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Sam Houston National Forest

Sam Houston National Forest

~ Forest Map ~

The Sam Houston National Forest, 1 of four National Forests in Texas, is located 50 miles north of Houston. The forest contains 163, 037 acres between Huntsville, Conroe, Cleveland and Richards, Texas. With land in Montgomery, Walker, and San Jacinto counties, the Sam Houston National Wood is intermingled with privately owned timber lands and pocket-sized farms.

The district ranger's office is located three miles west of New Waverly on FM 1375.

CLIMATE

Summers in the Sam Houston National Woods are hot and humid and winters generally are short and balmy. The boilerplate summer temperature is 83°F, but mid-summer temperatures oftentimes reach the upper ninety's. The average winter temperature is 53°. Rarely do temperatures drop to less than 10° or rise to over 110°. The average rainfall is 44 inches. Normally dryer periods occur during September – October and February – March.

Early on HISTORY

The three counties that contain the Sam Houston National Forest - Montgomery, San Jacinto, and Walker - take yielded evidence of human being occupation dating back 12,000 years. More recently, the basins of the San Jacinto and Trinity Rivers were abode to Atakapan-speaking groups known every bit the Bidai, Patiri, Deadose, and Akokisa. Primarily hunters and gatherers, some from these groups may take practiced some grade of agriculture. Disease and pressure from European settlers led to their eventual extinction in the early 1800's. Evidence of occupations from as early every bit 7,000 years ago to the Twentieth Century has been documented by a number of archaeological sites within the national wood. The remains of our heritage, both prehistoric and celebrated, are a not-renewable resource protected past Federal and State regulations. Please remember not to disturb any sites, cemeteries, or structures. If you detect whatsoever artifacts during your visit to the national forest, please get out them in place and contact the Sam Houston Ranger District Office.

MANAGEMENT

The Sam Houston National Forest is managed under the multiple-use concept. Under this concept, the uses of the woods, such every bit recreation, fish and wildlife, timber, grazing, soil and water, and minerals, are planned to maintain a balance among the benefits, yet provide for public needs. Forest Service objectives, past police, must consider all resource of the woods and no single resource tin can be emphasized to the detriment of others.

In 1960, the Multiple Use-Sustained Yield Act put into law what had been practiced on the National Forests in Texas for almost thirty years. This human action emphasized that resources on public lands would be managed so that they are used in the combination that volition best run into the needs of the people, that the benefits obtained will be indefinitely and that each natural resource would be managed in residual with other resource to meet nowadays and time to come public needs.

Management plans outline direction for a wood under the multiple-utilize concept. However, even the most carefully planned system of management cannot foresee environmental or natural factors which can cause drastic changes in a wood. Burn down, storms, insects and disease, for example, tin alter the manner a forest is managed.

RECREATION

Hiking - Hiking is a popular way to enjoy the forest and its dazzler. The 128-mile Lone Star Hiking Trail, a portion of which has gained National Recreation Trail condition, winds through the Sam Houston National Forest. The trail, marked with two-inch by four-inch aluminum markers to guide hikers, has recreation areas available at three different points. Except during deer hunting season when camping ground is restricted to designated camps, primitive camping ground is allowed off the trail. Potable water is bachelor at Double Lake and Stubblefield recreation areas.

Solitary Star Hiking Trail consists of three major sections. The 40-mile Lake Conroe section, lying west of Lake Conroe, begins near the intersection of FS 219 and FM 149 and has iv connecting loops.

The Central Area of the trail runs eastward from Stubblefield Recreation Area, through the 4 Notch area to Evergreen and then south down FM 945 to the trailhead parking lot. The Iv Notch Loop, a 9.2 mile section, is in the middle of this 60-mile area of trail. The Winters Bayou/Tarkington Creek Area of the trail runs from FM 945 east to Double Lake Recreation Area, then southward through Big Creek Breathtaking Expanse and then southwest through Winters Bayou. This 27-mile section of the trail has National Recreation condition.

The Lone Star Hiking Trail may exist hiked year round, but winter and spring are the nearly popular seasons due to the mild southeast Texas climate. During deer hunting season in November and Dec, hikers should habiliment highly visible clothing. Usually the trail is not crowded, and hikers may find a multiple-employ managed wood with many ages and kinds of trees, plants and wildlife. Trail visitors may too view rivers, creeks, lakes and streams that meander through and around the Sam Houston National Wood. Off-road vehicles are prohibited.

