Here in America’s fourth-largest metropolis, you can go camping without leaving town.

Lake Houston Wilderness Park offers city dwellers a cedar-shaded retreat of 5,000 acres, where the thrall of freeway noise gives way to the sound of wind slipping through the trees. Leave your boat at home — it’s not actually on the lake.

But pack your walking shoes and you’ll have access to more than 12 miles of trails meandering through unadulterated East Texas forest, all within a half-hour drive from downtown.

"Biking in the park is one of our favorite things," park naturalist Crystal Schonefeld says. "Most people that come out I think go on the trails either for hiking or biking, or the camping.”

Trails range from dirt roads to sandy single tracks greet cyclists of all skill sets.

There’s also space aplenty for geocachers, birders, equestrians, backpackers and even kayakers when the water rises in Caney Creek. Just bring $3 to cover the entry fee for those 13 to 64. It’s not Yosemite, but campers will find dozens of affordable, shaded tent sites, including two “backcountry” spots at the end of a two-mile trail — not bad for a place that’s technically within the city limits.

Screened shelters offer another overnight option when the bugs get thick, and large groups can enjoy two air-conditioned lodges at affordable rates. There’s plenty to keep the kids busy, too, with an interactive nature center open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on weekends. Weekly programs include guided nighttime walks among the owls and hands-on snake classes for kids.

“A lot of kids think snakes are slimy and, you know, creepy crawly, but whenever they actually get to touch them you can just see it in their faces — their eyes light up and it’s a totally different world for them,” Shonefeld says.

Parents of outdoorsy offspring also might been interested in enrolling them in a summer day camp offered from June 16 though June 18, where the activities include archery, nature walks, campsite setup and flat-water kayaking.

Adults should check out the El Chupacabra de Houston Nighttime 10k Trail Run at 9 p.m., May 22, followed by complimentary barbecue and beer in the park.

Before you hit the trail, though, it’s best to call the office at (281) 354-6881. Some sections of the park will be closed as the city adds to the trail network and works on $4.5 million in park improvements over the next year or so.

Even with areas closed, I still hiked for a good hour without hitting the park boundary. In one afternoon, my wildlife count included a doe and her fawn, a rabbit and plenty of birds. The nature center tracks the birds spotted each day, and Shonefeld says the park hosts many migratory species making their way north this time of year.

Heading back to the car, I watched kids splash in the creek along an inviting sand bar, and they dared each other to cross a high bridge over its scenic course. Somehow the heat seems less intrusive in the woods, and it’s easy to park all your city worries at the gate while the peaceful air in this patch of forest make you think you’re much farther from town than you really are.