Alley Creek Camp
53 mi northeast · US Army Corps of Engineers
Alley Creek Campground is situated along the banks of Lake O' the Pines in the Ark-La-Tex portion of the Pineywoods of east Texas near the states of Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Louisiana.
Outdoors
Hiking near Tyler
National forests, parks, lakes and recreation areas with hiking trails near Tyler, closest first.
22places to hike
53 mito the closest
October–Aprilbest months
Good to know: Carry more water than you think you need, check the managing agency’s page for trail closures and fire restrictions, and start early on hot days.
Closest picks
Buckhorn Creek
56 mi northeast · US Army Corps of Engineers
Buckhorn Creek Campground is situated along the banks of Lake O' the Pines in the Ark-La-Tex portion of the Pineywoods of east Texas near the states of Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Louisiana.
Lake O' The Pines
56 mi northeast · US Army Corps of Engineers
Lake O' the Pines includes about 18,700 acres of water and 9,000 acres of land located in the piney woods of Northeast Texas. The lake is located partially in Marion, Harrison, Upshur, Morris and Camp Counties.
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30 to 75 miles (6)
Alley Creek Camp
Alley Creek Campground is situated along the banks of Lake O' the Pines in the Ark-La-Tex portion of the Pineywoods of east Texas near the states of Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Louisiana.
- Birding
- Boating
- Camping
- Fishing
- Hiking
- Hunting
- Swimming
- Water sports
Buckhorn Creek
Buckhorn Creek Campground is situated along the banks of Lake O' the Pines in the Ark-La-Tex portion of the Pineywoods of east Texas near the states of Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Louisiana.
- Boating
- Camping
- Fishing
- Hiking
- Swimming
- Water sports
- Wildlife viewing
Lake O' The Pines
Lake O' the Pines includes about 18,700 acres of water and 9,000 acres of land located in the piney woods of Northeast Texas. The lake is located partially in Marion, Harrison, Upshur, Morris and Camp Counties.
- Boating
- Camping
- Fishing
- Hiking
- Picnicking
- Water sports
- Wildlife viewing
Ratcliff Lake Recreation Area
Ratcliff Lake Recreation Area was built in 1936 by the Civilian Conservation Corps.
- Boating
- Camping
- Canoeing
- Fishing
- Hiking
- History
- Kayaking
- Swimming
Cooper Lake
When complete, will impound the South Sulphur River in Delta and Hopkins Counties.
- Boating
- Camping
- Fishing
- Hiking
- Horseback riding
- Hotel/Lodge/Resort Privately Owned
- Nature education
- Picnicking
National Forests and Grasslands in Texas
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- Biking
- Boating
- Camping
- Fishing
- Hiking
- Horse Camping
- Horseback riding
- Off-highway vehicles
75 miles and farther (16)
Bardwell Lake
Bardwell Lake is located in the Blackland Prairie region of southwestern Ellis County. Built in 1965 for flood control by the US Army Corps of Engineers, Bardwell Lake is located two miles southwest of Ennis off of State Highway 34.
- Boating
- Camping
- Fishing
- Hiking
- Picnicking
- Water sports
- Wildlife viewing
Waxahachie Ck
Waxahachie Creek Park is on the western shore of Bardwell Lake, less than an hour south of the Dallas-Fort Worth area in north-central Texas.
- Boating
- Camping
- Hiking
- Horseback riding
Lavon Lake
The Heard Natural Science Museum and Wildlife Sanctuary in nearby McKinney features natural history exhibits and nature trails.
- Boating
- Camping
- Fishing
- Hiking
- Horseback riding
- Nature education
- Picnicking
- Water sports
Navarro Mills Lake
Navarro Mills Lake holds the state record white crappie at 4lbs 9 ounces.
- Boating
- Camping
- Fishing
- Hiking
- Kayaking
- Picnicking
- Swimming
- Water sports
Wright Patman Lake
Wright Patman Lake is located in the beautiful piney woods of northeast Texas. The lake includes about 30,000 surface acres of water and 50,000 acres of land.
- Boating
- Camping
- Fishing
- Hiking
- Horseback riding
- Picnicking
- Water sports
- Wildlife viewing
Red River National Wildlife Refuge
The Red River National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) was created legislatively by the Red River National Wildlife Refuge Act - signed into law on October 13, 2000. The first land purchase was made in August 2002 consisting of 1,377 acres.
