TX State ParksAn independent field guide

Martin Dies, Jr. State Park

State park in Jasper County, in the Pineywoods region. Established 1965. 980 acres by TPWD boundary data.

An observation pier on the Wildlife Trail in Martin Dies, Jr. State Park in Jasper and Tyler counties in Texas, United States.
Photo: Larry D. Moore, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Martin Dies, Jr. State Park is on B.A. Steinhagen Reservoir, where the Neches and Angelina rivers meet at the edge of the Big Thicket. It's a paddling park, with nearly 14 miles of paddling trails across sloughs, the Neches River and the lake. There are more than 200 campsites, many beside the water, plus screened shelters and cabins.

Things to do

Paddle

Four paddling trails range from the 2.7-mile Walnut trail to the 5.4-mile Sandy Creek trail, which TPWD rates challenging.

Hike or bike

Trails wind through the woods and over the water. The Slough Trail is the longest, at 2.2 miles.

Swim and fish

Swim or fish in B.A. Steinhagen Reservoir. There are no lifeguards.

A slough in Martin Dies, Jr. State Park in Jasper County, Texas, United States.
Photo: Larry D. Moore, CC BY 4.0
Morning mist on Steinhagen Reservoir, Martin Dies Jr. State Park, Texas
Photo: Plazak, CC BY-SA 3.0

Trails

Trails listed by TPWD, with its own distances and ratings.

TrailDistanceDifficultyTime
Wildlife Trail1.4 miModerate1 hr.
Whitetail Trail0.7 miEasy30 min.
Forest Trail1 miEasy45 min.
Island Trail0.8 miModerate30 min.
Sandy Creek Trail0.8 miEasy40 min.
Slough Trail2.2 miModerate90 min.
Sandy Creek Paddling Trail5.4 miChallenging2.5 hrs.
Neches Paddling Trail2.8 miModerate90 min.
Walnut Paddling Trail2.7 miModerate90 min.
Cypress Swamp Paddling Trail3 miModerate90 min.

Source: TPWD trail list. TPWD doesn’t list trail surfaces. Printable trail map (PDF).

Camping

There are more than 200 campsites, mostly with water and electricity, and many sit next to the lake or a slough. You can also rent one of 37 screened shelters or nine cabins.

Site typeSitesSleepsPer night
Campsites with Electricity (50 amp)Water and electric858$20
Campsites with Electricity (30 amp)Water and electric338$16
Campsites with WaterTent sites with water518$14
Screened SheltersScreened shelters378$30
Cabins with a Screened PorchCabins28$55
CabinsCabins78$45

Nightly rates are on top of the daily entrance fee. Book a site with Texas State Parks reservations, or call (512) 389-8900.

Visiting with dogs

Dogs are allowed on a leash no longer than 6 feet. Like every Texas state park, they can't go into park buildings or designated swimming areas.

Swimming

Swimming is allowed in designated areas. There are no lifeguards at Texas state parks.

Best time to go

Busy season
September through ThanksgivingMarch through Independence Day
January low
38°F
July high
93°F
Night sky
Bortle 4

TPWD lists two busy seasons: September through Thanksgiving, and March through Independence Day. September is the wettest month.

Averages and busy season from TPWD. The Bortle scale runs from 1 (darkest sky) to 9 (inner city).

Getting there

634 Park Road 48 South
Jasper, TX 75951
(409) 384-5231

Open in OpenStreetMap (30.8466, -94.1659)

From the nearest cities in this guide
FromApprox. driveStraight line
The Woodlands2 hr 17 min93 mi
Houston2 hr 24 min103 mi
Tyler2 hr 55 min122 mi
Waco4 hr 32 min185 mi
Dallas4 hr 34 min203 mi
Austin4 hr 50 min217 mi
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Nearby parks

  1. Village Creek State Park41 miles away. $4 per adult, kids 12 and under free. Swimming allowed.
  2. Lake Livingston State Park51 miles away. $6 per adult, kids 12 and under free. Swimming allowed.
  3. Mission Tejas State Park79 miles away. $4 per adult, kids 12 and under free.
  4. Sea Rim State Park81 miles away. $4 per adult, kids 12 and under free. Swimming allowed.
  5. Huntsville State Park82 miles away. $7 per adult, kids 12 and under free. Swimming allowed.

Straight-line distance. See every park in the Pineywoods.

Questions people ask

Can you kayak at Martin Dies, Jr. State Park?

Yes. There are nearly 14 miles of paddling trails through sloughs, the Neches River and the lake.

Does Martin Dies, Jr. State Park have cabins?

Yes, nine cabins (two with screened porches) and 37 screened shelters.

How much does Martin Dies, Jr. State Park cost?

Day-use entry is $4 per adult, and kids 12 and under get in free.

Photo credits

Sources

Last checked October 14, 2026. Fees, hours and rules change; the official TPWD page for Martin Dies, Jr. has current alerts and closures.

  1. TPWD: Martin Dies, Jr. State Park, retrieved October 14, 2026
  2. TPWD state parks map (amenities, contact), retrieved October 14, 2026
  3. TPWD GIS: Texas State Parks Public Areas, retrieved October 14, 2026
  4. TPWD: Bortle ratings by region, retrieved October 14, 2026
  5. TPWD: Martin Dies, Jr. State Park campsites, retrieved October 14, 2026
  6. TPWD: Martin Dies, Jr. State Park screened shelters, retrieved October 14, 2026
  7. TPWD: Martin Dies, Jr. State Park cabins and lodging, retrieved October 14, 2026
  8. TPWD: Martin Dies, Jr. State Park trails, retrieved October 14, 2026
  9. TPWD: Martin Dies, Jr. State Park history, retrieved October 14, 2026
  10. TPWD: state park rules (pets, swimming), retrieved October 14, 2026
  11. TPWD GIS: Texas State Parks Boundaries (area computed from boundary), retrieved October 14, 2026
  12. Wikipedia: List of Texas state parks, retrieved October 14, 2026
  13. OSRM routing on OpenStreetMap data (approximate drive times), retrieved October 14, 2026
  14. Wikimedia Commons (photos), retrieved October 14, 2026