Big Thicket National Preserve

National Preserve · TX · nps.gov page

Reflections of twisting tupelo trees in calm water below a green canopy. — Explore the woods near the Edgewater Day-Use Area to find a scenic cypress-tupelo sloughPhoto: NPS Photo / Scott Sharaga

Life of all types abounds in the Big Thicket. This national preserve protects the incredible diversity of life found where multiple habitats meet in southeast Texas. Hiking trails and waterways meander through nine different ecosystems, from longleaf pine forests to cypress-lined bayous. It is a place of discovery, a place to wander and explore, a place to marvel at the richness of nature.

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News

Big Thicket National Preserve Hunting Permit Registration Opens September 1, 2026 2026-08-17
Hunters can get a free hunting permit at the visitor center beginning September 1, 2026. Permits will be available first-come, first-served throughout the hunting season.
Big Thicket to Host Free Fishing Day for National Park Week 2026-08-14
Go fish! Join rangers for a morning of free, family-friendly activities at Collier's Ferry Park in Beaumont on August 29. Kids can fish for free and enjoy a free boat ride on the Ivory Bill.
Summer 2026 Programs at Big Thicket 2026-05-27
This summer, Big Thicket is offering night hikes, canoe trips, free fishing days, nature walks, and free movies. Check our calendar for more information on dates and times.

Photos

An iron bridge above a murky creek surrounded by dense woods. — The bridge over Village Creek connects the Kirby Nature Trail to the Turkey Creek Trail.Photo: NPS Photo / Scott Sharaga

A patch of palmettos glowing in warm afternoon sunlight in a forest. — Dwarf palmettos add a jungle-like atmosphere to the Big Thicket.Photo: NPS Photo / Scott Sharaga

A leaf-covered trail leading through a tree tunnel of dense green vegetation. — A thicket is a dense forest of trees and shrubs.Photo: NPS Photo / Scott Sharaga

Leafless bald cypress trees and knees stand in a swamp filled with leaves and branches in winter. — Winter brings a different mood to Big Thicket's sloughs.Photo: NPS Photo / Steve Heineke

Tupelo trees growing on the edge of a reflective pond in the woods in spring. — A still pond reflects the bright shades of green of early spring.Photo: NPS Photo / Scott Sharaga

A log cabin in a forest beneath a canopy of sprawling live oak trees. — Historic Staley Cabin sits at the start of the Kirby Nature Trail.Photo: NPS Photo / Scott Sharaga

Close-up of a carnivorous pitcher plant with the shadow of an insect inside. — Visit in spring to see carnivorous pitcher plants.Photo: NPS Photo / Scott Sharaga

A woodpecker with bright red head clinging to a dead tree. — Look for woodpeckers in Big Thicket's pine forests.Photo: NPS Photo / Nathan Pattee

A calm pond reflecting red, green, and yellow foliage of trees along its shore. — Big Thicket's fall colors typically peak late November through early December.Photo: NPS Photo / Scott Sharaga

Shadowy-looking cypress knees and their reflections in still water. — Cypress knees, extensions of bald cypresses' roots, are abundant in Big Thicket waters.Photo: NPS Photo / Scott Sharaga

A wooden boardwalk meanders through a sunny forest of pines and ferns. — The Sundew Trail leads hikers through a wetland pine savannah.Photo: NPS Photo / Scott Sharaga

Park information and photos come from the National Park Service. This is not an official NPS site.