- Biking
- Birding
- Fishing
- Hiking
- Hunting
- Photography
- Wildlife viewing
Joe Pool Lake
Joe Pool Lake is a 7,400-acre impoundment located in the southern portion of the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex.
- Biking
- Boating
- Camping
- Fishing
- Hiking
- History
- Horseback riding
- Hotel/Lodge/Resort Privately Owned
Bayou Bodcau Reservoir
Bayou Bodcau in LA and AR is a flood-control project with no permanent pool. A major waterfowl management and upland game management area is located here.
- Boating
- Camping
- Fishing
- Hiking
- Horseback riding
- Nature education
- Off-highway vehicles
- Picnicking
Grapevine Lake
Centrally located in the heart of the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex just minutes from DFW Airport, Grapevine Lake offers a variety of outdoor recreation opportunities.
- Biking
- Boating
- Camping
- Fishing
- Hiking
- Horseback riding
- Hotel/Lodge/Resort Privately Owned
- Nature education
Lewisville Lake
Just north of Dallas, popular Lewisville Lake is a 29,592 acre lake with unlimited outdoor recreation opportunities. Over 20 parks surround the lake and offer camping, hiking, picnicking, horseback riding, boating, and golf.
- Boating
- Camping
- Fishing
- Hiking
- Horseback riding
- Hotel/Lodge/Resort Privately Owned
- Nature education
- Picnicking
Sam Rayburn Reservoir
A 114,000-acre lake in the Big Thicket country of Texas, with native flora including orchids, insect-eating plants and scores of animal species.
- Boating
- Camping
- Fishing
- Hiking
- Horseback riding
- Hotel/Lodge/Resort Privately Owned
- Picnicking
- Water sports
Little River National Wildlife Refuge
Little River National Wildlife Refuge’s primary purpose is to preserve the bottomland hardwood forests for migratory birds and waterfowl on the Central Flyway.
- Archery
- Birding
- Boating
- Fishing
- Hiking
- Hunting
- Motor Boat
- Non-Motorized Boating
Pine Creek Lake
Pine Creek Dam is located on Little River, approximately eight miles north of Valiant in McCurtain County, Oklahoma. The lake extends into Choctaw and Pushmataha Counties.
- Boating
- Camping
- Hiking
- Nature education
- Picnicking
- Water sports
- Wildlife viewing
Millwood Lake
Millwood is located in the southwest corner of Arkansas on the Little River, 16 miles upstream from its confluence with the Red River. Nine recreation areas offer modern camping facilities.
- Boating
- Camping
- Fishing
- Hiking
- Picnicking
- Water sports
- Wildlife viewing
Waco Lake
The largest lake in the United States to be located entirely within a single city's municiple boundaries.
- Boating
- Camping
- Fishing
- Hiking
- Hotel/Lodge/Resort Privately Owned
- Nature education
- Picnicking
- Water sports
Whitney Lake
There are 10 Corps of Engineers parks, one state park, and three additional parks managed by Hill County or private individuals. Equestrian riders have a great place to explore rolling hills and woods in the McCown Valley Equestrian Area.
- Biking
- Boating
- Camping
- Fishing
- Hiking
- Horseback riding
- Hotel/Lodge/Resort Privately Owned
- Picnicking
Distances are straight-line miles from downtown Tyler. Listings come from Recreation.gov’s federal recreation database; check each official page for hours, fees, fire restrictions and closures before you go.
Get outside around Tyler
THINGS TO DO · YOUTUBE SHORT
Day Trip to Tyler
A full episode of The Daytripper exploring the Rose Capital and its rose garden.
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A WALK AROUND TOWN
A Walk Through the Tyler Rose Garden
A tour of the Tyler Rose Garden in full October bloom, shared by Visit Tyler.
Watch on YouTube ↗More outdoors near Tyler
Questions
Where is the closest place for hiking near Tyler?
Alley Creek Camp (US Army Corps of Engineers), about 53 miles northeast of Tyler as the crow flies. Next are Buckhorn Creek (56 mi) and Lake O' The Pines (56 mi).
When is the best time for hiking near Tyler?
Based on Tyler’s average highs, October–April. Conditions at higher elevations can be much cooler.
Who manages these places?
Federal agencies including US Army Corps of Engineers, USDA Forest Service, Fish and Wildlife Service. Each listing links to its official page for hours, fees, closures and current conditions.