Explore the East Texas Outdoors

Explore Outdoors

Lumberjacks have so many incredible spots in the surrounding areas to explore. We've compiled a collection of spots enjoyed by SFA students and Nacogdoches community. Explore and get outside!

Trails

Camping

Fishing

Hunting

Trails for walking, hiking or biking

Need to rent some gear?

Before you go... remember trail rules and etiquette

  • Trails are open to the community.
  • All trails are open to walkers, runners and bikers.
  • Bikers should yield to walkers and runners to ensure the safety of all users.
  • Stay on the trail corridor, and do not create “social trails.” This leads to new trails and makes it confusing for other users.
  • Trails should not be used after periods of rain. If you are leaving a wet tire rut or footprint, it is too wet to be on the trails. If you must go on the trail, do not step off the trail to get around a wet spot. This causes the trails to widen, which can impact the natural area around the trails more than intended.
  • If you see a blocked drainage feature, feel free to unblock it. It helps dry the trails out for users after you.
SFA Gardens

Immerse yourself in lush, natural beauty as you take a stroll along the paved trails in any of the five SFA gardens! The gardens are open from dusk to dawn daily.

Hike and bike near campus

SFA's multiuse and bike trails, located along University Drive, consists of one mile of paved trails and five miles of unpaved multiuse trails. The paved trailhead is located in the Gala Mize Garden, with parking on East Starr Avenue. This area is great for walking, hiking and biking. This trail is maintained by Campus Recreation's outdoor pursuits program. Help us care for the trail by reporting any maintenance issues to outdoorpursuits@sfasu.edu.

View Multiuse Trail Map

Exploring within the loop

The trails of Nacogdoches are open to walkers, runners, hikers and cyclists. Lanana Creek Trail consists of 7.1 miles of recreational trails, which go right by the SFA campus. The Lanana Creek segment takes you past thickets of paw-paw, dogwood and scarlet-blooming buckeye.

Surrounding areas you can explore in half a day

The Stephen F. Austin Experimental Forest is located outside the Nacogdoches loop: 6727 Guy Blount Road. The trail's setting of mature hardwoods and pines features two separate loops, spanning 2.8 miles. Along the way, you can see some of the most scenic areas, where researchers study wildlife and hardwood trees. The forest is home to 300 species of birds and 80 species of butterflies. Visitors are welcome daily during daylight hours.

Within the Angelina National Forest, the Boykin Springs recreational area is a trailhead for the 5-mile Sawmill Hiking Trail near Jasper, which is designed for all skill levels.

Spend a day or two exploring!

Davy Crockett National Forest, 4C Trail is great for day or multi-day hiking. This 20-mile-long trail begins at Ratcliff Lake Recreation Area and ends at the Neches Bluff Overlook. The trail is rated “easy” for the south and central sections and becomes more difficult in the north section, which has steeper terrain.

 

Recreation areas with campsites

Need to rent some gear?

If you’d like to get away for a night or two and take in the gorgeous natural settings surrounding Nacogdoches, you’ll find plenty of great camping spots nearby. Here are some of our favorites with their approximate distance from SFA.

Fishing spots nearby

With 31 fishing lakes, some within 30 minutes of the SFA campus, anglers have a different option for every day of the month! You’ll find a variety of fish in the lakes surrounding Nacogdoches, but the area is especially well known for white bass, black bass and catfish.

Notice:

The following information is offered only as a resource for exploration. Campus Recreation does not sell fishing licenses. Outdoor pursuits does not rent fishing equipment. 

Nacogdoches and the surrounding area are packed with recreational fishing sites, from the many freshwater lakes to scenic rivers, reservoirs and creeks. Here are just a few of your many nearby options.

Public hunting lands

There's a vast selection of game to choose from and plenty of public hunting lands. East Texas is known for its many white-tailed deer, but you’ll also find waterfowl, doves, partridges, rabbits and hares, squirrels, bullfrogs, hogs and migratory game birds.

Notice:

The following information is offered only as a resource for exploration. Campus Recreation does not sell hunting licenses. Outdoor pursuits does not rent hunting equipment. 

Here are just a few of the convenient locations within driving distance of campus.