Piffling Lake Creek Wilderness - The 3,855-acre Little Lake Creek Wilderness is on the western border of the pineywoods of Eastward Texas about 5 miles north of the City of Montgomery. It was designated wilderness in 1984 under the Texas Wilderness Deed. The surface area derives its proper name from the perennial creek of the same name that flows s through the middle.

The wilderness expanse is bisected by three major creek drainages: Little Lake Creek, Pole Creek, and Sand Branch. Those drainages create a rich ecological mosaic. Loblolly and shortleaf pines boss ridgetops that are separated by a wide variety of hardwoods along the creek channels. The area is divisional by private country to the south, FM 149 to the east, FS 211 and an abased pipeline right-of-way to the due west, and FS 231 to the north.

Big Creek Scenic Area - The ane,420-acre Big Creek Scenic Surface area was established in 1962 as a special interest area. Noted for its vegetative diversity and scenic qualities, the area was fix bated primarily for recreational enjoyment. No camping is allowed in Big Creek Scenic Area. The Lone Star Hiking Trail goes through the scenic area offering four trail loops of various lengths for hikers to enjoy. Big Creek Scenic Area is approximately six miles w of Shepherd, and a parking lot is conveniently located off FS 217.

Camping - There are three developed campgrounds in the Sam Houston National Forest (Cagle, Double Lake & Stubblefield Recreation Areas). Cagle and Double Lake facilities are bachelor by reservations or on a starting time-come, get-go-served basis if non previously reserved. Reservations for Cagle may be made at the recreation area or by calling the National Recreation Service. Stubblefield is available on a first-come, kickoff-served basis only. Reservations can exist completed by calling the National Recreation Service at 1/877/444-6777 or past internet at world wide web.recreation.gov.

Cagle Recreation Area is located along the shoreline of Lake Conroe on the west fork of the San Jacinto River. Cagle is a new campground with full service hook-ups. It has a gunkhole ramp with big parking lot, 48 camping ground spurs with electric, fresh-water & sewer connections, hot showers with restrooms, lakeshore hiking & bicycle trails, wildlife viewing, Lake Conroe boating and water sports, line-fishing, a picnic area overlooking Lake Conroe, shoreline wading, 85 miles of OHV, equestrian and mountain wheel trails close as well as 129 miles of hiking on the Alone Star Hiking Trail. Swimming is not allowed. This area is covered with cute large pine and hardwood trees plus thousands of colorful wildflowers. Mid February redbud tree blossoms followed by dogwood tree blossoms in early on March are a spectacular outdoor blossom show.

Cagle is five (5) miles west of Interstate 45 on state road FM-1375 at New Waverly, Texas.

Double Lake Recreation Area is located on the east side of the Sam Houston near Coldspring, Texas, surrounding a 24-acre lake and includes whispering pines and hardwoods one mile s on FM-2025. Built initially in 1937 by the Civilian Conservation Corps, Double Lake Recreation Area facilities includes family camping units, group camping, picnicking units, a picnic shelter, swimming area and embankment, and a concession stand with bathhouse. Each family camping ground unit has a table, fireplace, tent pad, parking spur, and lantern-holder post. There are units with water, sewer, and electrical hook-ups. Picnic units take tables and fireplaces.

Canoes and paddleboats can be rented at the concession stand at Double Lake which also has groceries, water ice, and other items for auction. Bass, bream, and catfish have been stocked in Double Lake, and fishing is permitted under applicative country laws. Only small electrical motors are allowed on the lake. Double Lake Recreation Area likewise provides admission to the Alone Star Hiking Trail.

Scotts Ridge Twenty-four hours-Apply Area is located on the west edge of Lake Conroe approximately ii miles North of FM 1097 on Forest Service Road 212. Facilities include public gunkhole ramp on Lake Conroe, an adjacent parking surface area that will accommodate most boat trailers and vehicles and ane vault toilet. No overnight camping is allowed. The gunkhole launch expanse is open year-round, and the day-apply area is open during the jump and summer months. Call the district office for open flavor dates. Utilize of the gunkhole ramp, parking area, and picnic shelters are on a beginning come up, first serve basis.

