Backcountry Camp at Big Thicket National Preserve
You can camp for free in much of the Big Thicket backcountry! Pick up a permit at the visitor center.
Year-round Pets allowed
National Preserve · TX
Things to do in Big Thicket
The National Park Service lists 20 things to do at Big Thicket National Preserve. 20 have no extra fee, 20 need no reservation, and 18 allow pets. Each listing links to the full NPS page. Data is from the NPS snapshot of Oct 28, 2026.
Updated · NPS Data API
Become a Big Thicket Junior Ranger
Get a free activity booklet from the visitor center and earn a Junior Ranger badge. All ages are welcome!
20-60 Minutes Year-round
Bike the Big Sandy Trail
Take your mountain bike on a 14.7-mile roundtrip trail through the woods of the Big Sandy Creek Unit. See different kinds of forest habitats along the way.
4-8 Hours Year-round Pets allowed
Birdwatch in a Wetland Pine Savannah
Grab your binoculars and birdwatch in a popular spot for our local and migratory birds.
1-2 Hours Year-round Pets allowed
Explore the Rugged Lance Rosier Unit
The Lance Rosier Unit is the largest, wildest area of the Big Thicket. Discover its secrets on this scenic, unpaved auto tour.
1-3 Hours Spring, Summer Pets allowed
Hike the Beaver Slide Trail
1 mile roundtrip | The Beaver Slide Trail is a hidden gem. This short hike leads hikers past several scenic ponds and sloughs. Keep an eye out for beaver dams along the way!
30-60 Minutes Year-round Pets allowed
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Hike the Beech Woods Trail
1½ miles roundtrip | See a forest of American beeches on this pleasant loop hike in the northeastern corner of the preserve.
1-2 Hours Year-round Pets allowed
Hike the Big Sandy Trail
14.7 miles roundtrip | The Big Sandy Trail follows old logging roads through the woods. This is the only trail in the preserve open to bicycles and horses.
Year-round Pets allowed
Hike the Birdwatchers Trail
¾ mile roundtrip | This short hike leads to views of Menard Creek and the Trinity River, an important migration route for birds.
30-60 Minutes Year-round Pets allowed
Hike the Kirby Nature Trail
1½ to 2½ miles roundtrip | Experience the Big Thicket on a gentle loop hike through different kinds of forest. See majestic bald cypress trees and knees and Village Creek.
1-2 Hours Year-round Pets allowed
Hike the Longleaf Pine Trail
1 mile roundtrip | Stroll through a longleaf pine forest near the visitor center on Big Thicket's newest trail.
30-60 Minutes Year-round Pets allowed
Hike the Pitcher Plant Trail
1 mile roundtrip | Follow an easy loop that leads to a boardwalk through a pitcher plant bog where you can look for carnivorous plants in spring and summer.
1-2 Hours Year-round Pets allowed
Hike the Sundew Trail
0.3 to 1 mile roundtrip | Search for tiny red carnivorous plants known as sundews on an easy loop hike through a lush wetland pine savannah.
1-2 Hours Year-round Pets allowed
Hike the Turkey Creek Trail
14 miles one-way | The Turkey Creek Trail leads into the backcountry of the Turkey Creek Unit. Several trailheads at road crossings provide options for shorter hikes.
Year-round Pets allowed
Hike the Woodlands Trail
5 miles roundtrip | The Woodlands Trail loops through different kinds of forest landscapes and some hilly terrain. Find a scenic pond near the beginning of the trail.
2-4 Hours Year-round Pets allowed
Hike to the Sandhill Loop Trail
4½ to 9.4 miles roundtrip | Look for longleaf pines, cacti, and solitude on this out-and-back and loop hike that leads to an arid sandyland ecosystem.
2-8 Hours Year-round Pets allowed
Paddle Through a Cypress Slough
Paddle from one river to another through a cypress slough! Explore quiet oxbow lakes and bayous along the way on this 4.8-mile paddling trail.
4-6 Hours Year-round Pets allowed
Paddle Village Creek
Whether you want to go 2.1 miles or 21 miles, Village Creek is a great place for a paddle trip. Tall trees along the creek provide shade and white sand beaches invite paddlers to stop and relax for awhile.
2-6 Hours Year-round Pets allowed
Picnic by the Bayou
Have a picnic next to Pine Island Bayou at Edgewater Day-Use Area. A short trail starts here and follows the bank of the bayou.
Year-round Pets allowed
Watch the Big Thicket Park Film
Watch a 16-minute film about the story of Big Thicket National Preserve at the visitor center or online.
16 Minutes Year-round
Before you go
Check current alerts and closures, entrance fees and operating hours for Big Thicket. Programs and tours can change with the season or be cancelled on short notice — confirm on the NPS page before you plan around one.
Things to do at nearby parks
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Sources
- National Park Service Data API — things to do, snapshot of Oct 28, 2026. Descriptions are short excerpts; photos are NPS photos shown from nps.gov with their credit.
- Big Thicket National Preserve — things to do on nps.gov