Calling all outdoorsy Houstonians: Keep an eye the forecast for Sunday, November 3, because you won't want to miss out on free admission to all Texas state parks in celebration of Texas State Parks Day.
The free admission day is a new tradition after the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) celebrated its centennial in 2023. In a press release, Texas State Parks director Rodney Franklin said he hopes the event encourages Texans of all ages to explore and enjoy Texas' natural beauty.
"Any day in a Texas State Park is a good day," said Franklin. "[All Texans] are invited to visit a park that is new to you, take a friend and try a new adventure."
Sheldon Lake State Park and Environmental Learning Center is the closest park for residents in the Houston area. The park has about two miles of trails for hiking and biking, as well as kayaking opportunities, the Jacob Observation Tower, and more. Visitors are also welcome to boat or fish in the 1,200-acre Sheldon Lake.
Bring your own kayak or canoe and explore the 1,200-acre Sheldon Lake.tpwd.texas.gov/
TPWD lauds Sheldon Lake as a "natural oasis" due to its location about 20 miles from downtown Houston.
"This park is teeming with things to see, from birds to alligators, prairie grasses to wildflowers, trees to aquatic plants, butterflies to grasshoppers," the park
website says. "Bring binoculars to see details and cameras to capture memories."
Sheldon Lake also stands out against many other state parks in the greater Houston area because it is always free to enter. So if a local resident can't make it on the free admission day, they can always come back any other day of the week.
For Houstonians who are keen on a weekend road trip to take advantage of the free admission day, two parks should be at the top of the list: Garner State Park (about 290 miles west of Houston) and Palo Duro Canyon State Park (about 615 miles northwest of Houston). The two popular parks recently appeared among the top 10
best state parks in the nation, according to the 2024 HomeToGo State Park Index.
But if traveling long distances isn't in the cards for that weekend, there's always one of the many state parks around Houston and East Texas, such as:
- Stephen F. Austin State Park, San Felipe
- Brazos Bend State Park, Needville
- Galveston Island State Park
- Huntsville State Park
- Lake Livingston State Park
A full list of parks and a map of the closest nearby can be found on the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department
website.
Bring your own kayak or canoe and explore the 1,200-acre Sheldon Lake.tpwd.texas.gov/