Beech Creek Unit

Late November is a great time to see fall colors in the Big Thicket.

NPS Photo / Scott Sharaga

5,213 acres
Tyler County

Opportunities

• Hiking

• Backcountry Camping (March–September)

• Hunting (October–February)

• Picnic Area at Trailhead

 

Forest of American beech trees

NPS Photo / J. Barker

Overview

In the Beech Creek Unit, you'll find rolling terrain with numerous spring-fed streams. Take the Beech Woods Trail to loop through a hardwood forest. Old dirt roads, now for hiking only, lead to remote parts of the unit. Backcountry camping is allowed in spring and summer, outside of hunting season.

During fall and winter, hunters can seek deer, hogs, and other Texas game species. Hunting season generally runs October through February. Check with visitor center staff for the exact dates of hunting season each year.

Ecology

The primary plant community in the Beech Creek Unit is slope forest, consisting of American beech, southern magnolia, and loblolly pine.

 

Trails

• Beech Woods Trail (1-mile loop)
• Old dirt roadbed (6 miles one-way)
  Note: Dirt roads in the preserve are not maintained and can be challenging to navigate.

Trail Maps & Information »

Location

The Beech Creek Unit is located east of Woodville, just south of B. A. Steinhagen Lake. The trailhead for the Beech Woods Trail is on FM 2992, about 1.9 miles north of FM 1013 and 4.8 miles south of FM 1746. See link above for map and directions.

 

Ferns create a jungle-like atmosphere on the Beech Woods Trail.

NPS Photo / Scott Sharaga

 

Many beech trees have colorful patterns of lichen on their bark.

NPS Photo / Scott Sharaga