Thanksgiving camping at Martin Dies Jr. state park

[Phishtech]

I'd heard this was a great park and I wasn't disappointed, its a jewel. This place has it all: large camp sites, clean, clean restrooms and showers, they sell fire wood cheap, canoe, row boat and bicycle rentals, tent camping, sites with just water or water and electric for pop-ups, travel trailers, motor homes, etc. Miles of beautiful hike and bike trails through the woods, 2 boat ramps, 2 fishing piers, lots of sites on the water, you name it. Also had playgrounds for the kids. This place will be a regular spot for us from now on.

We had deer come through our camp site every morning and evening


Our campsite was large, clean, and quiet with picnic table, BBQ pit, and fire ring


We got there about noon Thanksgiving day and set up camp. The Norther blew through that night and we woke up to 36° temps and fog that soon burned off.


Part of one of the many hike and bike trails.
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Some pics of the lake with fog


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We took the Ultimate 14.5 with us. The wife hadn't been in a kayak for over 2 years now due to a wreck caused by a female talking on a cell phone as she ran a red light. She put on her back brace and I helped her in and out of the kayak. She had to take her babies, I mean dogs along for the ride.


You can see some of the shelters they rent. Some with water, some with water and electric, some also have A/C. All were on or near the water. The campgrounds also has play grounds for the kids.




One item we can't do without on our camping trips is our Coleman stove. The little propane bottles seem to last forever. We finally emptied one after four camping trips and used it for making coffee, cooking, boiling water to wash dishes, etc. This is a must have item. On Friday night we ate wild caught salmon that we brought back from last year's Alaska trip.




On Saturday night we ate fried catfish and trout fillets.
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A pic of one of the trails through the woods. This is a neat place if you're into hiking.
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This place is also a kayak paddler's dream. Can't wait to go back.


We ended each day sitting in front of a fire drinking hot coffee and solving the world's problems. In bed by 9 and fall asleep listing to the leaves falling on the camper's canvas and the armadillos crawling through the brush behind us, wake up at daybreak ready to start the day.

[bowgarguide]

Looks like a great trip thanks for the pics and report.
Ron

[bigfost]

My wife and I love Martin Dies. We go there quite a bit in the winter. It's too dang hot in the summer.

[Mythman]

Impressive looking place.................the pics show a fun time............congrats and thanks for the report.

[Wolfman57]

going to check out this camp site...thanks for the report and pics

[beljason]

great report and pictures, looks like a very scenic park.

[On the Guad]

Thanks for sharing. Nice pictures. Where is the park at.

[Pogo]

Very cool report, makes me wanna go! GREAT looking food shots, too.

Since ya mention those little propane bottles, thought I'd pass this on, Ron told me about it:


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[Drmsfish]

Unless I'm senile, this is on Dam B? Beautiful pics. Watch out for duck hunters (AM only) and for those big alligators. There are more than a few when it's warm.
Matt

[bluewave18]

Great report. We just bought a pop up and this place is on our list.

[86cowboy]

I use to be a CubMaster and we took the scouts there a couple of times and loved it. Great camping and not far out of Houston. I had actually forgot about it until I read this article.