Big Thicket National Preserve

Category: Nature preserve

Address: FM 420, Kountze, TX 77625, USA

Phone: +14099516700

Opening hours

Sunday: 9AM–5PM

Monday: 9AM–5PM

Tuesday: 9AM–5PM

Wednesday: 9AM–5PM

Thursday: 9AM–5PM

Friday: 9AM–5PM

Saturday: 9AM–5PM

Reviews

Diana Sookoor

May 17, 2022

If you're looking for 🏕️ this in NOT the place, it's humid and hard to find an spot, we visit in early may, anyway if you do you just need a special permission when you arrive in the visitor center. But, the hiking trails,,🥾 are in supper good condition, easy to do and the chance to see local🌱🌼 in my opinion, worth it if you live 1 hr maximum close by.

Kevin “TheGolfBallGuy” Smith

Apr 30, 2022

It's a an amazing place to visit. The walking trails are easy to traverse and there a boardwalk to the pitcher Plants.

Sarah Fleener

Jan 24, 2022

Beautiful scenery. Calm and tranquil. Nice hikes with fresh air. Pitcher plants are so interesting! Trails were well marked, parts were paved, bridges were in nice condition. Highly recommend taking the time to enjoy the views.

Michael Kinzer

Nov 29, 2021

I usually like to give high reviews, but I am going to be hypercritical as there are serious concerns to safety in this national preserve. Note, there are many different units, all allow for hiking and my wife and I are avid hikers. We went with the Woodlands trail as it was a good distance for what we wanted to put in during the morning. The trails have decent marking. There is hunting allowed in the different units and we were prepared and had neon orange on. The trails are primitive which requires a decent boot, but they are also heavily damaged from feral hog activity. I would not bring our dogs back generally due to the issue of ticks, but we are on proper medications already so no big worry. The primary issue is feral hogs. I have hiked different areas of this state and around other states, I have never been too concerned about wildlife, including mountain lions, coyotes, bear, wolves... but within about 1.25 miles we had too close for comfort experiences with 6 very large feral hogs, during the later morning. If you are not aware, these beasts can maim or kill with little effort. We were on the trail and the hogs were paralleling us. We were not aggressively attacked, but we decided to not stay and find out. What we learned is hogs are not just nocturnal. There was plenty of opportunity to break/twist your ankle if you wore common shoes(we were in sturdy boots) and if you have a dog they at least alert you to the presence of the wildlife.. There are trails in the main section along 287 which will likely be better maintained, but there are other areas that you can visit for a hike and these are not going to be family/dog friendly without a good rifle.

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Questions & Answers

Are there any established campgrounds in or bear the Reserve? Thanks

Gary & Sandy McGeorge | Nov 7, 2021
Shannon E Heath | Nov 8, 2021

No, it's all primitive.

Do they have living access if anyone would like to live in big thicket

Elvira Maldonado | Jul 5, 2020
Brian Paul | Jul 6, 2020

You can camp for free as long as you move your camp site 10 feet every 3 days

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Is fishing allowed here?

Nathan Nguyen | Jul 5, 2020
Sensei Montenegro | Jul 6, 2020

Nathan Nguyen, Yes. But you must have a Texas fishing license.

Can you go bike riding there

James Richardson | Jul 6, 2019
JOHN Arabie | Jul 7, 2019

Yes you can

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Is there a Junior Ranger program for Big Thicket National Preserve?

Jamie Wero | May 6, 2022
Emma Lee | May 7, 2022

I know they used to... I would contact one of the State Parks: Village Creek or Martin Dies, Jr. and ask them.

Is a national park pass or entry fee required for entry

caroline shideler | Nov 7, 2021
Shannon E Heath | Nov 8, 2021

No, it is free to all.

Is the park still open even with the government shutdown?

Justin Pettitt | Jul 6, 2019
gr hafford | Jul 7, 2019

Yes but look at the local park web site for updates. Even then thing could change fast.

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Do they allow atv's like the sam houston national forest does?

Texas | Jun 5, 2022
Chris Haddon | Jun 6, 2022

Never

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Does the big thicket still have small train

john leal | Oct 8, 2021
Charles Buffington | Oct 9, 2021

No. Not 5hat I know about. I've been here around 35 years and never seen a train.

Are dogs allowed and are contained fires and generators allowed?

Jerry Hutto | Sep 8, 2021
Leslie Lochard | Sep 9, 2021

Pets are allowed. I'm unsure about fires and generators.

Hello, me and group of friends from HEB like do trip yearly. This year our group wants to go to Big Thicket. The question I'm asking is their any campgrounds or just spots in the forest that has easy access to fishing, hunting, and kayaking?Thanks:)

Chandler Noble | Jul 5, 2021
Jimmy Settle | Jul 6, 2021

As the Big Thicket is fairly large national persevere, there are multiple places to go for an outing. There are lots of pro's and con's . I would advise potentially seeing/speaking with a local official in regards to the best/safest place and area to organize an outing. The one person that knows alot about the Thicket and could potentially assist you with the best areas and rules and regulations for the preserve is Hardin county game warden Mike Boone.

