Davy Crockett National Forest in Texas offers Forest Service recreation at Ratcliff Lake, Neches Bluff Overlook. For a walking or hiking visit, start with Ratcliff Lake: (936) 655-2299, Neches Bluff Overlook: (936) 655-2299. Each recreation site has its own facilities and access rules; use the official maps and current site instructions to plan your visit.

Camping & reservations

The booking button opens the official reservation destination for Ratcliff Lake: (936) 655-2299. Other campgrounds in this forest may have separate reservations, first-come sites or district permits. Read the current instructions for your chosen site.

Truck-camping & permitted overnight use

Confirm with the district whether your chosen designated campsite accepts a truck camper or RV. Check pad length, turning space, approach surface and seasonal access; a trailhead or day-use lot is not an overnight campsite.

The official recreation inventory lists Neches Bluff Overlook: (936) 655-2299, DAVY CROCKETT (Lufkin/Crockett Area): 936-655-2299 for dispersed camping. Read each site’s current rules; this does not authorize camping on every forest road.

Neches Bluff Overlook: (936) 655-2299 ↗ — This is a trailhead for the 4C Hiking Trail. Neches Bluff Overlook, located at the north end of the trail, offers a panoramic view of pine-hardwood forests in the Neches River bottomlands with picnic and primitive camping facilities.

DAVY CROCKETT (Lufkin/Crockett Area): 936-655-2299 ↗ — The Davy Crockett National Forest, named for the legendary pioneer, contains more than 160,000 acres of East Texas woodlands, streams, recreation areas, and wildlife habitat. Located in Houston and Trinity Counties, the forest is centrally located within the Neches and Trinity River basins. The Davy Crockett National Forest was proclaimed a National Forest by President Franklin Roosevelt on October 15, 1936.

Activities, hiking & trails

Ratcliff Lake: (936) 655-2299 ↗
USFS Volunteer Opportunity The Davy Crockett National Forest is seeking interested candidates to volunteer as campground hosts at Ratcliff Lake Recreational Area. [ Read more ] Ratcliff Lake Recreation Area was built in 1936 by the Civilian Conservation Corps. It surrounds a picturesque 45-acre lake that was once a log pond and a source of water for the Central Coal and Coke Company sawmill which operated from 1902 to 1920. The area offers opportunities for camping, picnicking, swimming, fishing and hiking. The Four C National Recreation Trail is 20 miles and originates in the Ratcliff Recreation Area and goes to the Neches Bluff Overlook. ~ Recreation Area Map ~

Neches Bluff Overlook: (936) 655-2299 ↗
This is a trailhead for the 4C Hiking Trail. Neches Bluff Overlook, located at the north end of the trail, offers a panoramic view of pine-hardwood forests in the Neches River bottomlands with picnic and primitive camping facilities.

Maps & road access

• Official visitor maps, trail maps and Motor Vehicle Use Maps (MVUM) ↗
• Davy Crockett National Forest — official MVUM (2025 edition listed) ↗
• Davy Crockett National Forest — official forest map ↗

Consult the current Motor Vehicle Use Map for permitted motor routes, vehicle classes and seasonal designations. A route on an MVUM is not a guarantee that it is maintained or passable. Check current road closures and conditions with the district; carry an offline map.

Use the official directions for the exact named campground or trailhead; forest boundaries and administrative offices are not campsite entrances. Official directions / site access ↗

Before you travel

Check the forest’s current alerts, seasonal services, fire orders and campground rules. Download the relevant official maps before entering areas with limited reception.

Source review: 2026-11-01. Conditions, fees, permits and availability can change. USDA Forest Service official information ↗

Photograph sources & licensing

Banner: Ratcliff Lake, Davy Crockett National Forest
Lake Ratcliff Recreation Area - Davy Crockett National Forest Youth LINC visits two beautiful spots in the Davy Crockett National Forest, including Lake Ratcliff Recreation Area
Credit: Adrian Delgado2012. Original source ↗ · CC BY 2.0 ↗. Resized and cropped to match the profile display framing; original image source linked.

Second large photograph: Amphitheater and lake-view sign at Ratcliff
Davy Crockett National Forest - Texas Signage for the Davy Crockett National Forest Amphitheater and lake view, near Ratcliff, Texas.
Credit: Tony Webster. Original source ↗ · CC BY 2.0 ↗. Resized and cropped to match the profile display framing; original image source linked.

Photographs are real images of the named unit; no AI-generated photographs are used. Federal photo credit register.