Are you planning a trip to Grapeland with your horse? We've got you covered. Whether you own a horse or are joining a tour group, equestrian camping is an adventurous and unique way to experience the city. These scenic and easy-to-reach Texas campsites are perfect for your horse camping excursion.
Ratcliff Lake Recreation Area was built in 1936 by the Civilian Conservation Corps. It surrounds a picturesque 45-acre lake that was once a log pond and a source of water for the Central Coal and Coke Company sawmill which operated from 1902 to 1920. The facility is open year-round and includes a large campground, picnic areas, a reservable amphitheater, a swim area and many opportunities for outdoor recreation. Camping is available year-round. The Davy Crockett National Forest, named for the legendary pioneer, contains more than 160,000 acres of East Texas woodlands, streams, recreation areas and wildlife habitat. Located in Houston and Trinity Counties, the forest is centrally located within the Neches and Trinity River basins.
Swimming, fishing, hunting, hiking and picnicking are the area's main activities. The designated swimming area and playground provides much fun for the kids (no lifeguard on duty). Fishing piers are available for anglers to try for largemouth bass, bream and channel/blue catfish. Only electric motors are allowed on the lake. Principal game for hunting on the national forest includes squirrel, deer, quail, dove, turkey and waterfowl. Three main hiking trails can be accessed from the facility: the 1.5-mile Tall Pines, 0.75-mile Trail Tamers and the 20-mile Four C, which winds through many types of forests to a scenic overlook. Learn more about recreation in the national forest.
The campground is heavily forested with loblolly pine, oak and other hardwoods, and surrounds Ratcliff Lake. A wide variety of wildlife exists in the area, including the endangered red-cockaded woodpecker.
The Big Slough Wilderness Area, located along the Neches River about five miles north of Ratcliff, is free of modern development and gives the visitor a place for solitude and primitive experiences.
$30 / night
The Piney Creek Horse Trail is a system of horse trails that meanders approximately 53 miles through the East Texas pineywoods in the Davy Crockett National Forest. Trail riding groups of more than 75 persons (including spectators) will need a Special-Use Permit and should contact the District Office three months prior to the ride date. The trail is primitive. Use caution in wet weather since parts of the trail flood. Some sections of the trail route around the bottomlands and can be used even in wet weather. ~ Map ~
This is a horse camp on the Piney Creek Horse Trail. ~ Map ~
$10 / night
The Alazan Bayou WMA has 2,063 acres located in southern Nacogdoches County. The WMA was purchased in 1991 to preserve mature bottomland hardwood forests adjacent to the Angelina River. In addition to the Angelina River other significant drainages include Loco Bayou and Moral Creek. The bottomland forest typically begins to flood during mid winter as the river and bayous overbank and inundation continues through early spring. Hunting is permitted with an Annual Public Hunting Permit (APH) and some special permit hunts may be offered. Check the Outdoor Annual and the Public Hunting Lands Maps Booklet for information on methods, species, seasons and bag limits.
Please note:
-Bring your own drinking water.
-Insect repellant is recommended for mosquitoes.
-High heat and humidity in the summer should be taken into consideration when planning a visit.
-There are no restroom facilities.
-The WMA is not wheel-chair accessible.
-Primitive camping is available.
$12 - $42 / night
Ranger
Has great camping. Entertains many hike trails. One even for handicap person to follow thru. Good for horses or bikes. You can go for miles even to a dispersed camping lookout point.
Ranger
This is another Great in deep e. Texas. They have really clean it up over the years. Even thin out more by the swimming area and boat ramps. Has a boat ramp but no electric motors. Also a dump station. They upgraded a RV spot that also has a playground too. You will find remants of the old sawmill here.
Traveler
Nice area for dispersed camping. Several level areas. Great hiking / horse riding trails around. Would not recommend this area during hunting season. Accessible via car, good roads, smaller trailers. If RVing, will need levelers.
