Purtis Creek

Purtis Creek SP https://tpwd.texas.gov/state-parks/purtis-creek Purtis Creek State Park is located in Henderson and Van Zandt counties, southeast of Dallas, Texas. The 355-acre lake is a bass fishing destination.

For assistance using this map, contact the park. Purtis Creek State Park TexasStateParks.org/App TexasStateParks.org/SocialMedia #TexasStateParks #BetterOutside LEGEND Headquarters EMERGENCY NUMBERS N Van Zandt County Sheriff Office 911 Wolfpen Hike and Bike Trail 1.2 mi. 59 58 57 1 2. i. m 1 2 3 45 6 7 Restrooms Showers Chemical Toilet Primitive Tent Sites 56 8 55 54 Water Only Sites 53 52 51 7 1. 9 50 10 12 11 13 14 31 49 15 48 32 16 47 33 46 16A 30 34 1817 35 29 45 36 28 44 43 37 27 19 42 38 26 41 39 20 40 21 22 25 23 24 1 State Parks Store i. m Water and Electric Sites Beaver Slide Nature Path and Primitive Camping Loop Dump Station M Wheelchair Accessible L K Hiking Trail J A Biking Trail I H B G C i. D m E Crappie Limit: 25 per day Size: 10 in. min. F Picnic Area Group Pavillion Catfish (Flathead) Limit: 5 per day Bass (White - Sand Bass) Limit: 25 per day Size: 10 in. min. Catfish (Blue and Channel) Limit: 5 per day (aggregate) Trailhead Bass (Black) Limit: 5 per day Size: 16 in. max. Amphitheater Designated Swimming Area Parking Boat Ramp So Fishing Pier lar PLEASE NOTE ail Tr Fish Cleaning .5 • CHECK OUT time is 12 p.m. or renew permit by 9 a.m. (pending site availability). mi . • Public consumption or display of any alcoholic beverage in a public place is prohibited. 60 61 62 T-shirts, caps and one-ofa-kind gift items are available at the headquarters building. • A maximum of eight people permitted per regular campsite; a maximum of four people per primitive campsite. Guests must leave the park by 10 p.m. Quiet time from 10 p.m. – 6 a.m. 63 • An excess parking fee is required at campsites with more than two vehicles (including trailers). Residence • Gray water and black water must be discharged only at dump stations. Maintenance Brush Piles (fish habitat) • 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. To Eustace, Mabank & Gun Barrel City • Gathering of firewood is prohibited. FM • Swim, at your own risk, in designated area only. NO LIFEGUARD on duty. 31 • No pets or glass containers allowed in swimming area or on adjacent beach. 6 To Ca 14225 F.M. 316 Eustace, TX 75124 (903) 425-2332 • Boats use idle speed only. nt on • Stop the spread of zebra mussels. CLEAN, DRAIN and DRY your boat. 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 P4508-105D (2/23) Park Host 64 • Pets must be kept on leash no longer than six feet. Please pick up after them. Texas State Parks Store Playground 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. For a web version of the map text, visit our Trails Information page. For information on #TexasStateParks, visit texasstateparks.org Sign up today for free email updates: texasstateparks.org/email /TexasStateParks @TPWDparks @TexasStateParks Sponsor: Whole Earth Provision Co. 

INTERPRETIVE GUIDE As in seasons past, young and old will make lasting memories while enjoying Purtis Creek State Park. THANK YOU FOR VISITING! OFFERING MORE THAN JUST GREAT BASS, PURTIS CREEK STATE PARK IS THE PERFECT PLACE FOR AN OUTDOOR ADVENTURE. RESPITE IS A SHORT DRIVE AWAY, ONLY AN HOUR SOUTHEAST OF DALLAS. HIKING AND BIKING OPPORTUNITIES ABOUND, OR IF WATER IS YOUR THING, WET A LINE OR PADDLE ON THE 355-ACRE NO-WAKE LAKE. NO MATTER HOW YOU SPEND YOUR TIME, YOUR MEMORIES ARE SURE TO GROW 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. Help us protect this beautiful park for many years to come by keeping it safe and clean. We hope you will visit these other state parks while visiting North Texas: Lake Tawakoni State Park 10822 FM 2475 Wills Point, TX 75169; (903) 560-7123 Cedar Hill State Park 1570 West FM 1382 Cedar Hill, TX 75104; (972) 291-3900 Fairfield Lake State Park 123 State Park Road 64 Fairfield, TX 75840; (903) 389-4514 Visit www.tpwd.texas.gov for more information on these and other Texas state parks and historic sites. Purtis Creek State Park 14225 FM 316 N. Eustace, TX 75124 (903) 425-2332 • www.tpwd.texas.gov/purtiscreek Cover photo: ©Tom Hadley (JUST LIKE THE STORIES OF THE FISH YOU’VE CAUGHT!). © 2019 TPWD. PWD BR P4508-0105J (7/19) 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. Texas State Parks is a division of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. PURTIS CREEK S TAT E PA RK P U R T I S C R E E K S T A T E P A R K A CYCLE OF SETTLEMENT A FAMILY TRADITION I place my kayak in the water, and gaze out across the lake. It’s an early morning, and the sun is only just beginning to rise; the sky is streaked pink and gold. The water is glass, and my boat glides across the surface, the line on my fishing pole whistling in the breeze. I take a moment and close my eyes; the lake is empty except for me and a Great Blue Heron, who’s here for the same reason I am – the fish. P urtis Creek State Park has been a camping destination for several thousand years, long before anyone dreamed of creating a park here. Prehistoric peoples likely camped in the upland flats and utilized the natural resources for temporary hunting/collecting camps. The lowland areas along Purtis Creek were rich with hunting and gathering opportunities, but would not have made for successful long term settlements due to the small size of the creek itself. Generations of us have called Purtis Creek State Park our fishing spot. Bass fishing is a family tradition. As I cast my spinnerbait into the water, I hear a slapping in a nearby cove. I look up, startled, and see a beaver warning I’m too close. A final splash and he’s back under the water. I paddle across to another spot on the water, catching a whiff of wild plum flowers in bloom. I cast again, dragging the lure across the surface, and I hook a fish. After a short tug-of-war, I reel in the biggest largemouth I’ve ever caught! I hear the Pik-chicka-weew call of the White-eyed Vireo and I feel he’s sharing in my victory. A huge smile on my face, I paddle towards shore, ready to share pictures of my catch with my daughter. When she’s a little older, I can’t wait to share From about 1,200 years ago to the early 1800s, Caddo Indians would have settled in this region, though outside of today’s park boundaries, along the banks of the Trinity, Sabine and Neches rivers, raising subsistence crops and hunting wild game. this tradition with her. How will you share Purtis Creek State Park with your family? Great Blue Herons and beavers call Purtis Creek State Park home. When the railroad came to town in 1880, it brought economic stability after the Civil War, and led directly to the development of Eustace a decade later. Fast forward to 1975, and the idea for the park was beginning to grow roots. By 1981, the twelfth and final land tract was acquired and construction could begin on the park. November 9

