Mission Tejas State Park – Texas State Park 2/89
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The Deets
Mission Tejas State Park is located just over 20 miles outside Crockett, TX, a small town with its claim to fame being that Davy Crockett made camp there on his way to the Alamo. The park is roughly 2.5 hours east of Waco, TX, and 2.5 hours southeast of Dallas, TX. Nestled in the incredible woodlands of East Texas, Mission Tejas State Park covers 660 acres and features nearly 10 miles of trails to explore. Camping is available (RV, tent, and primitive) and you can also fish in the pond or enjoy bird-watching from the two bird blinds in the park. The park is open year-round and the entrance fee is $3 for adults and free for children under the age of 12 (or completely free for everyone if using a Park Pass).
The History
Long before Mission Tejas State Park was a spark in anyone’s mind, the land it now covers was occupied by the Caddo people. In 1690, the Spanish built a mission in a village of the Caddo tribe, hoping to convert them. It was not to be successful since the Caddo people blamed the Spanish for an outbreak of smallpox. They intended to overthrow the Spanish, but the Spanish burned the mission and fled when they learned of the plot.
The El Camino Real ran through what is now part of the park and a small section of it remains. You can walk a piece of history during your visit! The El Camino Real was a long stretch of road from Guerrero, Mexico to Louisiana, used mainly between the 1600s and 1800s. In the 1800s, alternate roads were built and much of the El Camino Real fell out of use. However, TX HWY 21 follows much of the same route. Dotted along the road, you’ll see many pink granite historical markers indicating that you’re still on the path of the ancient road.
The CCC was sent out to Mission Tejas in 1934 to build the park after local citizens purchased land and put up a historical marker to commemorate the mission. We can thank the CCC for the mission replica that now stands in the park. They also created a small dam, making the pond that you can now fish from.
Our Experience
Hands down, we absolutely LOVED Mission Tejas State Park. The forests are breathtaking, and the wildlife is abundant. Never in our lives have we seen so many beautyberries! We hiked the trails for about a day and a half and didn’t come across another person the entire time. If you’re looking to get away and find some peace, this is the park for you. There are also tons of wildlife to observe. We saw many white-tailed deer, squirrels, birds, and a few armadilloes!
We camped in our tent at campsite #6 for one night. It is a short walk to the restrooms, which is a must for me (Lydia). No matter what I do, inevitably, I’m going to need the loo in the middle of the night. The restrooms were very nice, clean, and well-lit.
The Trails
This park has some incredible trails! They range in difficulty and length, so there should be something here for everyone. I think the easiest trails we hiked were the San Pedro Spur and the Nabedache Loop. Both are wide and fairly flat.
Our favorite trail by far was the Steep Ravine Trail. It is the longest trail in the park, 2.43 miles, and is ranked by the park as challenging. While there are many ups and downs, I would say that it’s a fairly easy trail to hike. The length and inclines/declines probably go into account when ranking, but we’d put it more at a moderate difficulty when it comes to the terrain. The path is narrow for quite a good portion of the trail but still relatively even walking.
When it comes to terrain and footing, we recommend watching your step on the Olen Matchett Trail. Talk about tripping you up! There are a multitude of roots and rocks protruding through the path. It is also coated in pine needles, which can make the steep inclines and declines incredibly slippery. This is one of those trails where you will be watching your feet more than anything, so definitely take your time there. Some of the trails on this side of the park feel like they are not frequently walked, so take your time and watch your footing.
Our Takeaway
This is our kind of park. We love forests and towering trees, and Mission Tejas State Park did not disappoint in that aspect. The trails are more to our liking, winding and climbing tracks through the woods. The park is also packed full of history, which is another area of interest for us.
You can hike the entire park easily over two days. We hiked nearly every trail in about a day and a half. There is wildlife in abundance and the scenery doesn’t disappoint. All of the facilities we used were clean and tidy. If you’re ever in the area, definitely add Mission Tejas State Park to your list, even if you just have time for a quick drive through it. It’s a beauty!
Want to see the park in action? Check out our Mission Tejas State Park vlogs for Day 1 and Day 2!
Cheers,
Lydia and Billy
