Huntsville State Park

Sitting on a gigantic 2083.2-acre piece of land, Huntsville State Park began its life in 1938 after being purchased from several private owners. This park was created within the "piney woods" of the Sam Houston National Forest, which means it boasts some of the best woodland views in the state.

The park also surrounds the man-made Lake Raven, a 210-acre body of water containing several species of fish and wildlife. Lake Raven offers great fishing throughout the year and is home to a robust winter fishing culture as temperatures tend to stay reasonable throughout the year. Canines are allowed on all undeveloped parts of the shore, provided they stay leashed at all times.

Huntsville State Park offers over three miles of wild hiking trails, and these trails were specifically designed for nature watching. You'll notice as you walk through these paths that they occasionally lead up onto raised platforms. This was done to help ensure the safety of the diverse wildlife that covers these lands, while also giving the public some great viewing platforms to observe from. These hiking excursions are safe to bring your dogs along for, provided you clean up after them and keep them leashed at all times.

Over the past two years, refurbishments have brought a set of 10 picnic pavilions to the shoreline. These are available for rental throughout the summer months, for a flat rate of $125 for a full day’s usage. Canines are strictly prohibited on these pavilions, as well as any of the newly built restrooms or showers.

Huntsville State Park does host a 2-acre dog area, divided into large and small canine areas. Water fountains and bowls are provided free within this area. This doggie hotspot is pretty heavily shaded, so your dog’s exposure to the sun will be minimal. The dog park’s hours differ from the main park itself, only being open from 10 AM to 6 PM, Monday through Saturday.