Hilltop Campground

Eight miles of trails offer mountain bikers a great chance to explore Village Creek, one of the only free-flowing creeks in Texas. The 1.13 mile Village Creek Trail follows the water, making it easy to jump off your bike for a quick dip. The trail even ends right at the popular swimming sandbar. Deeper inland, the Yaupon Trail and Water Oak Trail will carry you through some impressive flora, including yucca, prickly-pear cactus, cypress and tupelo. A trail map will help you find your way.

Hop in the canoe or stand by the serene banks of the Village Creek. Either way, there’s ample fishing to be done at Village Creek State Park. Catfish, bass, sunfish and crappie are the most popular catches on Village Creek, but this spot is a favorite among anglers, so prepare for crowds during the summer months. Village Creek State Park lends fishing tackle, as well.

Eight miles of hiking trails will take you along the banks of Village Creek and out to the popular swimming sandbar. Or head in the other direction through tall grasses and longleaf pines, and past impressive displays of cactus, yucca, cypress, and tupelo. With a variety of natural habitats to explore, nature lovers will appreciate the enormous diversity of Village Creek State Park. This trail map will lead you to all the best spots, including the nesting tree of yellow-bellied sapsuckers, beaver swamps, and the best prickly-pear cactus around. Temperatures are sky high in the summer, so pack along some water and snacks, and watch out for plants that may be poisonous or thorny.

The canoe launch is located northeast of camp headquarters, right along Village Creek. Mother nature must really want you to get out there and paddle, since the canoe launch was naturally formed by nearby sand deposits, making it the perfect place to get your boat in and out of the water. Whether you’re getting out on the creek for a peaceful float, or looking to catch a big fish, paddling is highly encouraged at Village Creek State Park. The Village Creek Paddling Trail is 21 miles of river bliss, and definitely worth checking out.

Although Village Creek welcomes swimmers anytime, anywhere, the best place to go for a dip is the well-known swimming sandbar. Located at the park’s northern tip, it’s accessible by foot or bike. Bring along a picnic to enjoy by the banks of the water, and you can make a whole day out of swimming at Village Creek. Keep an eye out for otters, beavers, turtles and frogs. Alligators shouldn’t be a problem, but they’ve been spotted before, so read up on your alligator safety tips to be extra safe.

Bobcats, white-tailed deer and opossums fill the woodlands, so you’re likely to have company on the trail. The longleaf pine savannahs in the park’s upper areas feature roadrunners and armadillos. And don’t forget the birds: egrets, herons, woodpeckers, owls, and an impressive variety of songbirds all make Village Creek their home sweet home.