo 2 Picnic Area k 33 23 1 Limited Cabins Bank Fishing 29 i. .5 m C10 C6 25 26 ath gP rin Sp C9-C11: Water, electric ee il – Tra re atu kN ee Cr C5 Cr Equestrian Sites Mu st Lo st g in bl Lo C4 24 Ru m C3 ail - 1.7 mi. r Tr ea ly P ick Pr C2 Overflow Camping • Only one unit per site is permitted to hook up to utilities. 11 9 10 228 Park Road 61 Jacksboro, TX 76458 (940) 567-3506 Fax (940) 567-5488 12 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. © 2022 TPWD PWD MP P4506-025A (2/22) Interpretive Center Water and Electric Sites • GRAY WATER AND BLACK WATER MUST BE DISCHARGED ONLY AT DUMP STATIONS. • 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. Parking Dining Hall C1 • Campsite must be kept clean; all trash must be picked up before leaving. Dumpsters are conveniently located on all camping loops. • Pets must be kept on leash. Please pick up after them. Quarry Lake Officers' Quarters • A maximum of eight people permitted per campsite. Guests must leave the park by 10 p.m. Quiet time is from 10 p.m. – 6 a.m. • An excess parking fee is required at campsites with more than two vehicles. G Interpretive Center • Check out time for limited use cabins is 11 a.m. or renew permit by 9 a.m. (pending availability). • Public consumption or display of any alcoholic beverage is prohibited. round th or W PLEASE NOTE e Parad rt Fo Nature Center Hospital & Morgue Scout Area Showers TEXAS un Pa Commissary Tr ai o ar nd ou B rk ul ti- TEXAS Trout Fishing Limit: five per day. Contact park headquarters for details. M Bakery 114 r bo Guard House r Pa Ice, firewood, T-shirts, caps and oneof-a-kind gift items are available at the Texas State Parks Store located in our park headquarters building. s ck Ja Multi-use Trail: 18-mile round-trip along the shore of Twin Lakes. A detailed map is available at park headquarters. #BetterOutside LEGEND To Dining Hall Magazine Texas State Parks Store #TxStateParks TexasStateParks.org/SocialMedia This publication can be found at tpwd.texas.gov/spdest/parkinfo/maps/park_maps/ PARK RESERVATIONS TexasStateParks.org ParquesDeTexas.org (512) 389-8900 Proud Sponsor of Texas State Parks 

For assistance using this map, contact the park. Fort Richardson State Park and Historic Site – Lost Creek Reservoir and Trailway TexasStateParks.org/App Dam • Cyclists should pass other trail users slowly and considerately. Hikers and cyclists should always yield to horses and make their presence known well in advance, then move aside to allow horses to pass, if passing from the opposite direction; if passing horses from behind, hikers and bikers should pass on the left after making the rider aware of their presence. • Leave no trace: if you pack it in, pack it out. • Please stay on the trail. 6 mi. • Pets are permitted on the trails, but must be under control and on a leash at all times. Swimming Beach C st Lo 5 mi. 1 14 ek re 2 11 10 oi rv se Re 9 8 4 • Ride with a friend. Wear a helmet. 3 • All users must yield to handicapped users. 6 5 #TexasStateParks #BetterOutside LEGEND PLEASE NOTE Kayak Ramp/Rental 13 12 TexasStateParks.org/SocialMedia 7 Headquarters State Parks Store Restrooms Parking Dining Hall r Tent Only Sites North Park To Ft. W orth – 6 0 miles No potable water available on Multi-use Trail. Kayak Ramp/ Rental 4 mi. 7 mi. Swimming Beach Village Kitchen N Bank Fishing Trail Courtesy Yield To 2 mi. Equestrian Sites Fishing Pier Trailhead st Lo 380 ee Cr 3 mi. Airpo 8 mi. Hiking Trail k nway r t Ru 199 TEXAS Lost Creek Trailhead and Day-use Area North Park Camping Area (see inset) Lake o sbor Multi-use Trail Trailhead and Parking Jack ie Bow Twin Lakes Community Activity Center St. 114 59 TEXAS 59 Twin Lakes City Park TEXAS Neri’s Courthouse Roma Bait in Shop Ma JR’s Jack County Museum nap Jack Co. Prespa’s Herd’s Dollar Auto Store Lowes Grocery Largemouth Bass St. Jacksboro Golf Course Catfish (Blue and Channel) Smallmouth Bass 114 TEXAS 281 148 TEXAS Tractor Supply Playground Sonic Dairy Queen Chicken Express This publication can be found at tpwd.texas.gov/spdest/parkinfo/maps/park_maps/ 1 mi. Dining Hall and Equestrian Sites Lo s t C r e ek Texas State Parks Store O’Reily 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 P4506-025K (2/23) Kayak Ramp/Rental Kwik Stop City Pool Belk Crappie St. 281 Dairyland City Drug Equestrian Trail Swimming TEXAS Post Office Casa Grande Biking Trail 380 Ice, firewood, T-shirts, caps and oneof-a-kind gift items are available at the Texas State Parks Store located in our park headquarters building. PARK RESERVATIONS TexasStateParks.org ParquesDeTexas.org (512) 389-8900 228 Park Road 61 Jacksboro, TX 76458 (940) 567-3506 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. #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: 