Has anyone figured out the origin of the so-called 'pimple mounds' yet?

C Hill | Jul 5, 2020
Judith Mopalia | Jul 6, 2020

Check out mima mounds on Wikipedia. The big ticket guidebook suggests that the pimple ones are nabkha mounds, which is also on Wikipedia.

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What and where can u hunt?

Soren Helstrom | Jul 5, 2020
John Sharp | Jul 6, 2020

In the big ticket national park you will need a permit to hunt in only one of the units that are available. The headquarters is located north of Kountze right of hwy 69 north. Busy said j for the signs. They have maps and Topo maps too if each unit.

Are electric scooters or bikes allowed?

Joshua | Jul 5, 2020
Starr Valdez | Jul 6, 2020

yes

I see they allow hunting do they have a shooting range?

Three R | Jul 5, 2020
dalton peppers | Jul 6, 2020

There are parts of the big thicket you can hunt by lottery. I don't think there are any ranges

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Where is the Lakeview sandbar? There are 2 dogs that are starving I want to rescue

Rhonda Girard | Jul 5, 2020
Bubba Seeds | Jul 6, 2020

I saw that on Facebook i could take you. Kristopher Hamilton on fb. Sorrt i didnt reply sooner, my wifi was off. Facebook.com/bubbaseeds

When does it open? I wanted to go early in the morning but I don’t know when.

Veronica Guerrero | Jul 5, 2020
phillip stager | Jul 6, 2020

The Big Thicket National Preserve Visitors Center is open from 9:00am to 5:00pm.

Can I go squirrel hunting there?

Ernest Cherry | Jul 6, 2019
Logan Fant | Jul 7, 2019

Yes during the texas squirrel season

Hi all, 1 does this place have any entrance fees? 2 is it open due to shut down? Thanks in advance.

Saeed Moazami | Jul 6, 2019
Charles Buffington | Jul 7, 2019

No it does not have any fees. We only ask that you clean up behind yourselves.

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It's been raining in Houston. Are the hiking trails super muddy when it has been raining? Id really like to go on a New Year's hike with the hubby and pur pups.

Ashley Abston | Jul 6, 2019
SloansCreekFarm Melson | Jul 7, 2019

I think you will be fine on the upland trails. They are some really great hiking.

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Are there sasquatch in big thicket?

Bear Phinney | Jul 6, 2019
gr hafford | Jul 7, 2019

Yes. In fact a whole family. The children are easier to find as they have not learned how to stay camouflaged and quiet.

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Are the camp sites where I would be able to camp inside my car?

Hunter Haynes | Jul 6, 2019
Goteam Whatever | Jul 7, 2019

You can sleep in your car in the parking lot but im pretty sure you camp off of the trails. If you are camping you are suppose to get a permit from the visitor center. The Rangers there are very informative and will answer all the questions you have.

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How can you go hunting?

Alan Benitez | Jul 6, 2019
janice moss | Jul 7, 2019

You can The Big Thicket Services to find out about their hunting regulations.

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My mother-n-law is 80 yrs old and can get around fairly well, with some assistants of course, what is there for her to see? She's coming to visit my husband and I for 2 days.

Elizabeth Crawford | Jul 6, 2019
Barbara Jones | Jul 7, 2019

I found the local hikes to be quite cathartic. Its easy walking, a fair amount of shade. It is a very lightly visited preserve because there's nothing exciting, but i still thought it was pretty.

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Can you use drone over park? or is a permit needed? (Recreational use)

Andy Balderas | Jul 6, 2018
David Houghton | Jul 7, 2018

National Park Service does not permit drones over lands they manage

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Can we stay one more nite?

Melinda Theunissen | Jul 6, 2018
David Taylor | Jul 7, 2018

Yes. When you register at the Ranger station you tell them how many nights and they give you a tag to attach to your tent.

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Looking for visitors center

Don Davis | Jul 6, 2018
Andres Dominguez | Jul 7, 2018

The address for the visitors center is: 6102 FM 420, Kountze, TX 77625

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Can you camp

Donutツ | Jul 6, 2018
Lisa Cantrell | Jul 7, 2018

Primitive camping only but there is an RV park right near it if you are in a rig.

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Do you rent canoo

Victor Rangel | Jul 6, 2019
Stephen Sellers | Jul 7, 2019

Yes its available through several local travel businesses drop you off upstream and pick you up at some point.yes

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Can I make fire?

Ismael Orozco | Jul 6, 2018
The nine tail fox | Jul 7, 2018

And

Can you camp there?

Ismael Orozco | Jul 6, 2018
The nine tail fox | Jul 7, 2018

And

How did The Big Thicket weather the recent hurricane? Is it open?

Larry Taylor | Jul 6, 2018
Paul McNiel | Jul 7, 2018

They were closed for a few days but are reopen now.

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