Texas / Lamar County

Pat Mayse West

Open — Open year-round with reservations available through Recreation.gov. Gate opens at 6 a.m. and closes at 10 p.m. daily.

About

Pat Mayse West Campground is a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers facility located on the banks of Pat Mayse Lake in Lamar County, Texas. The lake covers nearly 6,000 acres with 67 miles of shoreline, situated among gently rolling grasslands and mixed hardwood forests studded with mature pines. The campground features 88 sites total, with 83 offering electric hookups and 5 non-electric sites, making it suitable for both RVs and tent campers. The lake provides excellent opportunities for fishing, with anglers targeting largemouth bass, white crappie, sunfish, striped bass, and both channel and flathead catfish. Boating and swimming are popular activities, with the campground offering direct lake access via a boat ramp. The surrounding lands are managed for hunting, with whitetail deer, upland game, and waterfowl hunting available. The area serves as important habitat for migratory waterfowl, and the famed Red River Bottoms located a few miles north attract impressive concentrations of birds. Campground amenities include both flush and vault toilets, hot showers, drinking water, and a dump station. The entrance gate opens at 6 a.m. and closes at 10 p.m., though vehicles may exit at any time. Visitors should note this area was used as a military artillery range in the 1940s, and any ordnance found should be reported immediately to park rangers or 911.

Directions

From Paris, TX, take Highway 271 north for 12 miles to FM 906 West, then 4 miles to FM 197. Turn west for 3 miles to CR 35810, turn left 1 mile to CR 35800, then left into the park.

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