Stubblefield Recreation Area located on the west side of the Sam Houston National Forest along Lake Conroe where Forest Service Road (FSR) 215 cross the west fork of the San Jacinto River. Located on the due north shore of Lake Conroe, Stubblefield has 28 camping ground units and too provides access to the Lone Star Hiking Trail. Hot showers with restrooms are available for all campers and solar day-use visitors. Stubblefield is a beautiful forest setting for fishing, hiking, birding, hunting or camping for an enjoyable outdoor feel in the National Forest.

Kelly Swimming Recreation Area and Multiple-use Trailhead is located due west of Interstate 45 approximately eight (8) miles along FM-1375 west of New Waverly. This site offers close locations to the multi-use (dirt bike, equestrian & mountain bike) trails and Lone Star Hiking Trail and has a restroom available. Picnic tables and campsites with lantern post and grills are available. Kelly Pond offers more primitive camping experience and is surrounded by Sam Houston National Forest and all information technology's splendor.

Angling - On the northeast purlieus of the forest lies the 82,600-acre Lake Livingston. Lake Conroe, to the southwest, offers 22,000 acres of water-oriented recreation. Both lakes are noted for black bass and year circular fishing. The Forest Service provides three admission points to Lake Conroe. A gunkhole slip on the San Jacinto River near Stubblefield Recreation Expanse n on the lake, a gunkhole ramp along the northeastern shore of Lake Conroe at Cagle Recreation Expanse, and another boat ramp is at Scotts Ridge on the southwestern shore of the lake.

Hunting - The unabridged Sam Houston National Forest is designated equally a wild animals management expanse through a cooperative agreement between Texas Parks and Wild animals Section and the U.S. Woods Service. This special designation provides benefits to those who use the Sam Houston National Woods, including hunters, and to the wildlife that alive or forage there. Actress fees paid by hunters who use wildlife management areas are collected by Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and are returned to the Forest Service for use in those areas. These funds pay for a variety of programs to improve wild animals habitat and other enhancement programs such as wild turkey restoration, creation of wild fauna openings and additional law enforcement. They can also be used to gather and analyze information to improve wild animals habitat. Those who wish to chase deer or pocket-size game in the Sam Houston National Wood must purchase the appropriate wildlife direction area hunting let available where land hunting license are sold. Hunters and those who accompany them must clothing hunter orange while hunting with a firearm in the Sam Houston National Wood. Hunters and fishermen are required to take a Texas license and follow State regulations.

Canoeing - Both Lake Conroe and Lake Livingston offer fine pleasure boating and water sports. Lake Conroe and the southern department of Lake Livingston offer open water for sailing.

Multiple-utilise Trails – The Sam Houston National Forest offers 85 miles of multiple-employ trails designated and developed for hiking, biking, horses, and registered Off-Highway Vehicles (OHVs). Offer a variety of unique riding atmospheric condition, the multiple-utilize trail in the Sam Houston is the only trail open to OHVs in the National Forests in Texas. To promote sustainable and safe riding opportunities, trails are closed when atmospheric condition such as soil moisture could atomic number 82 to trail damage. Before visiting please call the Ranger'southward Office at 936-344-6205 or 888-361-6908 and select option 2 for trail status.

Operating weather condition enforced under the Code of Federal Regulations prohibit the following:

(a) Operating whatever vehicle, including any off-road vehicle: 1. Without a valid license as required by country law; 2. With an internal or external combustion engine not equipped with a properly installed spark arrestor or exhaust system; 3. Without an operable braking system, or properly installed and working frazzle system; 4. From 1-half hour after sunset to 1-half hour earlier sunrise unless equipped with working head and tail lights; 5. In violation of whatever applicable dissonance emission standard established past any federal or land agency. If standards overlap, the most stringent will govern. (b) Driving whatsoever vehicle, including off-road vehicles: 1. In backlog of posted or established limits on speed, load, weight, length, or width; 2. While under the influence of alcohol or drugs; 3. In violation of state law; 4. In a manner that creates excessive or unusual noise or fume; 5. Carelessly and without regard for the safety of others; 6. In a mode that endangers, or is probable to endanger, any person or holding 7. In a style creating excessive damage or disturbance of land, wildlife, or vegetation resources.

For more information on the multiple-use trails, click here.

