Big Thicket

The Big Thicket is home to nine different ecosystems, from longleaf pine forests to cypress-lined bayous. And it's full of incredible diversity of life. Hiking trails and waterways travel through the thicket, giving visitors a chance to see all the different habitats up close. Native Americans are known to have lived and hunted in the area nomadically, but did not establish permanent settlements there before Europeans arrived in the 1800s. The area was heavily logged in the early 1900s, but thanks to conservation efforts, much of the Big Thicket has been preserved and is now a national park. Today, it's a popular spot for camping, hiking, and canoeing - and a great place to learn about the unique ecosystem of southeast Texas.