Trails
Boy Scout Trail
Open Season: Open year round sunrise to sunset. Hiking only. Not open to biking or horseback riding. Closed until 1:00 p.m. on weekends from November through January due to Waterfowl Hunting.
Length: 0.14 miles
Location of trail: Champion Lake Day Use Area (29.921353, -94.799573)
Surface: Natural earth
Difficulty: Easy
Information: Boy Scout Trail begins in the parking lot in front of the fishing pier, next to the Champion Lake Boat Ramp. A small wooden boardwalk crosses a small drainage and then leads uphill, through a young forest following the edge of Champion Lake. The trail ends at Paseo de Los Patos Trailhead at the pollinator garden at the top of the hill.
Paseo de los Patos Trail
Open Season: Open year round sunrise to sunset. Hiking only. Not open to biking or horseback riding. Closed until 1:00 p.m. on weekends from November through January due to Waterfowl Hunting.
Length: 0.25 miles
Location of trail: Champion Lake Day Use Area (29.921353, -94.799573)
Surface: Natural earth
Difficulty: Easy
Information: Paseo de los Patos Trail begins at the trailhead located at the backside of the pollinator garden at the top of the hill. Paseo de los Patos Trail is named in tribute to the Casa de Los Patos Hunt Lodge, erected in the 1940’s by Champion Paper and Fibre Company. This trail traverses the mixed hardwood forest at the edge of Champion Lake. Hike under the canopy of red mulberries, southern magnolia, and baldcypress trees. This trail is a loop.
Wood Duck Walkabout Trail
Open Season: Open year round sunrise to sunset. Hiking only. Not open to biking or horseback riding. Closed until 1:00 p.m. on weekends from November through January due to Waterfowl Hunting.
Length: 0.24 miles
Location of trail: Champion Lake Day Use Area (29.921353, -94.799573)
Surface: Natural earth
Difficulty: Moderate
Information: This trail begins near the parking lot of Champion Lake fishing pier over to the Pickett’s Bayou boat ramp and explores the ridges beyond. Dwarf palmettos, American elm, and water oak add to the mystery of this trail. This trail loops back to the parking lot in front of the cabins. It is sure to be a quiet hike.
Black-bellied Byway Trail
Open Season: Open year round sunrise to sunset. Hiking only. Not open to biking or horseback riding. Closed till 1 pm on weekends from November through January due to Waterfowl Hunting.
Length: 0.10 miles
Location of trail: Champion Lake Day Use Area (29.921353, -94.799573)
Surface: Natural earth
Difficulty: Easy
Information: This trail connects to Paseo de los Patos Trail. This trail continues down to the edge of Champion Lake. This trail leads to the water’s edge, under the canopy of the baldcypress trees.
Levee Trail
Open Season: Open year round sunrise to sunset. Hiking only. Not open to biking or horseback riding. Closed till 1 pm on weekends from November through January due to Waterfowl Hunting.
Length: 2.3 miles
Location of trail: Champion Lake Day Use Area (29.921353, -94.799573)
Surface: Natural earth
Difficulty: Easy
Information: The Levee Trail is a hiking trail which follows the Champion Lake levee, crosses a spillway, and leads to the floodplain of the Trinity River. Visitors can catch close up glimpses of blue crab, alligators, and fish. This bottomland hardwood forest is filled with various oaks, elms, ash, water hickory, black willow, and baldcypress trees. The forest in this area is different from our forests in the northern part of the county. This area is a transition zone from the bottomland hardwood forest habitat to the coastal marsh.
Boar’s Den Trails
Open Season: This trailhead is closed seasonally to hiking during hunt season. Each year hunt season dates vary from late September to mid-January. For safety reasons, please call the Refuge Office during this season to ensure the area is open to hikers before visiting.
Length: 5.6 miles
Location of trail: Boar’s Den Day Use Area (30.277359, -94.795578)
Surface: Natural earth
Difficulty: Easy
Information: This day use area has 5.6 miles of unnamed hiking trails. These trails help hikers explore from the edge of the floodplain to the Trinity River. This bottomland hardwood forest is filled with various oaks, elms, ash, water hickory, American sycamore, eastern cottonwood, and baldcypress trees. This area also has nice stands of river cane where Swainson’s warblers may be heard. Take the turn off immediately before the northeast side of the Trinity River bridge, proceed down, and park near the underside of the overpass. Please do not park on or in front of the wooden bridge.
Brierwood Trails
Open Season: This trailhead is closed seasonally to hiking during hunt season. Each year hunt season dates vary from late September to mid-January. For safety reasons, please call the Refuge Office during this season to ensure the area is open to hikers before visiting.
