Best Glamping near Gilmer, TX

Absolutely stunning Texas state park located along the Texas Forest Trail that showcases the rolling hills of pine trees that dubbed this region the name “Pineywoods” of East Texas. Clean lake with available kayaking and canoeing, and even paddle boats. RV hookups or tent campgrounds.

A Texas C.C.C. state park in east Texas on Caddo Lake. Beautiful sites and canoe rentals for the old mill pond. Tent sites, RV sites and shelters along with cabins.

Hard to beat for $13/night (annual pass rate), hiking trails are decent, bathrooms are some of the cleanest in Texas and the staff were some of the best!

Stayed at site 47. Great park. Another park that the CCC left its mark on. For a West Texas kid, Caddo feels otherworldly. Fun fishing, many big sites, decent bathrooms.

Very clean and well kept park. Camp sites are across the lake from a Texas Utilities generating plant and it is loud. You do get used to it but if that sort of thing bothers you I wouldn’t recommend this park.

Unique lake ,Beautiful trees all in it.I had a electric and water site, was very nice .on site 36 I was close to a pretty new bathroom they were clean. With a Texas state park pass ,it was $15 a night. AT&T 0-1 bar

This park seems to be a good fit for boaters and Fishermans , not the best hiking trails but there still there, little hike on the island ,is OK, and the other trails I went on did not look like they’ve been used a lot, but again the parks are just re-opening. The RV is well shaded the toilets and showers are Nice and clean. Nice two way drive-through dumpsite. Price with the Texas park pass for one night. $13 . AT&T 2-3 bars

Okay so we visited at the beginning of fall so the mosquitos were on the Down slide but if you come, bring bug spray. It should go without saying, big bits of standing water in Texas, but ya know. The big turn off for me on this park is that, despite its beauty, there is incessant road noise that you hear from every campsite. If you’re a big boater, kayaker, or fisher, maybe you won’t mind because it’s the best place to do those things, but if you’re just looking to escape the city and get away for a while, there aren’t a ton of trails here and the road noise at all hours was not cool.

I went there for 3 nights. It is a beautiful little park. It has an 80 acre lake that is really nice except there is too many lilly pads. I took my tiny camper, fishing poles and kayaks. I wish there where more campsites near the water. It is a quite little park. The campsites are nice. The restrooms are very nice. This park is very clean. The park had different activities during the day on Saturday. They had live music and a campfire that I really enjoyed. Then after that they had a dance with a free jukebox and disco lights. It was fun watching the people dance. They have a really nice fishing dock and a store to buy supplies, sueveniers and ice. They rent Kayaks, paddle boats and boards by the hour. The trails go completely around the lake and are easy and very beautiful . They have free WiFi that actually work. The sunset and night sky is amazing. The racoons are very brave and will rob you of anything they can. Do not leave ice chest out or vehicle windows down. The park is only a couple miles from town. I would say this is one of Texas hidden gems. The people that work there are very nice. You don't have to have a fishing license to fish there and that I like because I didn't have to buy an out of state fishing license. There are lots of places to eat out if you don't want to cook. There is a place called Arnold's about 7 miles from park that has really reasonable food. $4 breakfast Eggs, sausage or bacon, hash browns, and biscuit & gravy. The also have a giant hamburger, bigger than a dinner plate that can feed 4 adults for only $15. Also 2 miles from the park is a big grocery store that is very reasonable, convenience stores, ice machines, and drive in restaurants. There is a $4 per person per day park entry fee. If you are a 100% disabled veteran that fee is waived for you and 1 other person. The campsites with electric are $20 & $25. Unlike many other states Texas does not give discounts for camping if your disabled or hold an America the beautiful pass.

This is a beautiful park which has access into the bayou. The park offers canoe rentals or bring your kayak which you can put in the “pond” and paddle around the amazing cypress trees that are draped in moss. There’s also a boat ramp in the park which has access to Caddo Lake. Sites have lots of trees. There are sites with screened in shelters if you need extra room. Make time to go to Uncertain, Texas and eat at Shady Glade Cafe for the best chicken fried steak you’ll ever eat (I highly advise splitting it). Take your kayak for some beautiful paddle trails. They are putting in new showers/bathrooms in the park that should be complete in September 2018. You won’t regret camping here among the cypress trees.

