Lakeshore trail
Tyler state park, ahhhhhh!!! This has to be our favorite local state park! Those beautiful East Texas piney wood trees, the fresh air, scenic views, I could go on!!
This is one of 30 CCC (civilian conservation corps) parks in Texas. I have to have my moment here as I majored in parks and recreation management in college. The CCC was established by President Franklin D. Roosevelt during the Great Depression that put millions of young men to work. These men worked long days, building miles and miles of trails, planting trees, building shelters and many of them learned basic and vocational skills. In general they would earn about $30/month, but they were required to send at least $25 of it home to their families.
For more information on the CCC, check out https://www.history.com/topics/great-depression/civilian-conservation-corps or https://youtu.be/YifojipMqlw
There are a little over 12 miles of hiking and biking trails, though some trails are hike only so don’t forget to check the park maps if you’re biking! The lakeshore trail is great, with minor elevation changes and great views of the lake. This trail has lovely views of the piney woods, meadow, with a few bridges, ample wildlife and wildflowers.
I wouldn’t recommend a stroller as there are exposed roots and a few places where you’ll need to climb over fallen logs or large holes, but a child carrier, such as an osprey, deuter or even a Tula would work well for this trail, but make sure you have a sun shade for your little one as parts of the trail aren’t shaded.
There is plenty of camping at this park, though it’s usually booked up during the weekends and on holidays, so book ahead to get a great camping spot! Entry is $6 for adults, free for children 12 and under and of course, free for Texas State Parks Pass holders.
I hope you enjoyed this review of Lakeshore trail at Tyler State Park!
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