TravelerIf you're someone who camps to get away from everyone, this is not the spot for you. It should come to no surprise that it isn't secluded as it does have several sites available. There's bathrooms and showers, a swim area, fishing, and a selection of trails to do while staying here. At the primitive sites you get a fire pit and a picnic table. Great place overall.
Guide
Can over for a day use before the park closes permanently. Such a beautiful park , sad I didn’t get a chance to camp. Let’s start the review.
The trails were nicely labeled the kids and I enjoyed hiking and stoping take in the beautiful park before it gets transform into a million dollar community. Restroom was nice and clean. Visit towards the end of February Ann’s it was such a great weather.
ScoutQuiet national forest hunting camp with vault toilet and water, but no amenities at the individual campsites. Bring your own generator and dry camp. Great, well marked Trail system. Be careful during hunting season!
ScoutNice spots. You better have a reservation if you’re coming on the weekend . Burn ban wasn’t fun in February but the lake is pretty and park is clean.
LegendPretty campground. Tall pine trees. Camped with our camper van along the loblolly loop. Not suitable for large rigs in this section. Level tent pads. Sites have access to the lake. Loved the tall trees. Restroom/shower rooms were very clean. See previous reviews about this. Paved roads & driveways in this section. No water & electric hookups in this section, but available in another section of the campground. Water spigot nearby for drinking water. Busy Hwy 7 is nearby; road noise from big rigs can get loud sometimes. AT&T cell/data service okay. No T-Mobile cell/data service. Would like to camp here again & explore some of the hiking trails.
GuideEvery camp site was clean and well kept. Had a beautiful swimming area that we will be going back to try out as we were there in the Fall.
TravelerI camped in the Springfield loop. Fairly new picnic table, decent site for a hammock. I hiked and ran on the Dockery Trail, which has a nice mix of parks and pines. I also visited the swimming area which was a 4 mile drive, though I didn't swim.
GuideSolo camped with my big dog and had a blast. I went Sunday thru Tuesday, so I was the only camper on the entire loop!
Lots of water spigots, lots of shade, and sturdy fire pits make this campground really convenient. Most lakeside campsites appeared to have canoe ramps worn in.
The bathrooms were spectacular. Each pod of bathrooms had 4 separate ADA compliant facilities, and each facility/room had a shower, a toilet, a sink, benches, transfer bars, and MOST importantly a locking door. It meant I didn't have to leave my dog in the car or wrestle him into a bathroom stall every time I had to go! Also, the showers had hot water.
I didn't get a chance to use the trails, as heavy rains the day before I got there had knocked out the bridges on the trails, so, I had a great time hanging out at my site with a beautiful view!
ScoutThis park is beautiful with lots of areas to explore. The camp sites are all in one location and are very close to one another. Some sites are awesome while others are kind of awful, unfortunately. We were in site 004 and it wasn't great. There wasn't a good spot for a tent or a hammock. However, site 005 was much better. The sites that are listed as next to the bathrooms are RIGHT next to the bathrooms.
GuideWe loved kayaking this lake! Camped at RV and shelter site, both were great!
TravelerWhat the campsites lacks in remoteness it makes up for with everything else.
Very well-maintained National Forest site just off Texas Highway 7 in the middle of the Davey Crockett National Forest.
Highlights for the site include:
very well-spaced apart offering more privacy than usually afforded
restrooms and showers were clean.
Access to hacking trails in the national forest
Easy access to food/fuel/firewood
A large variety of species for birdwatching
Small lake with deck for launching kayaks or SUPs
There was not water at every site, so bring a longer hose and be ready to fill your tanks or containers.
Road noise from highway was audible, but not too distracting.
LegendHuge site! Water frontage to die for. Be warned tho.. no At&T. Dead zone, so plan ahead. Other carriers unknown
GuideThis is one of our favorite campgrounds due to the sense woods, well spaced campsites, clean family style bathrooms, and activities such as hiking, fishing, and swimming. Highly recommend!
