Lake Houston Wilderness Park - Parks & Recreation - Houston, Texas
City: Houston, TX
Category: Parks & Recreation
Telephone: (281) 354-6881
Address: 22031 Baptist Encampment Rd.
Description: Located northeast of the city in New Caney, Lake Houston Wilderness Park offers outdoor opportunities on and around the human-made Lake Houston. The City of Houston took ownership of the park, which was previously operated by the state, in 2006.The city continues to develop and expand the park’s offerings, which include close to 5,000 acres of forest and 12 miles of trails for hiking and biking. Pine- and cypress-shaded trails offer opportunities to bird-watch, take nature photos, and ride horses, although you’ll have to bring your own horse to do the latter. It’s common to see snakes slithering along the trail, so watch your feet. Want to learn about plants and animals in the park? Visit the Nature Center for a crash course on different ecosystems, amphibians, invertebrates, reptiles, and butterflies. The park also offers opportunities to canoe, kayak, and fish for bass, crappie, and catfish in the stocked lake. You’re likely to see quite a few boats in the lake, though the lake’s boating entry points are not located in the park. That’s because Lake Houston Wilderness Park is the only city-owned and operated park that allows camping. Campsites here cater to everyone from primitive campers to city slickers who need their A/C and refrigerator. Want to pitch a tent? You can do that in one of the park’s campsites, where you’ll also have access to fire rings, picnic tables, and lantern lights. Prefer bunk beds? Stay in one of the park’s lodges or cottages, which range from primitive to air-conditioned and heated spaces with kitchens and bathrooms. There are even campsites for people who bring their horses along. Camping fees range from $4 per night per person for a primitive campsite to $160 per night, plus a one-time cleaning fee of $75, for a group of up to 26 people to sleep in the air-conditioned Lazy Creek Cottage. Camping fees don’t include the $3 park admission fee that all visitors 13 and older must pay upon entry.