WILDLIFE

Deer is the near pop game animal in the Sam Houston National Forest, with squirrels 2d. Quail and dove are found around newly regenerated timberland. For the water sportsman, line-fishing and duck hunting can be enjoyed on area lakes and streams.

Lake Conroe and the surrounding National Woods lands provide wintering habitat for the endangered bald eagle. During the wintertime months, the eagle is non an uncommon sight soaring over the lake, perched on a flooded snag or in a tall pine along the shoreline.

Another endangered species, the red-cockaded woodpecker, is found throughout the Sam Houston National Forest and frequently spotted past observant visitors. The small-scale black and white woodpecker with distinctive big white cheek patches is slightly larger than a bluebird. The male person has a unmarried streak of red feathers on each side of his caput. Its unique high-pitched, squeaky telephone call can be recognized at considerable distances.

The woodpecker makes its home by pecking cavities in large, living pine copse. These cavities are later used past a variety of forest wild fauna including other woodpeckers, bluebirds, screech owls, wood ducks, squirrels, and honey bees. The red-cockaded woodpecker also chips pitch wells around the entrances to their cavity nests. The resulting pitch period gives the cavity tree a distinctive waxy advent beneath the nest opening and serves to protect the bird from predatory snakes.

The red-cockaded woodpecker was designated an endangered species in 1970. This unique little bird and its habitat are fully protected on the Sam Houston National Forest. Wherever these birds are establish, the direction emphasis is directed toward providing the special habitat they require.

TIMBER

In 1934, when the Texas Legislature extended an invitation to the Federal government to purchase land to institute the National Forests in Texas, niggling of the caused country was well-stocked with trees plus most of the lands was cut over by private loggers or damaged by fire.

Early on U.S. Forest Service management efforts were directed toward protection from fire, planting cut over areas, and improving the tree density in existing young timber stands.

Timber in the Sam Houston National Wood is managed on a sustained yield principle, and then the wood will continuously produce timber products in the future for local and national needs. When the timber is removed, the money from sales is sent to the U.South. Treasury, and a portion of these funds is returned to the counties for schools and roads.

Burn MANAGEMENT

Wildfire - The U.S. Forest Service and the Texas Forest Service accept a cooperative agreement and action program to coordinate the prevention, constabulary enforcement, aerial detection, and suppression of wildfire.

Prescribed Fire - Fire has a proven ecological part in the development and management of the forest and rangelands and is used as a tool for ecosystem management of the Sam Houston National Forest. Prescribed fire can reduce heavy accumulations of wood fuels to minimize damages in the result of wildfires. After an surface area is prescribed burned threatened and endangered habitat is improved significantly and new understory sprouts supply food for wildlife.

Atmospheric condition, fuel weather, seasonal timing and fire application techniques are all considered by trained professionals while accomplishing these projects.

WATER-SOIL-MINERALS

Water - The Sam Houston National Forest is tuckered through several small creeks into the e and westward forks of the San Jacinto River, and a pocket-size portion drains into Lake Livingston.

Lake Conroe, on the west fork of the San Jacinto River was dammed in 1972. It is in the southwestern part of the Sam Houston National Forest well-nigh Conroe, Texas. Lake Livingston on the Trinity River was dammed in 1968 and is located on the Northeastern side of the Sam Houston National Forest nigh Coldspring, Texas

Soil - The Sam Houston National Woods lies inside the Gulf Coastal Plains, and the main soils were developed from unconsolidated beds of dirt, sand, sandy clay, or dirt shale materials comprising old not-calcareous sediments of the Tertiary and Pleistocene Ages. The soils range from slightly to severely erosive, although any of the soils in the forest will erode if the correct conditions such as heavy rains or where concentrations of waterflow are present.

Minerals - Exploration and drilling for minerals in the Sam Houston National Forest is part of the multiple-apply program. Mineral extraction and drilling, allowed nether certain weather, help meet energy needs. Many of the forest minerals vest to private entities who reserved the mineral rights when the lands were purchased during the 1930'southward, and under the terms of the deed, these outstanding and reserved minerals can be legally explored and removed by the possessor.

Where mineral rights are owned by the regime, receipts from mineral leases and royalties are paid to the U.S. Treasury and a portion of these receipts are returned to the counties for schools and roads.