LegendOn our spring 2017 RV adventure we spent two nights RV camping at Fairfield Lake State Park. Fairfield Lake State Park is such a beautiful place to camp, fish and swim. We realy enjoy this stunning park! The campground at Fairfield Lake State Park is heavily treed and very well shaded. Thanks to being located on a power plant lake Fairfield Lake State Park has great fishing! Stocked with Red Drum, Bass, catfish and even Blue Tilapia there is a fish for everyone! Fairfield Lake State Park is one of my favorite Texas State Parks! You will not regret spending any amount of time visiting Fairfield Lake State Park.
I have several videos of this great park on my YouTube ....DudeRV.com
TravelerNice location! Had fun
GuideIn the fall I could imagine staying here for a week. I didn't, this time, but I could imagine doing it. campsites were large and deep. Obviously you don't want to hang around the grass near the lakefront too much, cause of gators. Pick your site carefully online before you go, there are good and bad sites. Our site had quite a bit of litter and small bits of trash. The site with the lake views are stunning. Get them if you can.
Bathhouse is fully enclosed bathroom and shower, fully ADA, and locking doors. Sinks have outlets. I don't know what else to say but the lolliby loop was really nice. Walking the campgrounds was very pleasurable. The little hiking trails were nice too. the sections of the 4C trail we walked were really chill, very flat. The more dynamic and better marked trails were in mission tejas about 20mins away, but, the better campsites were at Lake Ratcliff. Not a great or inviting park name, but it was nice campsite. Only downside was the highway was audible at all hours.
Amenities used:
Bathhouse
TravelerGreat place to stay great for the kids and the entire family. Wonderful location with so much to see and do. Will be going back there again very soon.
TravelerA beautiful park for those that love true nature. This park is huge and has several miles of hiking trail options. Although the park is very large, the campsites are quite crowded and set to one area of the lake. For those wanting to camp with a view of the water, don’t go. This lake is very grassy on the edges (tall/thick cattails) and it is really wooded along the shoreline. With that being said, it does have a nice and large swimming area with sandy bottom. Staff was extremely friendly!!
ScoutI am a touring cyclist. I stopped here for an overnight. Small shelter I set up my tent under as there was rain in the area. A lot of trash in the area.
Tip:... if cycling the area. About a mile west of this camping area there is a pipe coming out of the ground on the north side of the road. Spewing cold potable water. Great place to fill water bottles if you can find it.
ScoutNice campground area. In the Davey Crockett Nat forest. Nice little swimming area. Clean bathrooms.quiet
LegendNice park , long drive after entering the park 2 to 3 miles to the campsite. Good for cycling.Hiking was a nice shady walk good tree cover , but not enough clearing to see some locations on the lake, there’s some man-made paths but check your legs for ticks when you come out of those. Overall a nice park, no AT&T or T-Mobile connection, except if you go to the boat ramp top of the hill you’ll get a signal there.6/14/2020. $20 one night. AT&T no bars --T-Mobil no bars.
TravelerNice, quiet, area to get away and enjoy alone or with family. Great trails and a small lake to enjoy kayaking, fishing, and swimming.
TravelerI didnt go fishing, but I heard its a great spot. There’s a plant across the way that ruins the view and disturbs the lighting. It seems to be a place with a very natural feel, other than the big plant.
GuideGreat campgrounds for a getaway, wasn’t able to stay long, but lots of nice trails and beautiful wildlife.
Horse camping in Texas offers a unique blend of outdoor adventure and equestrian enjoyment, with several well-reviewed spots catering to horse enthusiasts.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Grapeland, TX?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Grapeland, TX is Ratcliff Lake Recreation Area with a 4.7-star rating from 17 reviews.
What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Grapeland, TX?
TheDyrt.com has all 4 equestrian camping locations near Grapeland, TX, with real photos and reviews from campers.