Length: 6.6 miles
Location of trail: Brierwood Day Use Area (30.264619, -94.837469)
Surface: Natural earth
Difficulty: Easy
Information: This day use area has 6.6 miles of unnamed hiking trails. There is a short loop (0.6 miles) and a long loop (6.0 miles). This bottomland hardwood forest is filled with various oaks, elms, ash, water hickory, American sycamore, eastern cottonwood, and baldcypress trees. Please park in the parking lot and take care not to block the gate.
Butler Trails
Open Season: This trailhead is closed seasonally to hiking during hunt season. Each year hunt season dates vary from late September to mid-January. For safety reasons, please call the Refuge Office during this season to ensure the area is open to hikers before visiting.
Length: 0.45 miles
Location of trail: Butler Day Use Area (30.346991, -94.895746)
Surface: Natural earth
Difficulty: Easy
Information: This day use area has 0.45 miles of unnamed hiking trails. The north fork (0.1 miles) goes to a small pond and the south fork (0.15 miles) proceeds to a piney area. To explore the floodplain forest, hikers may follow the north or south fenceline to visit’s Ander’s Pond, an 80-acre tupelo pond. From this point it is bottomland hardwood forest all the way to the Trinity River. This bottomland hardwood forest is filled with various oaks, elms, ash, water hickory, American sycamore, eastern cottonwood, and baldcypress trees. Please park in the parking lot and take care not to block the gate.
Hirsch Trails
Open Season: This trailhead is closed seasonally to hiking during hunt season. Each year hunt season dates vary from late September to mid-January. For safety reasons, please call the Refuge Office during this season to ensure the area is open to hikers before visiting.
Length: 3.65 miles
Location of trail: Hirsch Day Use Area (30.219785, -94.793946)
Surface: Natural earth
Difficulty: Easy
Information: This day use area has 3.65 miles of unnamed hiking trails which explore the mature bottomland hardwood forest of the Trinity River. After 0.24 miles of hiking from the trailhead, you have the option to hike northwest towards the Trinity River for 1.75 miles or east going deeper into the forest for 1.66 miles. This bottomland hardwood is forest is filled with various oaks, elms, ash, water hickory, American sycamore, eastern cottonwood, and baldcypress trees. This area also has nice stands of river cane where Swainson’s warblers may be heard. Please park in the parking lot and take care not to block the gate.
Silver Lake Boardwalk Trail
Open Season: This trailhead is closed seasonally to hiking during hunt season when the wildlife observation blind provides accessible hunting opportunities. Each year hunt season dates vary from late September to mid-January. For safety reasons, please call the Refuge Office during this season to ensure the area is open to hikers before visiting.
Length: 0.1 miles
Location of trail: Silver Lake Day Use Area
Surface: ADA Compliant
Difficulty: Easy
Information: This day use area features a 0.1 mile accessible boardwalk which leads to a wildlife observation blind overlooking a right-of-way. This boardwalk leads hikers through a mixed hardwood forest of the Trinity River. If hikers choose to hike the county road in the direction of the Trinity River, they will find impressive baldcypress swamps with knees 5 feet tall as the forest transitions from a mixed hardwood forest to a bottomland hardwood forest. The mixed hardwood and bottomland hardwood forests are filled with loblolly pine, various oaks, elms, ash, water hickory, American sycamore, eastern cottonwood, and baldcypress trees. Please park in the parking lot, not on the road.
McGuire Trails
Open Season: This trailhead is closed seasonally to hiking during hunt season. Each year hunt season dates vary from late September to mid-January. For safety reasons, please call the Refuge Office during this season to ensure the area is open to hikers before visiting.
Length: 3.36 miles
Location of trail: McGuire Day Use Area (30.176212, -94.788238)
Surface: Natural earth
Difficulty: Easy
Information: This day use area has 3.36 miles of unnamed hiking trails in 3 overlapping loops. Hikers can explore the mature bottomland hardwood forest of the Trinity River using these trails. This bottomland hardwood forest is filled with various oaks, elms, ash, water hickory, American sycamore, eastern cottonwood, and baldcypress trees. Use the metal boardwalk to cross over Green’s Bayou to explore further. Please park in the parking lot and take care not to block the gate.
Page Trails
Open Season: This trailhead is closed seasonally to hiking during hunt season. Each year hunt season dates vary from late September to mid-January. For safety reasons, please call the Refuge Office during this season to ensure the area is open to hikers before visiting.
