Big Thicket National Preserve


Life of all types abounds in the Big Thicket. This national preserve protects the incredible diversity of life found where multiple habitats meet in southeast Texas. Hiking trails and waterways meander through nine different ecosystems, from longleaf pine forests to cypress-lined bayous. It is a place of discovery, a place to wander and explore, a place to marvel at the richness of nature.

The main corridor through the Big Thicket is US Hwy 69/287 between Beaumont and Woodville. Many smaller roads and highways branch off of the main corridor to reach trailheads and scenic areas. The visitor center is located at the intersection of US 69/287 and FM 420, about 7 miles north of Kountze and 30 miles north of Beaumont.

  • Biking
  • Boating
  • Camping
  • Backcountry Camping
  • Canoe or Kayak Camping
  • Fishing
  • Hands-On
  • Citizen Science
  • Hiking
  • Hunting and Gathering
  • Hunting
  • Paddling
  • Canoeing
  • Canoe or Kayak Camping
  • Kayaking
  • Junior Ranger Program
  • Wildlife Watching
  • Birdwatching
  • Park Film
  • Shopping
  • Bookstore and Park Store
  • Gift Shop and Souvenirs

  • Burial, Cemetery and Gravesite
  • Industry
  • Mining
  • Logging and Timber Cutting
  • Social Movements
  • Conservation Movement
  • Animals
  • Alligators or Crocodiles
  • Birds
  • Cats (wild)
  • Tortoises and Turtles
  • Fire
  • Forests and Woodlands
  • River and Riparian
  • Thickets and Shrublands
  • Trails
  • Water Trails
  • Unique Species
  • Endangered
  • Watersheds
  • Wetlands

Cypress Swamp

Bright green swamp with shallow water and many kinds of trees and jungle-like plants.

When you think of Texas, do you picture jungle-like swamps?

Staley Cabin

A log cabin in a forest beneath a canopy of sprawling live oak trees.

Historic Staley Cabin sits at the start of the Kirby Nature Trail.

Canoe on Lake Bayou

A park ranger paddling a green canoe on a slow-moving waterway below cypress trees.

A canoe or kayak trip is the best way to see Big Thicket's waterways.

Beaver Slide Trail Bridge

A small wooden bridge on a trail through dense woods.

Wander through the woods on the Beaver Slide Trail.

Pitcher Plant

Close-up of a carnivorous pitcher plant with the shadow of an insect inside.

Visit in spring to see carnivorous pitcher plants.

Red-Headed Woodpecker

A woodpecker with bright red head clinging to a dead tree.

Look for woodpeckers in Big Thicket's pine forests.

Village Creek Bridge

An iron bridge above a murky creek surrounded by dense woods.

The bridge over Village Creek connects the Kirby Nature Trail to the Turkey Creek Trail.

Cypress Knees

Shadowy-looking cypress knees and their reflections in still water.

Cypress knees, extensions of bald cypresses' roots, are abundant in Big Thicket waters.

Cooks Lake Paddlers

2 people in a canoe and 1 person in a kayak paddle through a forested slough.

Paddle beneath a canopy of cypress and tupelo on the Cooks Lake to Scatterman Paddling Trail.

Sundew Trail

A wooden boardwalk curving through dense ferns and pines.

The Sundew Trail leads hikers through a wetland pine savannah.

Fall Swamp

Tall trees in a swamp, displaying bright orange foliage.

Visit in November to see bald cypress leaves turn a rich orange hue.

Anole on Palmetto

A green anole lizard resting on an outstretched palmetto leaf.

The beauty of the Big Thicket lies in its small details.

Kirby Oak

Sunlight poking through the canopy of a sprawling oak tree.

Large live oaks welcome hikers to the Kirby Nature Trail.