Sam Houston National Forest

Sam Houston National Forest in East Texas, about fifty miles north of Houston, spans parts of Montgomery, San Jacinto, and Walker counties and reflects both deep human history and modern public land management. Archaeological evidence shows occupation within the forest reaching back seven thousand years, while nearby areas indicate human presence about twelve thousand years ago. Atakapan-speaking peoples, including the Bidai, Patiri, Deadose, and Akokisa, lived in the San Jacinto and Trinity river basins before disease and settler oppression led to their extinction in the early nineteenth century. Today the forest is managed for multiple uses, including recreation, wildlife, timber, grazing, water, and minerals, and includes major trails, wilderness and scenic areas, campgrounds, and wildlife habitat near Houston.

Coldspring, Texas · United States