Nails Creek Unit — Lake Somerville State Park

A nice, quiet fall camping weekend on Lake Somerville. It was a solo trip and since the weather was warm, I brought my kayak on this trip.

Check In: 2p Check Out: 12p

⛺ Site#26- Back-In

💲20 per night+$4/person/day Parks Pass Discount saved$18.00

• Water
• 20/30 amp
• Fire Ring with grate
• Picnic Table: wood with metal legs, concrete base
• Site Pad: Asphalt, level, long enough for my camper and truck with room to spare
• Corrals for horses

👍🏻 Pros:

• Extra parking places across the street
• Can see the lake from this spot

👎🏻 Cons:

• There's not a direct trail to the lake shore other than animal trails through some of the tall grass
• The table and fire ring are on the non-camping side so it was a little strange. Very dark at night on that side.

📝 Park Notes:

• Dump Station
• Restrooms/ Showers- clean. The Bent Tree area has a portable trailer for the restrooms and showers. The main building is closed.
• There are Munzees and Geocaches here
• Lots of trails in the park and between this and the Birch Creek Unit
• Great trails for equestrians
• Enclosed Group shelter for events (no kitchen)
• Family Fishing Pond (small)
• The open style pavilion doesn't appear to be open. Looks like it's is structurally unsound

🐦 Wildlife:

• Birds: Great Blue Heron, Cardinals, Chickadees
• Deer
• Squirrels

💜 Highlights of this trip:

•🔥 Campfires and breakfast over the fire

•🐕 My brother came for a short visit to walk the dog

•🛶 Kayaking and there was only ONE other boat on the lake

•🍂 Nice fall colors

•🚫 Some of the trails and areas of the park were closed this weekend due to public hunts

•🌟 Warm temperatures and clear nights. Lots of stars.

•💚 Found a couple geocaches and put out a few Munzees

More info at https://www.denisevajdak.com/2021/12/fall-camping-at-lake-somerville.html

Stopped in here for a place to stay while on a hunting trip. Service was phenomenal and they answered any questions on the spot. Good space between locations. Far enough from town to feel out in nature but close enough to make a run if needed.

Stopped into here on the way from Austin down to the coast.

Snagged site #4 and I was the only one in the primitive camp area.

Bathrooms at entrance station stayed unlocked overnight for my use.

AT&T cell service was good enough for me to do some work on my hotspot.

Went for a nice paddle on the lake until the winds came up.

Only bummer was losing my kayak straps off the top of my truck on my way out!

The sites have nice paved spots, many have views of the lake, and are spacious. We stayed in the equestrian area since the other area for non equestrian sites is currently closed. There are trails you can access in the park, with many more miles a short drive away. Two bridges are out on the Trailway which limits options a bit. The hiking and biking is all well defined double track with little elevation change. We saw many birds this spring.

We stayed equestrian site 4 which is a fairly private site. Moon was nearly full and the coyotes were howling all night long. All in all it was a nice small state park with great views of Lake Somerville.

Had a great night camping at Lake Somerville SP-Nails Creek. It was really quite with only 2 other sites occupied. Lots of coyotes and owls calling throughout the night. The site was not too far from the bathroom and had great privacy. Didn’t use the horse corral, but each site has 1-2.

Tested out our klymit static v2 sleeping pads and LOVED them. It was a bit cold as hadn’t thought to bring an extra blanket and slept without the rain fly—but not too bad.

Tried the Backpackers Pantry Pad Thai and Mountain Home Biscuits and Gravy and all were terrific.

This park is spread out to 3 sites along the lake and this campground is at the middle sized one. It is a bit of a drive to get to the largest area. It’s a very pretty lush forested area with a lot to do on the water and trails.

Yay: campgrounds are wooded, large, and rather private. None of them have an amazing view, but they are all a short walk to the water’s edge.

Nay: It can flood.

Surprise: Great wildlife on the trails with lots of educational displays and programs. Famous for birding. If you have a horse, bring it!

The campsites are not very large, but it's ok because the sites are separated from each other which is nice. Some sites even have corrals for horses! The best part is the proximity to the lake. Kayaks and canoes are available for rent for a really low price. Bathrooms and showers have good access from the sites and are kept clean. Overall, one of the best state parks we've stayed at in Texas!

Great spot to visit in the Spring! Wildflowers are plentiful and the trails offer miles of exploration; great for trail running as well. Hang a hammock down by the lake and enjoy the fresh air!