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.

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.

Cypress swamp in the Lance Rosier Unit

Big Thicket Swamp

Young longleaf pines grow in a newly-replanted forest near the preserve's visitor center and headquarters.

Longleaf Pines

Green anoles are commonly seen in the Big Thicket

Green Anole

Dwarf palmettos grow in the Big Thicket's palmetto hardwood flats.

Palmettos

Small wooden bridges guide hikers across waterways on the Kirby Nature Trail.

Kirby Nature Trail Bridge

The view from the bridge over Village Creek is a highlight for hikers on the Kirby Nature Trail.

Hiker on bridge over Village Creek

Early April is the best time to see wildflowers blooming in the Big Thicket..

Pitcher Plants and Pines

Kayaking is a popular way to explore the many waterways in the Big Thicket. Here, kayakers paddle along the Cooks Lake Paddling Trail near Beaumont.

Kayakers in Cooks Lake

The visitor center is open daily from 9 am to 5 pm.

Rangers in front of visitor center

Wide-buttressed trunks of bald cypresses

Cypress Tree Trunks

Knobby knees, extensions of the root system, are a distinctive feature of the bald cypress trees.

Cypress Knees

Look for carnivorous pitcher plants in bogs along the Sundew Trail and Pitcher Plant Trail.

Pitcher Plants

Winter brings a different mood to Big Thicket's sloughs.

Wintry Cypress Slough

The bridge over Village Creek connects the Kirby Nature Trail to the Turkey Creek Trail.

Village Creek Bridge

The Sundew Trail leads hikers through a wetland pine savannah.

Sundew Trail

Bald cypress displaying fall colors on the Beaver Slide Trail

Bald Cypress in Fall

Historic Staley Cabin sits at the start of the Kirby Nature Trail.

Staley Cabin

A still pond reflects the bright shades of green of early spring.

Beaver Slide Trail

A thicket is a dense forest of trees and shrubs.

Kirby Nature Trail

Dwarf palmettos add a jungle-like atmosphere to the Big Thicket.

Big Thicket's fall colors typically peak late November through early December.

Collins Pond, Woodlands Trail

Explore the woods near the Edgewater Day-Use Area to find a scenic cypress-tupelo slough

Big Thicket National Preserve

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