Anyone who has been meaning to try a state park can do it for nothing on Sunday, Nov. 1. Texas Parks and Wildlife is waiving day-use fees at all of its state parks for the fourth annual Texas State Parks Day.
The department's event listing says more than 85 parks take part, and it invites families and friends to spend the day outdoors.
Reserve to be sure of getting in
Free entry does not guarantee a spot. The department recommends reserving a "Save the Day" pass for the park you plan to visit, either online through the state parks reservation system or by calling the customer service center at 512-389-8900.
Two of the nearest state parks to the northern Collin and Denton county suburbs, Ray Roberts Lake State Park and Eisenhower State Park, say on their own pages that they often reach capacity and recommend reservations for day visits.
- Ray Roberts Lake State Park, with its Isle du Bois and Johnson Branch units, normally charges adults $7 a day. It is open from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. The park's trail network includes a 20-mile multiuse trail that runs along the Elm Fork of the Trinity River from the Ray Roberts dam to Lake Lewisville.
- Eisenhower State Park on Lake Texoma normally charges adults $5. Its posted hours are 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and it has more than four miles of trails for walking and biking.
Children 12 and younger get in free at state parks every day, the department notes, and it offers several other passes that bring discounted or free entry.