Texas / Houston County / Davy Crockett National Forest

Ratcliff Lake Recreation Area

Open — Open year-round with reservations available through Recreation.gov. Day use area hours are 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. daily. Quiet hours from 10:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m.

About

Ratcliff Lake Recreation Area was built in 1936 by the Civilian Conservation Corps and surrounds a scenic 45-acre lake that once served as a log pond for the Central Coal and Coke Company sawmill from 1902 to 1920. The campground features 56 campsites nestled in a forest of loblolly pine, oak and other hardwoods, with some sites offering 30-amp electric hookups. The facility provides extensive recreational opportunities including a designated swimming area with playground, fishing piers for bass and catfish, and access to three major hiking trails: the 1.5-mile Tall Pines Trail, 0.75-mile Trail Tamers, and the 20-mile Four C National Recreation Trail leading to the scenic Neches Bluff Overlook. The campground operates year-round with both reservable sites and first-come-first-served options. Amenities include restrooms with showers, potable water, picnic tables, and fire pits at campsites. Only electric motors are permitted on the lake. The surrounding Davy Crockett National Forest provides habitat for diverse wildlife including deer, turkey, squirrel, and the endangered red-cockaded woodpecker. Day use facilities include 17 picnic areas, a reservable amphitheater, and group sites.

Directions

From Crockett, take State Highway 7 east for 15 miles. Turn left at the entrance road between the towns of Ratcliff and Kennard. From Lufkin, take Highway 103 west for 16 miles where it merges with Highway 7. Continue west for 12 miles and turn right at the recreation area entrance.

Nearby Campgrounds