Length: 4.6 miles
Location of trail: Page Day Use Area (30.27293, -94.801737)
Surface: Natural earth
Difficulty: Easy
Information: This day use area has 4.6 miles of unnamed hiking trails in a long loop (3.6 miles) and a spur (1.0 mile) which approaches the point bar of the Trinity River. This bottomland hardwood forest is filled with various oaks, elms, ash, water hickory, American sycamore, eastern cottonwood, and baldcypress trees. Four inholdings of private property are located in this area, beware of trespassing accidentally. Please park in the parking lot and take care not to block the gate.
Knobby Knees Trail
Open Season: Open year round sunrise to sunset. Hiking only. Not open to biking or horseback riding.
Length: 1.0 mile
Location of trail: Knobby Knees Day Use Area (30.0861716, -94.783881)
Surface: Natural earth
Difficulty: Easy
Information: Knobby Knees Trail features a symphony of knobby knees that can be seen peeking out from the waters of the still wetlands. This trail is suitable for children 3 and up and has several benches for taking a break. Look above your head for waterlines in the trees. During flood events, this trail can go 8 feet underwater. This trail leads to Palmer Bayou Boardwalk and Observation Deck.
Palmer Bayou Boardwalk and Observation Deck
Open Season: Open year round sunrise to sunset. Hiking only. Not open to biking or horseback riding.
Length: 500 feet
Location of trail: Knobby Knees Day Use Area (30.0861716, -94.783881)
Surface: Natural earth and boardwalk; not ADA Compliant
Difficulty: Easy
Information: Palmer Bayou Boardwalk and Observation Deck (500ft) connect the Knobby Knees Trail to the Leapin’ Lizard Loop. This boardwalk crosses a wetland which transitions from a hardwood forest to a small eastern swamp privet swamp. The observation deck offers scenic views of Palmer Bayou. There visitors can rest under the shade of two baldcypress trees on benches and listen to birds while little ones can marvel at whirligig water beetles sliding over the glassy waters. If the boardwalk is flooded over, everything past it is flooded over as well.
Leapin’ Lizard Loop Trail
Open Season: Open year round sunrise to sunset. Hiking only. Not open to biking or horseback riding.
Length: 1.8 miles
Location of trail: Knobby Knees Day Use Area (30.0861716, -94.783881)
Surface: Natural earth
Difficulty: Easy
Information: Leapin’ Lizard Loop follows Palmer Bayou to a pipeline right-of-way. The trail transitions from an intact bottomland hardwood forest to one which was timbered approximately 25 years ago. Note the change from a variety of large trees to a monoculture of Chinese tallow trees in some areas. This trails follows an old logging road, but also winds through the trees. This trail has two shortcuts, both of which lead north, to Cottonmouth Trace.
Cottonmouth Trace Trail
Open Season: Open year round sunrise to sunset. Hiking only. Not open to biking or horseback riding.
Length: 0.75 miles
Location of trail: Knobby Knees Day Use Area (30.0861716, -94.783881)
Surface: Natural earth
Difficulty: Easy
Information: Cottonmouth Trace is a remnant of an old logging road. This trail leads to Josie Lake Scenic View. The north and east sections of this trail are still very well defined and follow parts of Josie Lake, an oxbow lake of the Trinity River. The southern section is a foot path that winds through the woods to Bobcat Bend Loop. Note minor changes in elevation as this trail passes through ridges and swales.
Bobcat Bend Loop Trail
Open Season: Open year round sunrise to sunset. Hiking only. Not open to biking or horseback riding.
Length: 2.6 miles
Location of trail: Knobby Knees Day Use Area (30.0861716, -94.783881)
Surface: Natural earth
Difficulty: Easy
Information: Bobcat Bend Loop passes through various habitats because it rises in elevation as it approaches the Trinity River. The soils change from clay soils to sandy soils. Trees also vary from oaks, ashes, elms, and privet to American sycamore and eastern cottonwood as the trail approaches the river. This trail also offers a close up experience of river cane, a staple of the Big Thicket of Texas habitat.
Bobcat Tail Trail
Open Season: Open year round sunrise to sunset. Hiking only. Not open to biking or horseback riding.
Length: 300 feet
Location of trail: Knobby Knees Day Use Area (30.0861716, -94.783881)
Surface: Natural earth
Difficulty: Easy
Information: Bobcat Tail Trail is a short spur off of Bobcat Bend loop which brings people to Bobcat Tail Trail Scenic Overlook. It crosses through American sycamore trees to gain a hidden view of the river. One may cross the sandy point bar to enjoy the waters and view of the Trinity River. It is called Bobcat Trail because it is such a short trail.
