Purtis Creek State Park

About

Purtis Creek State Park offers a tranquil escape centered around its 355-acre lake in the Post Oak Savannah region of East Texas, about an hour southeast of Dallas. The lake was specifically designed for fishing and quiet water recreation, with motorized boats limited to 50 at a time operating at idle-only speeds. This creates an exceptionally peaceful environment for anglers pursuing largemouth bass, catfish, and crappie from the shore, fishing piers, or non-motorized watercraft. The campground provides 56 developed sites with water and electric hookups arranged in a loop with access to restrooms and showers. For a more primitive experience, five walk-in tent sites offer seclusion near the lake, while 13 backpacking sites along the 1.7-mile primitive trail loop require at least a 0.65-mile hike and feature only fire rings with grills. The park maintains 4.5 miles of level, mostly wheelchair-friendly trails through rolling woodlands. The park store sells camping supplies, outdoor equipment, bait, and gifts, and offers kayak rentals complete with paddles and lifejackets. A group pavilion is available for day-use rental. The park frequently reaches capacity on weekends and holidays, so reservations are strongly recommended for both camping and day use.

Directions

Located at 14225 FM 316 N, Eustace, TX 75124. From Dallas, take I-20 east to US-175 south toward Athens. Turn left onto FM 316 N and continue approximately 3 miles to the park entrance.