LOST CREEK TRAIL INTERPRETIVE GUIDE In 1936, the Texas Centennial Commission purchased the surviving fort buildings and surrounding 41 acres. The site was turned over to the City of Jacksboro and the Jack County Historical Society to maintain. Fort Richardson became a National Historic Landmark in 1964. Five years later, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department assumed operation of the post. Today the park offers over 70 campsites, multiple hiking trails, a swimming beach, and more! FORT RICHARDSON The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department works to preserve this historic site while maintaining and interpreting the frontier character of this Texas fort. You have a part to play in assuring this cultural and natural resource endures. Do not remove artifacts from the park and help preserve natural surroundings by staying on trails and throwing away trash. STATE PARK AND HISTORIC SITE THE RED RIVER FRONTIER AND THE TEXAS PANHANDLE WERE WILD, FURTHER READING UNCERTAIN PLACES IN THE EARLY Sentinel of the Southern Plains: Fort Richardson and the Northwest Texas Frontier by Allen Lee Hamilton, Texas Christian University Press, 1988. 1870S. NATIVE AMERICANS, CHIEFLY Five Years A Cavalryman by H. H. McConnell, University of Oklahoma Press, 1996. WAY OF LIFE UNDER ATTACK. THE The Indian Trial by Charles Robinson, University of Oklahoma Press, 2015. Carbine and Lance by Colonel W. S. Nye, University of Oklahoma Press, 1969. Frontier Forts of Texas by Bill O’Neal, Arcadia Publishing, 2018. Empire of the Summer Moon: Quanah Parker and the Rise and Fall of the Comanches, the Most Powerful Indian Tribe in American History by S. C. Gwynne, Simon & Schuster, 2011. Fort Richardson State Park, Historic Site and Lost Creek Reservoir State Trailway 228 State Park Road 61, Jacksboro, Texas 76458 (940) 567-3506 • www.tpwd.texas.gov/fortrichardson KIOWA AND COMANCHE, SAW THEIR UNITED STATES ARMY, SENT TO PROTECT SETTLERS AND AMERICAN INTERESTS, DROVE NATIVE GROUPS FROM THEIR HOMELANDS ONTO PERMANENT RESERVATIONS. BETWEEN 1867 AND 1875, SOUTHERN PLAINS TRIBES AND U.S. CAVALRY AND INFANTRY CLASHED ON THE NORTHERN TEXAS FRONTIER. FORT RICHARDSON WAS A KEY POST IN THIS STRUGGLE. © 2021 TPWD. PWD BR P4506-0025L (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. Fort Richardson State Park and Historic Site is not only steeped in history, but rich in natural wonders as well. Multi-use trails within the park provide an opportunity to travel through beautiful prairie habitat, home to many species of birds including northern bobwhite, Western meadowlark, and American kestrel. Overnight visitors may hear the gentle rustle of armadillos as they forage for insects and grubs, and coyotes may sing at dawn and dusk. Look for stately white-tailed deer in the early evening. You may even have a group of wild turkeys pass you on the trail. The Lost Creek Reservoir State Trailway connects Fort Richardson’s main park to its satellite park nestled on the shore of Lake Jacksboro. The 9-mile trail follows the creek, traveling the east side of Lake Jacksboro before crossing the dam at Lost Creek Reservoir. The trail casually winds along the terrain and offers cool, shaded spots to rest beneath pecan and oak trees. Look for great blue herons, kingfishers, and even osprey hunting fish in Lake Jacksboro. Enjoy a cool swim after your hike and relax on the beach. F O R T R I C H A R D S O N S T A T E P A R K A N D H I S T O R I C S I T E LIFE AT THE FORT SENTINELS OF THE SOUTHERN PLAINS Established in 1867, Fort