Searching for a dispersed campsite near Sam Houston National Forest? The Dyrt provides you with a diverse selection of places to camp, from dispersed backcountry camping to boondocking, and everything in-between. Find dispersed campsites you've visited before, or discover new spots from other campers.
Lake Houston Wilderness Park (LHWP) is a beautiful, lushly forested expanse of nearly 5,000 acres, located three miles east of New Caney (approximately 30 miles north of Houston) off Hwy-59. Lake Houston Wilderness Park is the only park in the department that allows overnight stays in cabins and campsites.
Most of the park is heavily forested with over 20 miles of trails which provide a quiet escape from the bustling city. The park offers a variety of outdoor experiences for people of all ages including camping, hiking, trail running, mountain biking, canoeing, kayaking, birding, fishing and horseback riding trails (visitors must bring own bikes, fishing equipment, watercraft, and horses).
The climate is usually warm and humid during the summer months and the winters are generally mild and short. The average summer temperature is around 90° but overall the average temperature throughout the year is around 67°. The average rainfall 51 inches.
$7 - $150 / night
Due to lower elevtation, during periods of heavy rain, please contact the district office for current status of trails and campgrounds. (936)-344-6205.
This campground area located at the end of Forest Service Road 271. It has eight campsites with picnic tables, fire rings and lantern posts.
Tent camping is available here. Individuals must utilize the adjacent parking area and walk into the camping units. The area is very primitive with no potable water or electricity. Kelly's Pond is a trailhead for the Sam Houston Multi-Use motorized trail.
Kelly's Pond was a great one-nighter for me. It was very quiet, and I had no issues.
It did appear that some individuals have/had made this a more permanent home, I had been here previously to do some "scouting" if you will, and noticed some of the same campers. They weren't bothering anyone, but if that's something that makes you uncomfortable, you might spring the pocket change for Cagle down the road.
Free camping and apart from people. only 1 bar of service. definitely recommend.
We showed up in the middle of night. There was a gate that was locked. It is a really pretty place if you can find a campsite somewhere else
Spent a few days in late July on the trail. Went 22 miles then turned back to Stubblefield Campground to stop. Too hot for an old guy, but it was a very enjoyable, well maintained, and well marked journey. We’ll be back.
Love the trails. My favorite is the trail that leads you to Lake Isabella. It can only be reached by hiking to it. Very peaceful. We have camped at LHWP and love it. Clean restrooms are a plus.
Plenty of trails , wildlife , bathrooms and good fishing. We go here a lot! It’s always good fun! And very clean.
Stayed here recently and it was “ok” didn’t like the fact that you have to park away from your camp site and walk everything in, especially when there are “roads” that lead to the camp sites. Also didn’t appreciate the camp staff riding their gator around camp well after 12am with their head lights shining in our camp.
I had a fantastic time but I can't say the same for my son. He never been camping before, loves X-Box....
Well we called and called to make reservations but no answer or call back. Noticed the visitors center we closed on Tuesdays, but there ding said the front gate entry was open till 6pm Sunday through Thursday so figured a Tuesday would be safe to find the spot. Got there and the gates are locked, no self pay because it's on the other side of the gate. I guess they are completely closed down on tuesdays. Very disappointed. Have a meeting in Houston in the morning. Had to get a hotel.
My son and I went in mid-November, so your experience will vary depending on time of year.
The LSHT is the longest hiking trail in the state. It is broken up into sections. We started at Section 1, which is the easternmost portion, hiking east-west. Each section has a trailhead with a parking lot. We hiked all of Section 1 and half of Section 2. Each of the 2 sections was about 8 miles long. The length of the LSHT is about 130 miles.
Zero amenities. No restrooms. No electricity. No cell coverage. Nada. The LSHT is in the Sam Houston National Forest, about an hour north of Houston. So it’s not a "campground," per se, but you can camp anywhere that’s feasible. We just didn’t find very many feasible places to camp. There is a lot of dense undergrowth along the trail portion we hiked. And mud. Lots and lots of mud. It had been raining a lot in the preceding weeks. I’d call the ranger office and ask about trail conditions and what the weather's been like if I were you. I hope you have a good pair of waterproof boots.