This was our first experience at a Texas State Park. Overall, the park is clean and well maintained. There are three hiking trails that are between 1.2-1.5 mile each, so we easily accomplished all 3 with our 4 year old. There is decent spacing between camp sites. There is a nice fishing pier, boat launch, and fish cleaning station. Sites are water and electric only, dump station only. All the sites seem well shaded and a decent amount have lake views. Very relaxing trip and a great way to spend the first cool weekend of the fall season. I am only deducting one star because of the noise of the power plant across the lake from the park. While I know it’s out of the park’s control, it’s just something to be aware of. It can be heard from anywhere in the park and takes away from the natural vibes of camping in a state park.

The Caddo Lake State Park is the only true natural lake in Texas. Although the story is that the lake was formed by a giant log jam. The park and lake are notable due to the Cypress trees and Spanish moss that surround much of the lake. The park has campsites with full hookups, campsites with electricity and water and campsites with just water. I visited in July and had no problem finding a campsite. There are some hiking trails, but the main recreational activities center around the lake. In the nearby small town of Uncertain there is the Johnson Bait Shop where you can rent a canoe, kayak or boat to explore the lake. Within the state park, one can fish without a fishing license. There are a few piers from which to fish or one can fish from the shore. Be aware that there is poison ivy in the area and along the shore, so learn to identify it and stay away from it.

Reserved on-line 152 days prior to arrival. 

Pros 

Pristine clean restroom/showerhouse. Seemed recently renovated 

BIG PINE camping area only big rig friendly(longer than 20 ft) out of 40 FHU sites. Big Pine, Dogwood and Mountain View Campgrounds FHU so 40 FHU sites with no park dump station. 

Aluminum picnic table and fire ring with cooking grate 

Very quiet campground except for highway and train noise 

4 camp hosts 

Good night sky viewing in BIG PINE 

Good view of lake in BIG PINE 

Privacy from side neighbors 

No leveling required from side-to-side 

Asphalt parking pad heaved various places due to tree roots creating numerous tripping hazard 

Campsite utility hook-ups in good condition with no problems encountered 

Security gate that closes overnight 

No street lights in BIG PINE 

Campsite and entrance fee discount with Texas State Park Pass 

Not charged a fee to make my own on-line reservation 

CONS 

Most FHU sites (other than BIG PINE) are extremely short in length. Barely room for single axle TT, so need to review site details carefully 

Site 8 had an extreme amount of above ground roots causing tripping hazard

Picnic table approx 50 feet from Site 8 parking pad

Highway and train noise

BIG PINE sites barely off campground road, so therefore no privacy from campers across the road

Restroom/shower facility not heated

No lantern pole

No wildlife sightings

No park Wifi

1 bar AT&T in BIG PINE

This park is easily in our Top 3 in the Texas State Parks system. It's a small park, but a little slice of heaven. Towering pine trees grow right up to the waters' edge. So peaceful. Donna, my wife, will often sit and gaze over the water. 

The park is neat and tidy, and the bathrooms have always been clean. There are several picnic tables by the lake, a swim out platform, kayaks, paddleboats, a fishing pier, and a few swings on the playground. We typically visit during the week, so it's always been pretty quiet. And if you need supplies, there's a Brookshire's grocery nearby(only a few miles away). One trip, we decided to fish and grabbed bait from the Ace Hardware in town. 

We love laying in our hammocks, watching the pines sway, and listening to the birds sing. In the warmer months, we swim and splash around the floating platform. And with a fire pit at every site, s'mores are a given each night(so long as there's no burn ban). 

There's a short trail that circles the lake(about 2.5 miles). We do it EVERY trip. It's a beautiful and easy hike. Take a picnic and make your way to the CCC picnic area on the lake's other side. There will be a spot where you can enjoy your lunch, looking back across the water.(But don't let your dog grab your PB&J when you're not looking or you'll be hungry on the way back.)

We were eaten alive. It is to be expected that you will attract mosquitoes, but this was extreme. Nothing we did short of covering our bodies in toxic chemicals would stop them. Even then they surrounded us. We also came home with fleas, also not the end of the world, but unpleasant.

The park itself is must see for fans of the forests of East Texas. The lake is so intriguing and the history is very interesting. It is a heavily populated and used lake... I wouldn't describe it as a peaceful area. I could also do without the partisan political imagery surrounding the park. The park is large enough and the campsites are embedding into the woods.

Campsites are thankfully spread out and when were there it was maybe 35-40% capacity. Lots of privacy. Be sure to stop during the day and listen, you'll hear trees and birds. 

Park is situated among lake towns, but during the day and morning it is very quiet. evening and nights are much louder. The trails need some updating.

Amenities used:

Bathrooms need some updating, but were clean

Trails need work done

Minimal firewood available

Be smart and come prepared and you'll be wowed.