View Full Version : (TX) Hammock Friendly State Parks (tree wise)
Looking for some quick get aways with our new hammocks, mostly just some quick one nighters near our house, pretty much any place in N. Texas. Was looking at Lake Lavon, but after checking satellite imagery, I see a lot of tent sites with very few trees. Turner Falls in Oklahoma is another option, pending weather, really not gonna take a chance in OK right now with all the tornado activity. Anyone have any input or past trips that would be worthy?
Thanks in advance for any help.
sargevining
06-01-2013, 09:06
Fairfield State Park is extremely hammock friendly. They do allow you to hang somewhat outside the "normal" tent sites, but that's not usually required as there are plenty of trees right near the picnic tables and fire pits. There's an annual group hang there every year. Last year we had close to 100 people hanging. The best area is the Springfield camping area.
LBJ National Grasslands up near Decatur is also a good spot if you like primitive camping, but has few developed campsites
oldgringo
06-01-2013, 09:19
Ike, on Texoma. Excellent park...a no-brainer from where you live. Get a reservation this time of year.
Lake Murray is a beautiful, clear water lake just south of Ardmore. Many trees, but OK parks are not as nice as the TX parks I've visited.
swoody126
06-01-2013, 19:03
JOHNSON BRANCH(north side of lake) OF RAY ROBERT'S STATE PARK
ISLE DU BOIS (HQ/south side of lake) OF RAY ROBERT'S STATE PARK
both have trees & facilities
have camped in both CG's w/ hangers
sw
Thanks a ton guys. Ray Roberts looks like a winner for now, but Eisenhower and Fairfield look nice too. I've also been trying to speak with some folks over at Lake Lavon, 15 minutes from my house, and see if they'll allow hammocks since they're US Army COE, I don't have any information on what they think about hammock hanging.
Turner Falls would actually be a good spot even with the current Tornado activity. They have shelters there or near by, shelters open to public anyways. The most common problem at Turner Falls this time of year isn't tornadoes but flooding. If the water is high stay put. The low water bridge gets people every year. (Grew up 15 mins from Turner Falls)
I will however second the Murray near Ardmore and Lake Texhoma.
Also consider Chickasaw National Recreation Area in Sulphur. Two lakes, a cold water stream, Buffalo pastor, and Miles of trails.
oldgringo
06-02-2013, 06:16
Thanks a ton guys. Ray Roberts looks like a winner for now, but Eisenhower and Fairfield look nice too. I've also been trying to speak with some folks over at Lake Lavon, 15 minutes from my house, and see if they'll allow hammocks since they're US Army COE, I don't have any information on what they think about hammock hanging.
Asking just provides an opportunity for "No." If something is not not visibly proscribed, I assume it is okay. That usually works.:)
Turner Falls would actually be a good spot even with the current Tornado activity. They have shelters there or near by, shelters open to public anyways. The most common problem at Turner Falls this time of year isn't tornadoes but flooding. If the water is high stay put. The low water bridge gets people every year. (Grew up 15 mins from Turner Falls)
I will however second the Murray near Ardmore and Lake Texhoma.
Also consider Chickasaw National Recreation Area in Sulphur. Two lakes, a cold water stream, Buffalo pastor, and Miles of trails.
I had actually talked it over with my wife a while ago, and we both had talked about how much we enjoyed Turner Falls in the past. I used to go with my mom all the time, she was from that area and loved being up there. So, it's kind of a reminiscent trip for us, it'll be nice. I've never had an issue with the bridge since my truck is build up so much, a few years back the park police had me take them up to the tent sites during high water to warn others.
I'm going to be doing some training at Goodfellow AFB in San Angelo, TX from Sept - Feb this year. Is San Angelo state park a good place to hang? I haven't gotten a hammock yet, but plan to get one in a few weeks and get familiar with it before I go.
Thanks!
It's a little farther east, but Caddo Lake State Park is also hammock friendly. There's been some group hangs there in the past, and it has numerous hanging sites.
Atlanta SP (just north of Caddo Lake SP in NE Texas) was really hanger friendly. We had a great time at the group hang we had last January. Just 1 more to add to your potentials list.
Thanks a ton.
So far, we've hung at some nice places in May and June.
Fairfield Lake State Park-amazing location, great staff, saw a Bald Eagle, just not swim friendly in the summer time with the hot lake, but still had an amazing time.
Tyler SP-great place, no issues.
Turner Falls-Not TX but close enough to a lot of folks. Hammock friendly, spectacular falls and nice hiking trails.
Bob Sandlin-We hiked in a primitive site, set up and had no issues. We didn't spend a lot of time here, it was more of a hike in, set up, cook, sleep, wake up, hike out and leave as we had to get back home for work.