Spirit Oaks Trail
Open Season: Open year round sunrise to sunset. Hiking only. Not open to biking or horseback riding.
Length: 0.6 miles
Location of trail: Knobby Knees Day Use Area (30.0861716, -94.783881)
Surface: Natural earth
Difficulty: Easy
Information: Spirit Oaks Trail is a longer spur which travels through two baldcypress swamps as it makes its way to Arkokisa Oaks Scenic View. This trail also crosses through American sycamore trees to the point bar of the river where the sands of Trinity River are especially scenic.
The SCA Way Trail
Open Season: Open year round sunrise to sunset. Hiking only. Not open to biking or horseback riding.
Length: 1.5 miles
Location of trail: Knobby Knees Day Use Area (30.0861716, -94.783881)
Surface: Natural earth
Difficulty: Easy
Information: The SCA Way is a trail which follows a high ridge of the Trinity River to an old unnamed oxbow lake. This trail stays on the high ridge where the point bar has been reforesting itself over time. At Sycamore Swales Scenic View, where the forgotten point bars of the oxbow lake transition to a cut bank edge, American sycamore trees dominate the inner edge of the oxbow. Take a moment to listen to the sounds of the trees lining the oxbow as their leaves clap in the wind.
Golden Orb Weaver Trail
Open Season: Open year round sunrise to sunset. Hiking only. Not open to biking or horseback riding.
Length: 0.4 miles
Location of trail: Knobby Knees Day Use Area (30.0861716, -94.783881)
Surface: Natural earth
Difficulty: Easy
Information: Golden Orb Weaver Trail is a small loop trail which connects The SCA Way and Bobcat Bend Loop. The east side of this trail demonstrates a nice, gradual change in elevation. The sandy ridge gives way to the lower clay-based habitat where water does not drain as quickly and floodwaters tend to linger just a bit longer.
‘Possum Passel Pass
Open Season: Open year round sunrise to sunset. Hiking only. Not open to biking or horseback riding.
Length: 1.2 miles
Location of trail: Great Egret’s Ridge Day Use Area (30.0603904, -94.8070868)
Surface: Natural earth
Difficulty: Easy
Information: ‘Possum Passel Pass traverses the Great Egret’s Ridge Day Use Area south to north. It follows a two-track road which is used for maintenance of a right-of-way. This road starts on an artificially high road and then drops down into the floodplain where water hickory and associated forested wetland trees dominate. The road parallels Big Bayou for the most part and leads to Twin Lakes Scenic View, a thin stretch of land between Twin Lake and Big Bayou. At this scenic view, one can visit the wildlife photography blind overlooking Twin Lake or can hunker down and spy animals catching a drink from Big Bayou. Two benches can be found along this trail for hikers who would like to sit and enjoy.
Great Egret’s Ridge Trail
Open Season: Open year round sunrise to sunset. Hiking only. Not open to biking or horseback riding.
Length: 2.0 miles
Location of trail: Great Egret’s Ridge Day Use Area (30.0603904, -94.8070868)
Surface: Natural earth
Difficulty: Easy
Information: Great Egret’s Ridge Trail leaves the two track road and winds into the trees of the forest. This trail crosses shallow ephemeral wetlands created by the ridge and swale topography. Cricket’s Corner Scenic View is the first scenic view along the way to the Trinity River. This view features Big Bayou and an impressive array of baldcypress knees. Very large species of oak trees can also be found in this area. Two benches have been placed along this trail for hikers who would like to sit and enjoy.
Inchworm Trail
Open Season: Open year round sunrise to sunset. Hiking only. Not open to biking or horseback riding.
Length: 0.16 miles
Location of trail: Great Egret’s Ridge Day Use Area (30.0603904, -94.8070868)
Surface: Natural earth
Difficulty: Easy
Information: Inchworm Trail is a shortcut to the southern tip of Twin Lakes. The trees in this area are thin and spindly. The area is recovering from being harvested approximately 25 years ago. Take a look across the drainage to see trees which were not harvested. Note the structure structure
Something temporarily or permanently constructed, built, or placed; and constructed of natural or manufactured parts including, but not limited to, a building, shed, cabin, porch, bridge, walkway, stair steps, sign, landing, platform, dock, rack, fence, telecommunication device, antennae, fish cleaning table, satellite dish/mount, or well head.
Learn more about structure of the forest on both sides.
Great Egret’s Scenic View Trail
Open Season: Open year round sunrise to sunset. Hiking only. Not open to biking or horseback riding.
