Martin Creek Lake State Park
Martin Creek Lake State Park | |
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![]() A fishing pier in Martin Creek Lake State Park | |
Location | Rusk County, Texas, United States |
Nearest city | Tatum |
Coordinates | 32°16′41″N 94°33′58″W / 32.27806°N 94.56611°W[1] |
Area | 286 acres (116 ha) |
Established | 1976 |
Visitors | 79,022 (in 2022)[2] |
Governing body | Texas Parks and Wildlife Department |
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Martin Creek Lake State Park is a 286 acres (116 ha) developed recreational area in East Texas in the United States. The park is located southwest of Tatum on Martin Creek Lake in Rusk County and is managed by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. The Texas Utilities Generating Company deeded the park to the state in 1976, and it opened the same year.[3]
Features
Recreation
The park offers year-round fishing, camping, paddling, lake swimming, hiking and cycling, water-skiing, picnicking, geocaching and nature photography.
Flora
Many types of hardwood trees like black oak, water oak and winged elm are found in the park mixed in with softwoods like loblolly pine, shortleaf pine, eastern red cedar and Hercules' club trees. Some documented plants include American beautyberry, yaupon holly, honey locust, Mexican plum and common persimmon.
Fauna
Wildlife found in this forested area include opossums, swamp rabbits, beaver, white-tailed deer, raccoons, armadillos and eastern gray squirrels. Some of the most commonly seen birds are mallard ducks, great blue herons, green herons, great egrets, northern cardinals, blue jays, red-headed woodpeckers, cormorants and northern mockingbirds.
Fish in Martin Creek Lake include largemouth bass, crappie, channel catfish, yellow bullhead, tilapia and sunfish. Reptiles found in the lake are yellow-bellied water snakes, broad-banded water snakes and diamondback water snakes.
See also
References
- ^ "Martin Creek Lake State Park Overview". tpwd.texas.gov. Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. Retrieved June 5, 2019.|
- ^ Christopher Adams. "What is the most visited state park in Texas? Here's the top 10 countdown". KXAN.com. Retrieved November 21, 2023.
- ^ "Martin Creek Lake State Park History". tpwd.texas.gov. Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. Retrieved June 5, 2019.
External links