Willow Oak Campground

Biking

Dragging along a mountain bike on your next Sabine National forest camping adventure is a great idea, as the region is well known for its outdoor recreation opportunities. Choose from a number of roadways and trails through wooded areas.

Boating

We all know the best way to explore beautiful shorelines and score the best fishing opportunities is by boat, and Sabine National Forest is no exception. Launch your boat at one of the park’s many boat ramps for a day of adventuring around Toledo Bend Reservoir.

Fishing

Whether you’re on a boat or the shoreline, fishing in Sabine National Forest is always a good time. Toledo Bend Reservoir is a well-known bass fishing location, and the site of many fishing tournaments each year. The Toledo Bend and Sam Rayburn Reservoirs offer more than 296,100 acres of water for fishing and are considered to be some of the top year-round bass fishing lakes in all of the United States. Within Sabine National Forest you'll also find 18 miles of perennial streams home to many species of warm-water fish.

Hiking

Hike amidst a wide array of flora and fauna on Sabine National Forest’s 28 mile Trail Between the Lakes, which spans between Lakeview Recreation Area and Highway 96 near the Sam Rayburn Reservoir. The best times to wander through the trails here are early spring and fall when the forest fills with a bright array of changing leaves and blooming flowers. Spanning more than 12,000 acres, the park’s Indian Mounds Wilderness Area also permits hiking.

Horseback riding

Give your horse some exercise and a dose of fresh air on Sabine National Forest's numerous wooded roadways. You can also bring your horse to explore the 12,369-acre Indian Mounds Wilderness Area.

Swimming

Jump in to cool off at the swimming beach at Red Hills Lake. With picnic facilities nearby, this can be a great area to spend the day with family or friends. Swimming is not permitted within 100 feet of a boat ramp at Sabine National Forest.

Wildlife watching

As to be expected in such a large park, wildlife is abundant at Sabine National Forest. Many populations of warm-water fish swim through 18 miles of perennial streams, and the reservoirs are filled with striped bass and other fish. Wood ducks can be found here year-round, and migratory waterfowl are frequently spotted as they stop for a rest on their journeys towards the gulf coast. Migrating songbirds, hawks, and shorebirds also pass through this area. Keep your eyes peeled for the federally endangered red-cockaded woodpecker, which reside in Texas’s mature, open, old-growth pine ecosystems. To protect the habitats of these birds, Sabine National Forest paints white and blue bands on the trees. Camping and the use of motorized vehicles is not permitted in protected areas.