6 Incredible Reasons to Visit Daingerfield State Park

I recently visited Daingerfield State Park for the first time and I fell in love! This park is beautiful!!! It may have had something to do with the gorgeous fall foliage, but the peacefulness was equally as impressive. Here are 6 incredible reasons to visit Daingerfield State Park.

Location:

Daingerfield State Park is located in the Piney Woods of East Texas. It’s a little over a two hour drive from Dallas.

455 Park Road 17 Daingerfield, TX 75638

Best Time To Visit:

Hands down fall!!! The foliage is beautiful. Peak leaf time varies every year, but early to mid November is a good bet. Fall and spring are both great times to hike and camp.

Summer is a good time for enjoying the lake and swimming.

The park is open year round. I highly recommend making reservations online ahead of time. The day I went they had already sold out of day passes by 9:00 AM.

Cost:

$4 Daily entrance fee per person age 13 and older.

$70 Texas State Park Annual Pass (covers entire family)- Highly recommend! If you visit Texas state parks often, the pass will pay for itself quickly.

What To Bring:

• Water
• Snacks
• Sunscreen
• Bug Spray
• Hiking Backpack
• Hiking Shoes
• Swimsuit (if summer)
• Camping Equipment
• Camera
• Texas State Parks Pass

6 Incredible Reasons To Visit Daingerfield State Park

1.Hike a Trail

There are two main hiking trails here.

Rustling Leaves Trail -2.4 miles This is an easy hike through a beautiful canopy of trees while also enjoying views of the lake. This is not technically a full loop, but a walk through the parking lot will complete the full circle.

Mountain View Trail – 1.2 miles – This trail takes you to the top of a hill where maybe there was a view at one time?? It was still a nice hike through the woods with a little elevation. Also, you will need to hike a small portion of the Rustling Leaves Trail to make it a loop.

I did both trails in under a couple hours.

2. Go Camping

Great campsites and they even have cabins! Also the bathrooms are clean and conveniently located.

Campsites run $10 – $20 per night for up to eight people. For more info click HERE.

Cabins- There are 3 regular cabins that hold 4-6 people priced $85 – $95 per night. They also have a group cabin that holds 15 people for $225 per night. For more info click HERE.

3. Fish

They have a stocked lake with crappie, bass, perch and catfish. Plus you do not need a fishing license to fish in this state park! There is a fishing pier and boat ramp available.

4. Have Fun On The Lake

Rent a boat or bring your own. Motor allowed but not to exceed 5mph. Usually they have paddle boats,paddle boards, kayaks and canoes available to rent year round, but it is suspended for now due to COVID.

If you enjoy swimming, there is a dedicated swimming area in the lake. No beach, but it does have a floating dock.

5. Fall Foliage

I’ve mentioned this previously, but fall is a beautiful time to experience the park. Even if you are not a hiker, the views can be seen any place in the park. FYI, I came the first week of November. Not sure when peak fall colors are, but I saw plenty.

6. Peace & Quiet

I mentioned earlier how I came on a day that was sold out of day passes. You would think it would have seemed crowded right?!? Not at all! On my hikes, I saw only 4 other groups of people. Two of those groups were couples and the other two were families. I did see a few more throughout the park, but on the whole it was quiet. Very quiet. I could have easily brought a hammock or hung out on a bench for a few hours enjoying the scenery and solitude.

Tips for Visiting:

• Make online reservations before coming!
• Call about boat rentals to see if they are available.
• There is a small convenience store available to purchase snacks and worms for fish.

I hope you enjoyed the 6 Incredible reasons to visit Daingerfield State Park. Did I miss anything? Let me know if you’ve been.

Lake Bob Sandlin State Park is nearby. Check out this post HERE on what to do there.

For more Texas State Parks to Visit Click HERE.