HOW TO RECOGNIZE NATIONAL FOREST State

Maps commonly evidence proclaimed national woods boundaries. However, all country within these boundaries is not national forest land; some is privately owned. The user is cautioned to comply with State constabulary and owner's rules when entering onto private country.

The boundaries between national forest land and private property are marked with signs and red pigment. Recognition of these markings and the pregnant of purlieus signs will help the user exist certain to stay on national forest land.

Archway (portal) signs are placed along major roads inbound the national forests, ordinarily on the first tract of Forest Service land encountered. More often than not, they are not used on low-traffic volume roads.

Welcome signs are located on or only within the boundaries of private tracts of national forest land where the route enters. The sign will be oriented and so that the state behind the sign is public state. Generally, they are non used on dead-stop or woods roads or on small blocks of public land. Upon entering the woods on public country, these signs volition not exist present, and the user should and so rely on the following method of boundary identification.

Belongings line mark and purlieus signs show the methods used to mark the boundaries of individual national woods tracts next to other ownerships. The modest metal purlieus sign may be fastened either to trees or to posts located on the boundary line and at road crossings, and the sign will be placed so that public country is behind the sign. Carmine paint spots on trees define the boundary line through the woods.

In that location are near 580 miles of boundary lines for the Sam Houston National Forest. While the majority are identified and posted, occasionally 1 may run into an area where signs have been vandalized or lines are non nevertheless marked. In these cases, 1 should be alert to avert accidently trespassing on private land.

General RULES AND REGULATIONS FOR CAMPGROUNDS

• Campground rules PROHIBIT the following:
• Failure to pay established fees
• Being in the area between ten p.m. and 6 a.k., except for campers
• Camping for more than xiv consecutive days
• Operating an electrical generator between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m., except on designated loops
• Occupying a unmarried campsite with more than two vehicles or 8 persons
• Discharging gray or contaminated water onto the ground
• Possessing or operating off-road vehicles in developed recreation areas
• Camping in developed parking areas . Camping in or riding motorized vehicles through RCW habitat areas or using tree stands/deer stands on RCW crenel trees
• Parking outside designated parking areas
• Failure to occupy your army camp during the first 24 hours
• Leaving camping equipment unattended more than 24 hours
• Possessing saddle, pack, or draft animals in developed recreation areas
• Possessing or discharging fireworks
• Possessing an open container of or consumption of alcoholic beverages at beaches, parking areas, or gunkhole ramps
• Building a burn outside of designated areas (grills or burn rings)
• Having glass objects in swimming expanse
• Fighting or making loud or disturbing noise . Interfering with or threatening a Forest Service officeholder or volunteer
• Public nudity
• Swimming within 100 anxiety of a designated boat ramp
• Possessing or using a metallic detector on or inside an archeological, historic, or prehistoric site
• Possession or operation of a gunkhole, motorboat or personal watercraft in violation of Federal, State, or local laws
• Operating whatever watercraft in backlog of posted speed limits . Discharging a firearm or other implement

The purpose of regulations in national forest recreation areas is to ensure company and resource protection. By observing these regulations, you and your camping neighbors will exist able to relish the peace and serenity of the forest environs.

"GOOD Neighbor" CAMPING GUIDELINES

1. Apply containers provided for garbage and unburnable trash.
2. Use grill or stove to burn paper and paper-thin trash.
3. Make clean upwards your campsite before you depart.
4. Continue your pets on a leash and quiet.
five. Refrain from making noises that might disturb your neighbor's sleep during night hours (10 p.m.-vii a.chiliad.)
6. Put nothing in toilets that might damage or clog them.
7. Boisterousness at anytime is prohibited; this includes loud playing of radios, televisions, amplifiers, musical instruments, etc.
8. Motorbikes and motorcycles are to exist used merely to enter or leave the area. Noisy vehicles (without mufflers) and "gunning" of engines are prohibited.
9. Observe speed limits. Drive carefully. Park just in areas provided.
10. Go on all vehicles on roads and spurs.

"Adept NEIGHBOR " Water SPORTS GUIDELINES

1. Proceed glass and pets away from beach and swimming expanse.
2. Motorboaters must observe 5 mph speed limit when within 150 feet of bathers, other boats, and boat landings. Motors should take acceptable devices to prevent unnecessary dissonance.

Source: https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/texas/about-forest/districts/?cid=fswdev3_008443

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