Get Lost In This Magical Forest In Texas With Trees Over 100 Feet Tall
By Katie Lawrence|Published July 22, 2018
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Katie Lawrence
Author
Katie Lawrence is a Southeast Texas native who graduated 18th in her high school class with a GPA of 4.25. She attended college in the Houston area and began writing for OnlyInYourState in 2015.
Today, Katie writes, edits, and performs several other tasks for OnlyInYourState and has never been more passionate about a job before. Outside of work, you can likely find her curled up on with a hot cup of coffee, practicing yoga, baking, or exploring the beautiful Lone Star State (in particular, the vast and mystical West Texas desert).
Sometimes we just need to get away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life for a while and sit in the utter stillness and silence of nature. Davy Crockett National Forest in East Texas is the perfect place to do just that, with its dense coverage of pine trees stretching over 100 feet up to the heavens. It’s the kind of place that reminds you of enchanting Disney movies with singing animals and fairies flitting around, and it makes for a magical trip the whole family can enjoy.
The forest, named after the iconic pioneer, spans a whopping 160,000 acres of East Texas piney woods. Streams, recreation areas, and tons of unique plant and animal life make it a beautiful, fun-filled natural area perfect for exploring on a summer day.
Located on Highway 7 near Ratcliff, the Ranger Station has all the info you'll need to plan your excursion. It's about 1/4-mile west of FM 227 in Houston County.
Most of the fun happens here at Ratcliff Lake. It's a historic gem, having been built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in 1936 and subsequently served as a water source for a nearby sawmill.
Activities abound here in this 45-acre lake full of sapphire water. Visitors can picnic, camp, swim, lay out on the beach, boat, and fish - this particular area has been featured in countless travel magazines, and we can't think of a better way to beat the heat.
The lake is also the starting point for Four C National Recreation Trail, the main attraction of the forest. The 20-mile path takes hikers through towering pine trees and hardwoods so dense, you could find yourself lost before you know it.
Halfway through the trail, you'll come across the Walnut Creek campsite. It has five tent pads, a shelter, and a pit toilet, allowing you to extend your trip overnight and experience the stillness of the forest.
More camping facilities are located at the Neches Bluff Overlook, which offers unmatched panoramic views of the surrounding trees. With no sounds of the modern world to be heard this deep into the forest, you can truly appreciate the sacred silence of nature.
Horseback riders will be delighted to know there are over 50 miles of developed trails southwest of Kennard. The trailhead has pit toilets, campsites, a self-service pay station, and municipal water.
Gazing up at a grove of trees determined to touch the sky with their tallest branches is both empowering and humbling. It teaches us to never quit reaching for the top - even if we may never get there.
So if you want to escape the hustle and bustle of everyday life for a while and enter an enchanting fairyland where time seems to stand still, plan a trip to Davy Crockett National Forest this summer. You'll leave with a fresh perspective and newfound sense of peace towards life.
