Parks Reopen
AUSTIN — Texas State Parks began reopening Monday for da use only as part of a broader effort to begin reopening the state of Texas.
Those in Northeast Texas include Atlanta State Park near Atlanta, Caddo Lake State Park near Karnack, Daingerfield State Park near Daingerfield, Lake Bob Sandlin State Park near Pittsburg and Tyler State Park near its namesake.
At the direction of Gov. Greg Abbott, new restrictions in effect include requiring visitors to wear face coverings, maintain a 6-foot distance from individuals outside of their party and limit the gathering of groups to no larger than five.
“As we navigate through these challenging times, it is essential that outdoor experiences and opportunities are available for Texas families,” said Carter Smith, Executive Director of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. “We have been diligently working with our partners in local communities across the state to help safeguard our state park visitors, volunteers and staff when they return to Texas state parks,” He said that during the temporary closure, teams have been cleaning and sanitizing park facilities and doing routine maintenance.
Not all state parks will reopen at this time. Park visitors should check the Texas State Parks Alert Map for the status of individual parks. The resumption of overnight camping will be announced once a date has been determined.
TPWD recommends visitors continue to adhere to local, state and federal travel restrictions and other guidance for safety and social distancing before traveling. Visitors are required to pre-purchase and print day-use permits through the Texas State Parks Reservation System before traveling to a park. These can be made online at texasstateparks.org or by calling 512-389-8900.
Visitors planning on coming to a state park are encouraged to bring all necessary provisions, such as hand sanitizer and face masks, which will help local businesses have enough goods to properly serve their communities. This will also help park staff have the necessary supplies available for all guests during their stay.
Operational changes still in effect at parks include the suspension of all transactions, equipment rentals and in-person interpretive programs.
All group-use facilities, visitor and nature centers, headquarters and other enclosed spaces where people congregate will also remain closed.
(For guidance troubleshooting issues with the reservation system or using Texas State Park Passes online, or the latest information, visit the Reservation Help page on the TPWD website.)