Description - Cooper Lake State Park, 3,026 acres, is situated in northeast Texas. The park consists of two units, Doctors Creek Unit, 715.5 acres, located in Delta County, and South Sulphur Unit, 2,310.5 acres, located in northern Hopkins County. Cooper Lake, 19,300 acres, is a young lake; embankment construction on the South Sulphur River began in 1986. Lake construction was completed in the fall of 1991 and impoundment began on September 28, 1991. The park property was acquired in January 1991 and opened for boat access in November 1992. Doctors Creek Unit opened January 3, 1996; South Sulphur Unit opened April 27, 1996. Both park units are leased from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for 25 years.
From December 1, 2005 to March 2, 2006 the Honey Creek Day Area (including the amphitheater) will be closed.
The Doctors Creek Unit allows overnight camping on Friday & Saturday nights on a 1st come 1st serve basis. The park is open for day use only Sunday - Thursday. The South Sulphur Unit allows camping 7 days a week. Effective January 16, 2006 a $2 entry fee will be charged to use the Tira boat ramp. Contact the Park or Park Information (1-800-792-1112) for more details.
Attractions
- The vegetation of Cooper Lake State Park is dominated by post oak and various native grass species. Other tree species include winged elm, bois d'ark, Texas Sugarberry, eastern red cedar, roughleaf dogwood, eastern persimmon, American elm, honey locust, and mesquite. Most-frequently seen wildlife includes swamp rabbit, eastern cottontail, nine-banded armadillo, white-tailed deer, coyote, bobcat, waterfowl, bald eagle, beaver, raccoon, and wild hog. Doctors Creek: Park facilties include 6.2 miles of shoreline; a four-lane boat ramp; a fish cleaning table; a swimming beach; a playground; two day-use areas with picnic sites, and one has a group picnic pavilion (capacity 50); campsites with water and electricity; screened shelters; a 1.3-mile hiking trail; restrooms with and without showers and a trailer dump station. South Sulphur: Park facilities include 25.5 miles of shoreline; six and two-lane boat ramps; three fish cleaning table; two lighted fishing piers; a swimming beach; a playground; three day-use areas with picnic sites with tables, grills, and water, and one has a group picnic pavilion (capacity 100); campsites with water and electricity; walk-in water sites for tent camping; equestrian campsites with water and electricity; primitive camping; screened shelters; cabins; 5 miles of multi-use trails for hiking and mountain biking; 10 miles for equestrian use; restrooms with and without showers and a trailer dump station. Area Attractions:Cooper Lake Wildlife Management Area. The Sam Bell Maxey House Historical State Park, Bonham, and Lake Bob Sandlin State Parks, Southwest Dairy Center in Sulphur Springs, and Texas A & M University in Commerce. Camping and entrance fees vary. For reservations, call 512/389-8900. Current conditions including fire bans and water levels can vary from day to day. For more details, call the park or Park Information at 1-800-792-1112.
Recreation - Features include camping, fishing, water skiing, picnicking, boating, unsupervised swimming, bird watching, nature study, fun and educational nature programs and tours. The South Sulphur Unit offers equestrian camping and horseback riding trails. Climate - Cooper Lake State Parks is located at an elevation of 450 feet. Temperatures within the park range from an average January minimum of 30 degrees to a July average maximum of 94 degrees. The average rainfall is 42.7 inches annually. Current weather conditions can vary from day to day. For more details, call the park or Park Information at 1-800-792-1112. Location -
To reach Doctors Creek Unit, travel east from Commerce on State Highway 24 to Cooper, then from Cooper, east for 1 mile on State Highway 154, then south for 2 miles on FM 1529 to the park entrance; or north from Interstate 30 at Exit 122 on the west side of Sulphur Springs for 14 miles on State Highway 19, then west on County Road 4795 for 2 miles to the Corps of Engineers office, cross the lake dam and drive 1/2 mile further to the park entrance. To reach South Sulphur Unit, travel north from Interstate 30 at Exit 122 on the west side of Sulphur Springs for 10 miles on State Highway 19, then west on State Highway 71 for 4 miles, then north for 1 mile on FM 3505 to the park entrance, or east from Commerce on State Highway 71 for 16 miles, then north for 1 mile on FM 3505 to the park entrance, or east from Cooper for 1 mile on State Highway 154, then south on FM 1529 for 5 miles ( cross the lake dam) to State Highway 19, then south for 5 miles to State Highway 71, then west for 4 miles to FM 3505, then north for 1 mile to the park entrance.
|
Add your own trip Report!