Richardson was the northernmost post of a line of forts stretching from the Rio Grande to the Red River. The U.S. Army named Fort Richardson in honor of General Israel B. Richardson, a veteran of the Seminole Indian and Mexican Wars, who fought for the Union and died in the Civil War in 1862. Frontier forts played a critical role during Reconstruction and the Indian Wars, when troops were tasked with the job of subduing the plains Native Americans and forcing them onto reservations north of the Red River Relocated tribes, however, became frustrated by confinement, inadequate supplies, and failed treaty promises. Other tribes resisted relocation and fought back. Their warriors crossed the Red River into Texas and terrorized frontier settlements. In response, the U.S. government sent additional Army personnel to protect the

FORT RICHARDSON State Park and Historic Site 1867 – 1878 During the post’s 11 years of active military existence, between 1867-1878, the U.S. Army stationed over 5,000 troops at Fort Richardson, with a standing force of almost 800 soldiers at the height of its power. It was originally established as an “occupational fort” to enforce martial law and the reconstruction policies of the federal government. This lasted until April of 1870, when Texas was readmitted into the Union. After 1870, the Army’s focus turned to Indian War Campaigns. Three major campaigns and hundreds of scouts and patrols were launched from Richardson. For gallantry in these engagements, Congress awarded 30 Medals of Honor to the men of Richardson. WALKING TOUR Although the fort originally had over 60 buildings, most were only temporary structures and were torn down by locals after the fort was decommissioned. The remaining original buildings include the Hospital, Morgue, Bakery, Magazine, Commissary, Guardhouse and Commanding Officer’s Quarters. S TA B L E S 6 To learn more, visit 5 www.tpwd.texas.gov/fortrichardson or call (940) 567-3506 for a schedule of special events and tours. 4 13 7 3 12 11 9 10 2 Original fort structures Newer structures 1 4200 Smith School Road Austin, Texas 78744 8 www.tpwd.texas.gov 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. © 2021 TPWD PWD BR P4506-0025N (7/21) 1 THE INTERPRETIVE CENTER is a reproduction of a non-commissioned officer’s barracks. The building housed several bachelor officers or several families of the lesser ranking officers. Each picket officer’s barracks contained three to four rooms with separate doors and windows for ventilation. There were never enough quarters for all the officers stationed here so many slept in tents. Still standing 2 THE POST HOSPITAL was the largest building on the fort grounds, completed in 1869, at a cost of about $150,000. It is made of sandstone quarried from a neighboring county; the walls are 18 inches thick in places. The main portion of the building consisted of the Dispensary, Post Surgeon’s Office, Dining Room, Steward’s Room and a Kitchen/ Surgery attached to the back. Upstairs was used as the Morgue or Death Room until a separate building was added, then these rooms were used as storage of all medical supplies and for medical staff quarters. The north and south wards contained a total of 24 beds. The post surgeon was challenged with unfilled medical requisitions, poor sanitary conditions and limited or ineffective treatments for common illnesses caused by bad water, spoiled food, alcoholism, and venereal diseases. 3 THE MORGUE OR DEATH HOUSE was the last building constructed at this post. Erected in 1875, a pair of sinks or earth closets was built on the back of the building. The bodies of the soldiers were prepared for burial here. 4 THE BAKERY operated 24 hours a day, seven days a week supplying the post with 600 to 800 loaves of bread a day. The bakery was furnished with tables for preparing bread, and shelves for supplies and equipment storage. The back room contained a large beehive oven. The bakery would become so hot in the summer it became almost intolerable inside. In fact, one baker actually died from heat stroke. 