We're planning Lost Maples in the fall, several other places as well, plus our big trip with the kids in July will be Eagle Rock Loop in Arkansas.
You'll love Eagle Rock Loop. That has to be one of my favorite places. I always want to go back.
oldgringo
06-19-2013, 07:21
Atlanta SP (just north of Caddo Lake SP in NE Texas) was really hanger friendly. We had a great time at the group hang we had last January. Just 1 more to add to your potentials list.
One of my favorites! ASP is a wonderful park.
UncleMJM
06-19-2013, 09:18
Fairfield State Park is extremely hammock friendly. They do allow you to hang somewhat outside the "normal" tent sites, but that's not usually required as there are plenty of trees right near the picnic tables and fire pits. There's an annual group hang there every year. Last year we had close to 100 people hanging. The best area is the Springfield camping area.
Home away from home to me. Watch for the November Hang planning thread... I'll most likely start it in late July or early August. The date is on the main HF Calendar (https://www.hammockforums.net/forum/calendar.php?s=&c=1&week=&month=11&year=2013) in case you want to save it.
Thanks a ton guys. Ray Roberts looks like a winner for now, but Eisenhower and Fairfield look nice too.
Never been to Ray Roberts so I'll defer to swoody126 but I have done a recon trip by Eisenhower. It is a nice place with a few trees for hanging. If you are looking for a place for multiple hammocks, it may not work but it does have sites doable for one or two.
It's a little farther east, but Caddo Lake State Park is also hammock friendly. There's been some group hangs there in the past, and it has numerous hanging sites.
+1
Atlanta SP (just north of Caddo Lake SP in NE Texas) was really hanger friendly. We had a great time at the group hang we had last January. Just 1 more to add to your potentials list.
++1
So far, we've hung at some nice places in May and June. Fairfield Lake State Park-amazing location, great staff, saw a Bald Eagle, just not swim friendly in the summer time with the hot lake, but still had an amazing time.
Enjoyed the "campfire" time with you at Fairfield. Look forward to hanging with you folks again down the road.
a3m0n, If you're looking for a place closer to San Angelo (http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/state-parks/nearby/sanangelo)this page may help.
I'm going to be doing some training at Goodfellow AFB in San Angelo, TX from Sept - Feb this year. Is San Angelo state park a good place to hang? I haven't gotten a hammock yet, but plan to get one in a few weeks and get familiar with it before I go.
Thanks!
Enjoy the nasty concho water.. I spent 14 weeks at goodfellow back in 06/07.. good luck.
I was at Sheppard in 07, loved tech school so much I'm going back (sarcasm).
matthew2000tx
08-11-2013, 14:13
I'm going to be doing some training at Goodfellow AFB in San Angelo, TX from Sept - Feb this year. Is San Angelo state park a good place to hang? I haven't gotten a hammock yet, but plan to get one in a few weeks and get familiar with it before I go.
Thanks!
San Angelo Native here.... The park has over 50 miles of trail. Most of which I've mountain biked. I'm sure there are places where you can hang but most of the trees are bushy desert variety which would be difficult to hang out. A better option but not primitive would be the Goodfellow Rec Camp right by Lake Newsworthy (aka. Lake Nasty Water).
Link to info on rec camp here (http://www.militarycampgrounds.us/milcamps/29-texas/189-goodfellow-afb-recreation-camp)
There are lots of places around Lake Nasworthy that you can hammock hang from for sure. It's city park property and at least 10 years ago when I was a ground dweller I remember no permits or fees were required...it's free!
PM me when you are in San Angelo and I'll send you some links to specific spots around the lake that I've camped at. Also, I've got family there so we go back once a month or so. Maybe we can hang together sometime.
Oh as an FYI, the drinking water in San Angelo tasted bad do some people so get a filter or drink bottled. At restaurants as if water is filtered. And the strange thing about San Angelo compared to other places in Texas is that the Tex-Mex usually comes with a side of cole-slaw but not all you can eat flour tortillas. Some good Chinese food can be found at the Airport Cafe.
Specifically near San Angelo as far as state parks are concerned and hammock hangn' my bets are South Llano River SP and Lake Brownwood SP. Once again I've camped at both when I was a ground dweller and if memory serves correct there were ample trees.
I know this thread is a few months old, but I just saw it, and figured I'd chime in for anyone else looking for hammock-friendly state parks near DFW.
Right in the middle of the metroplex, you have Cedar Hill -- we've gone there a couple of times, although you're exchanging gas prices for campsite prices -- it's around $20 last we checked for the water/electric only sites. We hiked by the primitive sites a few times, but they mainly look to be clearings in a thorny mess, plus the trails leading to them are always closed if there's been rain. Overall, not bad, but drive around the park and select several sites before telling them which one you want - there's a bunch of good ones, but quite a few that have poor spacing, as well.
