Closing my eyes, I can imagine the native Americans that once roamed this area in Texas. Wichita and Caddo tribes at one time called this area home. There was good hunting and good fishing in the area and that eventually drew the white settlers into the area in the mid-1800s. Texas acquired this property from private owners in 1977. The state began construction of the dam in 1981 and Purtis Creek State Park opened in 1988.
Plenty To Do!
You’ll find plenty to do at Purtis Creek State Park. Paddle a kayak or canoe, hike and bike, camp, geocache, and picnic. Purtis Lake has catch-and-release largemouth bass, as well as catfish and crappie that you can take home. There are fishing piers, fish cleaning stations, and boat ramps. You do not need a fishing license to fish here.
Many of the small towns and communities surrounding Purtis Creek were established during the 1800s. On the south border of the park lies a road that is known as the Tyler to Porter’s Bluff Road, a well-known stage route from East Texas to the Trinity River. Purtis Creek State Park is located in Henderson and Van Zandt County on 1,582.4 acres. The park offers guided hikes, paddling basics classes, nature programs and more.
—-Location—-
Purtis Creek State Park is located 60 miles SE of Dallas, Texas via US 175 and is open year around. Purtis Creek is located in some pretty countryside with access to Canton, Texas and Interstate 20 is easy to use.
—-Park Camping—-
This campground has 59 sites with water and electric hookups. The park also has 13 backpack in tent sites and a group tent camping area with 5 sites. You can take your family fishing! The park lends rods, reels and tackle boxes for use in the park. Bring your own boat, or rent a kayak or paddleboard from PaddleEZ
https://tpwd.texas.gov/state-parks/purtis-creek/fees-facilities/campsites
—-Free Camping—-
Based on https://freecampsites.net/#!Eustace,+TX,+United+States there are 7 free campsites within 50 miles of Eustace, TX. They all appear to be disperse camping.
—-Area Camping—-
https://www.texasoutside.com/campgrounds-rv-parks-lakes/eustace
https://www.campendium.com/texas/eustace
https://www.hipcamp.com/discover/texas/eustace
http://www.rvparkreviews.com/regions/texas/eustace
http://www.goodsamclub.com/travel/campgroundsandrvparks/searchresults=Eustace
http://www.hendersontx.us/60/Lodging-RV
—-Hiking & Biking—-
At the park you can tackle the 4.1-mile Wolfpen Hike and Bike Trail. The 1.7-mile Beaver Slide Nature Path takes you along the lakeshore. Or explore the short, easy Solar Trail along the dam.
https://www.alltrails.com/us/texas/mabank
https://www.hikingproject.com › Texas › East Texas
https://www.singletracks.com/Mountain-Bike-TrailsEustace
https://www.hikingproject.com/trail/wolfpen-hike-and-bike-trail
—-Things To Do—-
Purtis Creek State Park is also popular with bird watchers looking to spot more than 200 different bird species that make the park their home. The park offers a variety of educational opportunities, including guided hikes, nature tracking, and stargazing. Special programs are given for groups upon request.
Outside the park, you can check out countless museums, get a rush sliding down a zip line, explore mansions or a zoo, check out a farm, discover some history, and so much more.
http://www.tylertexasonline.com/tyler-texas-for-kids-teens.htm
http://www.visittyler.com/attractionspage/
http://www.ohranger.com/tx/purtis-creek
https://www.tourtexas.com/destinations/Athens
—-References—-
https://tpwd.texas.gov/state-parks/purtis-creek
https://www.texasoutside.com/campgrounds/purtis-creek-state-park-in-eustace
https://boa247.com/purtis-creek-state-park
http://texasforesttrail.com/plan-your-adventure/historic-/purtis-creek-state-park
https://www.texasoutside.com/campgrounds/purtis-creek-state-park-in-eustace
http://www.athensreview.com/news/purtiscreek-state-park
