big-thicket | TX | Find park

Bright green swamp with shallow water and many kinds of trees and jungle-like plants.

When you think of Texas, do you picture jungle-like swamps?

A log cabin in a forest beneath a canopy of sprawling live oak trees.

Historic Staley Cabin sits at the start of the Kirby Nature Trail.

A park ranger paddling a green canoe on a slow-moving waterway below cypress trees.

A canoe or kayak trip is the best way to see Big Thicket's waterways.

A small wooden bridge on a trail through dense woods.

Wander through the woods on the Beaver Slide Trail.

Close-up of a carnivorous pitcher plant with the shadow of an insect inside.

Visit in spring to see carnivorous pitcher plants.

A woodpecker with bright red head clinging to a dead tree.

Look for woodpeckers in Big Thicket's pine forests.

An iron bridge above a murky creek surrounded by dense woods.

The bridge over Village Creek connects the Kirby Nature Trail to the Turkey Creek Trail.

Shadowy-looking cypress knees and their reflections in still water.

Cypress knees, extensions of bald cypresses' roots, are abundant in Big Thicket waters.

2 people in a canoe and 1 person in a kayak paddle through a forested slough.

Paddle beneath a canopy of cypress and tupelo on the Cooks Lake to Scatterman Paddling Trail.

A wooden boardwalk curving through dense ferns and pines.

The Sundew Trail leads hikers through a wetland pine savannah.

Tall trees in a swamp, displaying bright orange foliage.

Visit in November to see bald cypress leaves turn a rich orange hue.

A green anole lizard resting on an outstretched palmetto leaf.

The beauty of the Big Thicket lies in its small details.

Sunlight poking through the canopy of a sprawling oak tree.

Large live oaks welcome hikers to the Kirby Nature Trail.

Leafless bald cypress trees and knees stand in a swamp filled with leaves and branches in winter.

Winter brings a different mood to Big Thicket's sloughs.

Physical Address:

6102 FM 420

Kountze, TX 77625

Mailing Address:

6044 FM 420

Kountze, TX 77625

contact-details

Phone Number: 409-951-6700 Voice

Email Address: bith_information@nps.gov
Description: We usually reply to emails within one week.

Fees

Entrance Fees

Entrance Passes

Life of all types abounds in the Big Thicket. This national preserve protects the incredible diversity of life found where multiple habitats meet in southeast Texas. Hiking trails and waterways meander through nine different ecosystems, from longleaf pine forests to cypress-lined bayous. It is a place of discovery, a place to wander and explore, a place to marvel at the richness of nature.

park designation:National Preserve

Directions:

The main corridor through the Big Thicket is US Hwy 69/287 between Beaumont and Woodville. Many smaller roads and highways branch off of the main corridor to reach trailheads and scenic areas. The visitor center is located at the intersection of US 69/287 and FM 420, about 7 miles north of Kountze and 30 miles north of Beaumont.

For detailed directions, please visit this link.

Directions

Operating Hours:

All Park Hours

Big Thicket National Preserve is open 24 hours. To camp in the preserve, you need a backcountry camping permit, available from the visitor center.

Weather Information:

SPRING: Expect comfortable weather in Mar/Apr, with heat & humidity increasing in May. SUMMER: High heat, high humidity, and thunderstorms are common. Hurricane & tropical storm activity peaks in late summer. FALL: Early fall can be hot, while Oct/Nov bring pleasant temperatures. WINTER: Mild, chilly weather with occasional cold spells. Snow is rare, though Dec/Jan/Feb nights may dip below freezing.