Texas region guide

Things to do in North Texas

Plan a trip around 24 published destinations in North Texas. Compare parks, waterways, historic places, trails, caverns, wildlife areas, and visitor attractions, then connect the places that fit your route.

Explore North Texas

Use this guide as a starting point for discovering public lands, natural features, heritage sites, and visitor attractions across North Texas. Each destination page brings together location details, activities, amenities, current source information, and nearby stops so you can build a realistic itinerary instead of a disconnected list.

Before leaving, confirm operating hours, reservations, fees, weather, water conditions, closures, and access rules with the destination’s official source. Distances and services can vary considerably across Texas, so allow extra time between remote stops.

Destinations in North Texas

Open a guide for visitor information, things to do, maps, planning notes, and related places.

historic site

Acton State Historic Site

Acton · Hood County County · North Texas

Visit the burial place of Elizabeth Crockett, wife of Alamo defender David Crockett, marked by a prominent state monument.

cemetery visit
history
walking
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lake

Bonham State Park

Bonham · Fannin County · North Texas

A wooded North Texas retreat centered on a small lake, with paddling, fishing, swimming, hiking, biking, and camping.

biking
camping
fishing
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river access

Brazos River Scenic Segment — Bosque to Hood

Bosque County, Johnson County, Hood County County · North Texas

A nationally inventoried Brazos River reach with outstanding wildlife, scenery, and recreation values below DeCordova Bend Dam.

boating
fishing
paddling
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river access

Brazos River Scenic Segment — Parker to Palo Pinto

Parker County, Palo Pinto County County · North Texas

A scenic Brazos River reach below Possum Kingdom Lake with limestone bluffs, wildlife habitat, fishing, and demanding paddling conditions.

boating
camping
fishing
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national grassland

Caddo National Grassland

Honey Grove · Fannin County County · North Texas

Explore prairie, woodland, lakes, trails, campsites, fishing areas, and equestrian recreation across the Caddo National Grassland near the Red River region.

boating
camping
fishing
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lake

Cedar Hill State Park

Cedar Hill · Dallas County · North Texas

Joe Pool Lake recreation, extensive mountain-bike trails, camping, fishing, swimming, and preserved Penn Farm history near Dallas.

biking
boating
camping
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lake

Cleburne State Park

Cleburne · Johnson County · North Texas

A spring-fed lake and wooded limestone hills with hiking, mountain biking, fishing, paddling, swimming, cabins, and camping.

biking
camping
fishing
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park

Cooper Lake State Park — Doctors Creek Unit

Cooper · Delta County County · North Texas

Explore the north side of Cooper Lake from the Doctors Creek Unit, with lakeside hiking, camping, fishing, birding, paddling access, and prairie-and-woodland scenery.

birding
camping
fishing
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park

Cooper Lake State Park — South Sulphur Unit

Sulphur Springs · Hopkins County County · North Texas

Visit the larger South Sulphur Unit of Cooper Lake State Park for hiking and equestrian trails, camping, lake recreation, wildlife watching, and family day use.

birding
camping
fishing
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park

Dinosaur Valley State Park

Glen Rose · Somervell County · North Texas

World-famous dinosaur tracks in the Paluxy River, with river swimming, hiking, camping, horseback riding, and family exploration.

camping
family
hiking
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historic site

Eisenhower Birthplace State Historic Site

Denison · Grayson County County · North Texas

Tour the modest birthplace of President Dwight D. Eisenhower and learn about his family, childhood, military career, and presidency.

guided tours
history
museum
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lake

Eisenhower State Park

Denison · Grayson County · North Texas

Lake Texoma cliffs, coves, swimming, fishing, boating, wooded trails, OHV routes, cabins, and camping near Denison.

birding
boating
camping
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historic site

Fort Richardson State Park & Historic Site

Jacksboro · Jack County · North Texas

A restored frontier military post with original and reconstructed buildings, Lost Creek trails, camping, fishing, and military history.

biking
camping
family
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natural area

Hagerman National Wildlife Refuge

Sherman · Grayson County County · North Texas

Explore Lake Texoma shoreline, wetlands, grasslands, woodlands, wildlife drives, trails, and major wintering habitat for geese, ducks, shorebirds, and other North Texas wildlife.

auto tour
birding
boating
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lake

Lake Arrowhead State Park

Wichita Falls · Clay County · North Texas

A prairie lake destination near Wichita Falls with boating, fishing, swimming, hiking, disc golf, camping, and wildlife viewing.

birding
boating
camping
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lake

Lake Mineral Wells State Park & Trailway

Mineral Wells · Parker County · North Texas

A North Texas park with lake recreation, Penitentiary Hollow climbing, hiking, mountain biking, equestrian trails, camping, and the long Lake Mineral Wells Trailway.

biking
camping
climbing
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lake

Lake Tawakoni State Park

Wills Point · Hunt County · North Texas

A large reservoir park east of Dallas with boating, fishing, swimming, hiking, birding, camping, and broad shoreline views.

birding
boating
camping
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national grassland

Lyndon B. Johnson National Grassland

Decatur · Wise County County · North Texas

Discover Cross Timbers scenery, grasslands, equestrian trails, lakes, campsites, hunting areas, and wildlife habitat at Lyndon B. Johnson National Grassland.

camping
fishing
hiking
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park

Palo Pinto Mountains State Park

Strawn · Palo Pinto County · North Texas

A developing North Texas state park protecting rugged hills, canyons, creeks, and wildlife habitat, with future plans for trails, camping, and outdoor recreation.

conservation
hiking
nature study
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lake

Possum Kingdom State Park

Caddo · Palo Pinto County · North Texas

Clear blue water and limestone cliffs on Possum Kingdom Lake, with boating, fishing, swimming, paddling, hiking, cabins, and camping.

birding
boating
camping
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lake

Ray Roberts Lake State Park — Isle du Bois Unit

Pilot Point · Denton County · North Texas

The south-side Ray Roberts Lake unit offers boating, fishing, swimming, hiking, biking, equestrian trails, camping, and a large beach area.

biking
birding
boating
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lake

Ray Roberts Lake State Park — Johnson Branch Unit

Valley View · Cooke County · North Texas

The north-side Ray Roberts Lake unit features boating, fishing, swimming, hiking, biking, camping, and quieter wooded shoreline recreation.

biking
birding
boating
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historic site

Sam Bell Maxey House State Historic Site

Paris · Lamar County County · North Texas

Tour an ornate Victorian home interpreting the Maxey family, politics, military service, domestic life, and changing Texas society.

architecture
guided tours
history
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historic site

Sam Rayburn House State Historic Site

Bonham · Fannin County County · North Texas

Visit the longtime home of U.S. House Speaker Sam Rayburn, preserved with original furnishings, vehicles, and personal collections.

guided tours
history
museum
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