5 GUARDHOUSE RUINS originally consisted of four stone cells, 4 feet by 8 feet, in which three soldiers were confined to each cell. An attached picket structure served as guard offices and quarters. The guardhouse was nearly always at full capacity and additional rooms were added. The post reportedly lost 246 soldiers through desertion. 8 6 THE MAGAZINE was used to store explosives and black powder. The walls are 4 feet thick with a vaulted ceiling, which was designed to implode in case of fire. The original door was 6 inches thick, made of cast iron. 9 11 THE CHICAGO ROCK ISLAND & TEXAS DEPOT, THE COMMANDING OFFICER’S QUARTERS was the largest house built on the post grounds. The board and batten construction was the typical method used in the period. It is the only cottonwood frame officer’s quarters standing in the United States from the Indian War period. Cottonwood was used for the external walls with plastered interior walls. The first floor consists of various living spaces such as parlors, a kitchen, and bedrooms, separated by a breezeway. The second story was used as both a stor

FORT RICHARDSON SP, SHS, & LOST CREEK RESERVOIR STATE TRAILWAY BIRD CHECKLIST This checklist is a list of common and specialty birds seen in the park. Staff 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 ___ Canada Goose ___ Blue-winged Teal Cormorants and Anhingas ___ Double-crested Cormorant Herons, Ibis, and Allies ___ Gadwall ___ Great Blue Heron ___ American Wigeon ___ Great Egret ___ Mallard ___ Green Heron ___ Redhead ___ Ring-necked Duck ___ Lesser Scaup Grouse, Quail, and Allies ___ Northern Bobwhite Grebes ___ Pied-billed Grebe Pigeons and Doves ___ Rock Pigeon ___ Eurasian Collared-Dove ___ Inca Dove ___ White-winged Dove ___ Mourning Dove Cuckoos Vultures, Hawks, and Allies ___ Black Vulture ___ Turkey Vulture ___ Northern Harrier ___ Sharp-shinned Hawk ___ Cooper’s Hawk ___ Red-shouldered Hawk ___ Red-tailed Hawk Owls ___ Great Horned Owl Kingfishers ___ Belted Kingfisher Woodpeckers ___ Yellow-bellied Sapsucker ___ Greater Roadrunner ___ Golden-fronted Woodpecker ___ Yellow-billed Cuckoo ___ Red-bellied Woodpecker Nightjars ___ Common Nighthawk Swifts ___ Chimney Swift Hummingbirds ___ Black-chinned Hummingbird Rails, Gallinules, and Allies ___ American Coot Shorebirds ___ Killdeer ___ Downy Woodpecker ___ Ladder-backed Woodpecker ___ Northern Flicker Falcons and Caracaras ___ American Kestrel Tyrant Flycatchers: Pewees, Kingbirds, and Allies ___ Eastern Phoebe ___ Great Crested Flycatcher ___ Western Kingbird ___ Scissor-tailed Flycatcher Shrikes Waxwings ___ Loggerhead Shrike Vireos ___ Cedar Waxwing Old World Sparrows ___ White-eyed Vireo ___ Bell’s Vireo Jays, Magpies, Crows, and Ravens ___ Blue Jay ___ American Crow Martins and Swallows ___ Northern Rough-winged ___ House Sparrow Finches and Allies ___ House Finch ___ American Goldfinch New World Sparrows ___ Chipping Sparrow ___ Field Sparrow Swallow ___ Lark Sparrow ___ Purple Martin ___ Fox Sparrow ___ Barn Swallow ___ Dark-eyed Junco ___ Cliff Swallow Tits, Chickadees, and Titmice ___ Carolina Chickadee ___ White-crowned Sparrow ___ Harris’s Sparrow ___ White-throated Sparrow ___ Vesper Sparrow ___ Tufted Titmouse ___ Savannah Sparrow ___ Black-crested Titmouse ___ Song Sparrow Wrens ___ Lincoln’s Sparrow ___ House Wren ___ Spotted Towhee ___ Winter Wren ___ Eastern Towhee ___ Carolina Wren ___ Bewick’s Wren Gnatcatchers ___ Blue-gray Gnatcatcher Blackbirds ___ Western/Eastern Meadowlark ___ Red-winged Blackbird ___ Brown-headed Cowbird ___ Common Grackle Kinglets ___ Ruby-crowned Kinglet Wood-Warblers ___ Orange-crowned Warbler Thrushes ___ Eastern Bluebird ___ American Robin Catbirds, Mockingbirds, and Thrashers ___ Yellow Warbler ___ Yellow-rumped Warbler Cardinals, Grosbeaks, and Allies ___ Summer Tanager ___ Brown Thrasher ___ Northern Cardinal ___ Northern Mockingbird ___ Painted Bunting Starlings and Mynas ___ Dickcissel ___ European Starling © 2019 TPWD PWD CD P4506-0025R (5/19) Texas State Parks is a division of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. 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 (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. 

-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