Length: 150 feet
Location of trail: Great Egret’s Ridge Day Use Area (30.0603904, -94.8070868)
Surface: Natural earth
Difficulty: Easy
Information: Great Egret’s Scenic View Trail is a short trail which leads to Great Egret’s Ridge Scenic View where a deep swale between the point bar of the Trinity River and the edge of its riverine corridor can be found. Hikers may explore the Trinity River sandbar from this point.
Sandbar Access Trail
Open Season: Open year round sunrise to sunset. Hiking only. Not open to biking or horseback riding.
Length: 250 feet
Location of trail: Great Egret’s Ridge Day Use Area (30.0603904, -94.8070868)
Surface: Natural earth
Difficulty: Easy
Information: Sandbar Access Trail (250 ft) is a short trail which leads to Backpacker’s Point Scenic View, a transitional zone from a cut bank to a point bar of the Trinity River. It is quite a view of the sandbar from this point. Hikers may explore the Trinity River sandbar from here. Note the amount of sunlight on this trail. As the river continues to overflow its banks, it deposits large amounts of sand, up to four feet deep sometimes, killing trees which are not adapted to survive these conditions. American sycamore and Eastern cottonwoods dominate these areas because they are adapted to such conditions.
Boggy Boots Loop
Open Season: Open year round sunrise to sunset. Hiking only. Not open to biking or horseback riding.
Length: 1.4 miles
Location of trail: Great Egret’s Ridge Day Use Area (30.0603904, -94.8070868)
Surface: Natural earth
Difficulty: Easy
Information: Boggy Boots Loop traverses the floodplain from Big Bayou to the Trinity River. This trail gives a great picture of the habitat associations of trees and change in elevation in the floodplain. The soils change from clay soils to sandy soils. This loop can be a bit soggy in two particular sections. Trees also vary from oaks, ashes, elms, and privet to American sycamore and eastern cottonwood as the trail approaches the river. This loop leads to Trinity River Overlook Scenic View and visits Forgotten Bend Scenic View, a former cutbank which filled with sand and features some interesting topography. One-half of this trail is an old logging road while the other half winds through the trees and wetlands.
The SCA Way Trail
Open Season: Open year round sunrise to sunset. Hiking only. Not open to biking or horseback riding.
Length: 1.7 miles
Location of trail: Great Egret’s Ridge Day Use Area (30.0603904, -94.8070868)
Surface: Natural earth
Difficulty: Easy
Information: The SCA Way is a trail which follows a high ridge of the Trinity River to an old unnamed oxbow lake. Along the way, very large majestic trees dominate the areas with their canopies.
Treefrog Trail
Open Season: This trail experiences seasonal closures. The trail is open January to September, but is closed during the deer hunting season (October-December). Hiking only. Not open to biking or horseback riding.
Length: 0.4 miles
Location of trail: Great Egret’s Ridge Day Use Area (30.0603904, -94.8070868)
Surface: Natural earth
Difficulty: Easy
Information: Treefrog Trail connects Treefrog Trailhead to the Bobby Boots Loop. The trail begins on a pipeline right-of-way, but turns south into a low elevation forest after the culvert. Note the sparse vegetation, indicating this black soil is very high in clay and moisture content. Water hickory and oaks are the dominant trees in the overstory. Treefrog Trail crosses Big Bayou at Mason Bridge and then proceeds to Boggy Boots Loop. ADVISORY: This trail is adjacent to private land. Please stay on the marked tail and do not trespass into the private lands.
Pollinator Garden Trail
Open Season: Open year round sunrise to sunset. Hiking only. Not open to biking or horseback riding. Closed till 1 pm on weekends from November through January due to Waterfowl Hunting
Length: 150 feet
Location of trail: Champion Lake Day Use Area (29.921353, -94.799573)
Surface: ADA Compliant
Difficulty: Easy
Information: The Pollinator Garden is located at the parking lot at the top of the hill. Visitors may feel free to enter the pollinator garden to view pollinators interacting with Texas native plant species and smell the flowers. A bench is available so you may enjoy the buzzing. This garden is also appropriate to bring children up close to the colorful world of pollinators.
Champion Lake Fishing Pier
Open Season: Open year round sunrise to sunset. Hiking only. Not open to biking or horseback riding. Closed till 1 pm on weekends from November through January due to Waterfowl Hunting.
Length: 100 feet
Location of trail: Champion Lake Day Use Area (29.921353, -94.799573)
Surface: ADA Compliant
Difficulty: Easy
Information: One may enjoy wildlife observation, photography, and fishing from Champion Lake Fishing Pier as there is much to see. From the Champion Lake fishing pier, hikers can sightsee along the Levee Trail.