What is better than one state park that is full of fun and beauty? TWO state parks that are full of fun and beauty! That’s right, at the Cooper Lake State Park, just north of Sulphur Springs, you can experience the joy of exploring nature two-fold with their Doctors Creek and South Sulphur locations.

THE TWO PARKS

“Why do we have two parks? Because it’s double the fun!”

Steve Killian, Complex Superintendent, shares the benefits of having two parks in one. With over 3000 total acres of state park land, the opportunity for adventure and family fun is almost endless! Steve shared that each park has its own unique characteristics, while still offering many of the same activities. Both Doctors Creek and South Sulphur Park include a full staff of rangers, gift shops, beaches, camping, and more.

The South Sulphur Unit is the larger of the two. This area of Cooper Lake State Park is jammed packed with things to do. There are plenty of biking/hiking trails, like the Coyote Run Trailhead, and various camping and RV sites. In the day-use area, you can enjoy their giant sandy beach along with many water activities, such as fishing and kayaking. There are lots of picnic areas and pavilions for a great lunch spot. They even have a designated equestrian trail, where you can bring your horses for some great trail riding.

Located right off the entrance of the magnificent Jim Chapman Dam, you will find the Doctors Creek Unit. Though it may be smaller in size, it offers just as much fun! With tons of lake access, this park is perfect for fishing, boating, and swimming. On our visit, we noticed that this park was a lot quieter and filled with wildlife than the southside. At the Pelican Point Day Use Area, we actually had a huge flock of migrating pelicans fly over us. Then, at the beginning of the Cedar Creek South Loop, there were literally hundreds of birds flying high up in the sky, welcoming us in.

Simply put, we absolutely loved both sides of Cooper Lake State Park. When you plan your visit, you have to check out both!

PROGRAMS

“Every weekend, all year long, we have some kind of educational program.”

At Cooper Lake State Park, you are free to go out on your own and experience the park however you would like. But why not learn something new? Alicia O’Connor, Park Interpreter, brings the fun to a whole other level with her awesome educational programs and workshops. She leads all kinds of classes! Art in the Park, Dutch oven cooking, and fishing on the lake, just to name a few. Her favorite program to lead is archery. Here you can learn the basics of a bow and arrow to hitting a bullseye. What’s even better is that all the programs are totally FREE! Plus, there is a program happening every single weekend at the park. Click here to see what programs are coming up.

WEEKEND GETAWAY

“We have camping of all types, even glamping camping.”

With all of the trails, beaches, and educational programs at the park, your day will fly by with all the fun you will have. But maybe you are looking for something more serene and slower paced? Cooper Lake State Park offers many well-kept cabins for you and your loved ones to enjoy. Both Doctors Creek Unit and South Sulphur Unit offer these cozy cabins for you to relax in. Sit on the balcony and take in all the beauty of Cooper Lake. Cuddle up with a great book as you make a tiny bonfire. Even stargaze and see the Milky Way, thanks to the low light pollution of Cooper Lake State Park. When you come stay, we highly recommend Cabin #2 on the South Sulphur side for the best views!

When it comes to visiting Texas State Parks, two is always better than one. Plan your visit to the beautiful Cooper Lake State Park today! Maps to both locations are below.

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