Can You Camp Anywhere in Davy Crockett National Forest?

Davy Crockett National Forest is located in east Texas and covers a total area of over 160,000 acres. The forest is a paradise for outdoor enthusiasts and features a wide variety of recreational activities including camping, fishing, hunting, boating, and hiking.

The forest offers three main camping areas – Ratcliff Lake Recreation Area, Piney Creek Horse Camp, and Big Slough Wilderness Camp. Ratcliff Lake Recreation Area is the most popular of the three and offers over 50 campsites with amenities such as fire rings, picnic tables, flush toilets, and potable water. There are also several boat ramps available for visitors to access the lake.

Piney Creek Horse Camp is located farther south from Ratcliff Lake and offers equestrian camping. This area has 20 campsites with amenities such as fire rings, picnic tables, flush toilets, and potable water. There are also horse trails leading to nearby lakes for fishing or swimming.

Big Slough Wilderness Camp is the least developed of the three areas but still provides an excellent camping experience. This area has 20 campsites with amenities such as fire rings and picnic tables but no flush toilets or potable water available on site. Visitors must bring their own water or be prepared to purify it from nearby streams.

Can You Camp Anywhere in Davy Crockett National Forest?

Yes! Although there are three main camping areas – Ratcliff Lake Recreation Area, Piney Creek Horse Camp, and Big Slough Wilderness Camp – visitors are also allowed to camp anywhere else in the national forest as long as they follow Leave No Trace principles. When camping outside of the designated sites visitors must be sure to practice low-impact camping techniques such as packing out all trash and properly disposing of human waste.

Conclusion:


Yes! You can camp anywhere in Davy Crockett National Forest as long as you follow Leave No Trace principles. There are three main designated camping areas with amenities such as fire rings and picnic tables but visitors are also welcome to explore other areas within the national forest while practicing low-impact camping techniques such as packing out all trash and properly disposing of human waste.

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Samantha Mckinney