PURTIS CREEK STATE PARK Visit www.tpwd.texas.gov/outdoor-annual for the most current regulations. 14225 F.M. 316 • Eustace, TX 75124 (903) 425-2332 Other info: www.texasstateparks.org Local Emergency: Call 911 Where to Fish: The park features two lighted fishing piers, shoreline and boat access. Licenses and Restrictions: A fishing license is not required at Purtis Creek State Park (our lake is completely within the boundaries of the park). When fishing from a pier or other man-made structure within a state park, there is a limit of two fishing poles per person. Fishing is by pole and line only. HARVEST REGULATIONS SPECIES DAILY BAG LIMIT LENGTH: MIN-MAX Bass: largemouth Min: No Limit – Max: 16” Bass: smallmouth Bass: Alabama, Guadalupe, spotted 5 (in any combination of largemouth, smallmouth, Alabama, Guadalupe and spotted) Min: 14” – Max: No Limit 5 (in any combination) No Limit 5 Min: 18” – Max: No Limit 25 (in any combination) Min: 10” – Max: No Limit No Limit No Limit Catfish: channel, blue Catfish: flathead Crappie: black, white Sunfish No Limit All other fish: statewide bag and length limits apply. * Largemouth bass 24” or greater in length may be held temporarily in a live well or other aerated holding device and immediately weighed using personal scales. Bass weighing 13 pounds or more may be donated to the ShareLunker program; otherwise, the fish must be immediately released in the lake where caught. Anglers wishing to donate their bass must immediately cease fishing and contact TPWD at (903) 681-0550. Anglers may not remove the bass from the immediate vicinity of the reservoir unless instructed to do so by TPWD staff. Bass not accepted by TPWD must be immediately released. SPECIES FISHING OPPORTUNITIES © 2022 Texas Parks and Wildlife Department POOR FAIR GOOD EXCELLENT Largemouth Bass Catfish Crappie Sunfish 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 LF P4508-105E (12/22) HA N DY FISH ING BASICS HOW TO TIE A FISHING KNOT NATURAL BAIT HOOK PLACEMENT The palomar knot is very strong and easy to tie. HOW TO MEASURE FISH Pinch the tail together and take the longest measurement from nose to tail. Freshwater fish TIPS FOR RELEASING FISH SAFELY 1. For safety for you and a quick release of fish, mash down the barb of the hook with pliers. 2. Quickly play and release fish as soon as possible (take photos quickly). 3. Remove hook with pliers or cut line if the hook has been swallowed. 4. Gently place fish back into water. 5. Revive fish by holding upright in water and facing it into the current, gently forcing water through gills. Saltwater fish 6. If you don’t intend to eat the fish, NEVER place it on a stringer. FISHING ETHICS SAFETY • Wear a hat, sunglasses and sunscreen to protect your head, eyes and skin. • Use insect repellent – but keep off hands, as you will be handling bait and live fish. • Look behind you before each cast to avoid hooking someone or getting caught in a tree (practice casting before you go fishing). • Bring plenty of drinking water to prevent dehydration; soft drinks encourage dehydration. • Wear a life jacket if you cannot swim or you are uncom- fortable around the water. Supervise young children: it only takes a second for them to slip under the surface. Kids under 13 must wear life jackets if fishing from a boat. Before doing anything, ask yourself the following questions: • • • Is it legal? Would it be good if everyone did it? Would it make you proud? Ethical behavior is more than just following the fishing regulations. Ethical people go beyond what laws require and demonstrate good judgment and behavior for everyone – even if no one sees you do something ethical. Ethical behavior includes picking up trash around the area you have been fishing, calmly and politely explaining to others if they are breaking fishing regulations, and respecting the rights of other anglers and those that use the water in other ways. 

-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