Big Thicket

Want to learn more about canoeing or fishing but don’t have the gear? Big Thicket National Preserve invites the community to join park rangers Wednesday, June 28, where you can learn about paddling and fishing in the park.

During this drop-in event, all ages can learn about basic paddling techniques and safety and then get on the water for a short time. This is a great opportunity for beginner paddlers to get comfortable in a boat without the 3-hour commitment of longer canoe trips. Reservations are not required. Patrons are asked to stop by the Baby Galvez Road boat launch on Village Creek in Silsbee any time between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. From 5th Street in Silsbee, go west on Lindsey Road, then turn left on Baby Galvez Road. The boat ramp is at the end of Baby Galvez Road.

Big Thicket National Preserve is located in Southeast Texas, near Beaumont. The preserve consists of nine land units and six water corridors encompassing more than 113,000 acres. The Big Thicket, often referred to as a “biological crossroads,” is a transition zone between four distinct vegetation types – the moist eastern hardwood forest, the southwestern desert, the southeastern swamp, and the central prairies. Species from all of these different vegetation types come together in the thicket, exhibiting a variety of vegetation and wildlife that has received global interest.

For more information, view nps.gov/ bith or call (409) 951-6700.