We found a decent spot about 4 miles in, set up our hammocks, and had a good night's rest. The first day's hike was great - plenty of sunshine, cool but not cold, few mosquitoes. It got cold within a couple hours after sunset. I’m glad I brought my underquilt, sleeping bag, and blanket. I’m also glad I brought an extra pair of warm socks, flannel pajama bottoms, and a sock cap. My hiking clothes were soaked with sweat, so changing out of them was essential for a good night's sleep. Well, I don’t actually sleep on these trips. I doze off and on. Anyway, there were no big surprises during the night. The sound of insects. Leaves and branches falling. Coyotes howling in the distance. But nothing scary or annoying. It was very pleasant.
The original plan was to hike both sections, so we parked my son's pickup at Trailhead 6 and drove back to Trailhead 1 to park my Jeep and start the hike. The plan was solid as long as we started early in the day and could average 2 miles an hour. But we wound up starting out late in the day and did I mention the mud? There was a lot of mud. And obstacles to cross. And creeks to cross. And mud. And more mud. Lots and lots of mud. So we were only able to do 4 miles before we had to find a place to camp. Otherwise, we'd be hiking in the dark.
So the morning of day 2, we packed our gear and trudged on as quickly as we could. We had about 12 miles to cover. It seemed doable at the time. But the weather changed. It got considerably cooler and overcast and rainy. It wasn’t constant, and it was never a downpour. But it was 50s and damp. Drizzly. We trudged on for about another 8 miles and decided to leave the trail at Trailhead 4 and hit the pavement, for fear that we'd again run out of daylight somewhere between Trailheads 4 and 6.
My advice? Do your homework. Read up in the LSHT. Peruse the website http://lonestartrail.org and buy the book. Prepare for a long slog through mud. I’m glad I took a hammock because there weren’t many places suitable for tent camping. Take plenty of water and a water purifier because there is no potable water available on the sections we hiked. Two people in 2 separate vehicles is a must unless you’re a thru-hiker or just want to hike a bit and hike back to your car. It’s mostly flat with no steep ups and downs, rock climbing, or anything like that. But there were quite a few creek crossings that required going down into a gully and up the other side. I did mention the mud, right?
I have stayed in the cabins here four or five times. The first two years we had smaller groups so we stayed in the A Frame cabins. The last three years we've had their biggest one. There is a creek that runs through it and it is never over populated while I've been here. The cabin we've used was flooded and has not been rebuilt so we are looking for other places to hold our Spring Camp out. I hope they rebuild.
There are 4 primitive hike in/out campsites that are a 1 - 2 mile deep. It’s a mostly shaded hike with gorgeous views of the river, woods and swamp areas. These campsites do not have running water, showers or bathrooms.
This park is just a short drive from Houston yet feels like you are in the middle of nowhere. It has various types of camping spots in different parts of the park and great hiking trails through varying terrain. Definitely one of my top picks near Houston.
Stayed here twice with scouts, both times we explored the trails and peach creek. Lots of wildlife in this park, saw many snakes in camp and on the trails. Made it halfway down the Ameri-trail which was clean and easily marked.
Lots to explore, neat bridges, cabin options, ranger programs, horse trails,kayaking, wildlife. Modern recently updated facilities. Great park staff and everyone real friendly. Lovely trees & waterways, really does feel like wilderness, would come back.
Camping near Sam Houston National Forest, Texas, offers a great escape into nature with plenty of options for outdoor fun. Whether you're looking for a family-friendly spot or a peaceful retreat, there are campgrounds that cater to all kinds of campers.
Camping near Sam Houston National Forest, Texas, has something for everyone. With a little planning and the right campground, you can enjoy a fantastic outdoor experience!
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dispersed campsite near Sam Houston National Forest?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dispersed campground near Sam Houston National Forest is Lake Houston Wilderness Park with a 4.4-star rating from 10 reviews.
What is the best site to find dispersed camping near Sam Houston National Forest?
TheDyrt.com has all 6 dispersed camping locations near Sam Houston National Forest, with real photos and reviews from campers.