Cleburne state park, to the southwest, has a number of good sites, and they just opened up a new park store/paddling rental spot on the lake. As an added bonus, if you have ground-dwellers going along, there are several screened shelters with appropriate trees right next to them.
Dinosaur Valley, near Glen Rose, also has a few good spots, some even along the Paluxy River. good hiking, several geocaches, dinosaur tracks, and a big swimming hole make this park a nice choice.
Meridian Lake is our favorite camping state park, especially in bluebonnet season. In the water-only sites, there is an abundance of cedar trees perfect for hammocking. They're in the process of building some more sites on the far side of the lake, and some of them also look like they'll be good for hammocks. Some nice hiking trails, a decent swimming beach, a couple caves, and a small waterfall (when the rains have been good) -- plus, this one is a little out of the way, so it doesn't often fill up before you get there to camp.
Possum Kingdom -- we've camped in the primitive area for a couple nights before going to paddle down the Brazos, so we don't know much about the park itself, aside from needing to bring your own water, unless they now have potable water at the park (it's been a couple years)
Bob Sandlin, out east, had some great hammock sites -- I think we were out there for the Perseids a couple years ago. While you're there, drop into Pittsburg to try the East Texas-style hot links (meant to be eaten with tobasco and saltines), and a railroad museum featuring the Ezekiel airship, supposedly constructed based on biblical verse and flown before the Wright brothers.
Tyler is a given - although you might want a fan in your hammock - it can get really still and muggy back in the trees.
Fairfield - well, duh, of course this one's good.
Fort Parker (near Mexia) - most of the sites don't really have good hammock spots, but a couple toward the back of the park are good, if a bit prone to skeeters - they're also within hiking distance of the paddling rental. If you rent early enough, they'll shuttle the boat to the put-in for the state-designated paddling trail in the area, but we were perfectly happy just putting in at the take-out in the park, and just paddling upstream.
Thank you for the info!
San Angelo Native here.... The park has over 50 miles of trail. Most of which I've mountain biked. I'm sure there are places where you can hang but most of the trees are bushy desert variety which would be difficult to hang out. A better option but not primitive would be the Goodfellow Rec Camp right by Lake Newsworthy (aka. Lake Nasty Water).
Link to info on rec camp here (http://www.militarycampgrounds.us/milcamps/29-texas/189-goodfellow-afb-recreation-camp)
There are lots of places around Lake Nasworthy that you can hammock hang from for sure. It's city park property and at least 10 years ago when I was a ground dweller I remember no permits or fees were required...it's free!
PM me when you are in San Angelo and I'll send you some links to specific spots around the lake that I've camped at. Also, I've got family there so we go back once a month or so. Maybe we can hang together sometime.
Oh as an FYI, the drinking water in San Angelo tasted bad do some people so get a filter or drink bottled. At restaurants as if water is filtered. And the strange thing about San Angelo compared to other places in Texas is that the Tex-Mex usually comes with a side of cole-slaw but not all you can eat flour tortillas. Some good Chinese food can be found at the Airport Cafe.
Specifically near San Angelo as far as state parks are concerned and hammock hangn' my bets are South Llano River SP and Lake Brownwood SP. Once again I've camped at both when I was a ground dweller and if memory serves correct there were ample trees.
FreedomVan
03-16-2014, 21:53
Kinda bringing back a thread from the dead here, but maybe I can get some feedback. Looking for a car camping spot to hit up on Saturday after a business trip to Austin. Looking for something between Austin and FTW, preferably farther south.
My GF isn't much into camping but wants to go try it because she knows it's important to me. So for her sake bathrooms are important and hopefully some fun stuff to see/do while spending the day there Saturday. For me, I want trees to hang from so I can check out my rig. I've only hung in it one night in a backyard.
McKinney is looking promising. Also looking at Enchanted Rock. Anything else I need to think about?
By the way, my gf will be in my tent and I'll be in the hammock if all goes as planned.
I've hung at McKinney falls in the primitive area. Water was at the sites and a decent bathroom just up the hill. All had areas for at least two hammocks
ScottyDale
03-18-2014, 15:48
Take a look at Lake Mineral Wells State Park. Variety of Camping styles, primitive to full blown RV Friendly. Went there a few times as a ground-hound, but if I recall plenty of hanging possibilities.
Take a look at Lake Mineral Wells State Park. Variety of Camping styles, primitive to full blown RV Friendly. Went there a few times as a ground-hound, but if I recall plenty of hanging possibilities.
+! Love this park