Martin Creek Lake State Park is a small East Texas park that hits above its weight with its beauty. The campgrounds are almost like having your own secluded cabin in the woods on a small lake. There’s only one small problem with the park.
Deep in the Piney Woods, the 287-acre preserve is shaded by towering loblolly and short-leaf pine trees. During autumn, hardwood trees burst with color. Four miles of hiking and biking trails wind through the hills. This is the only state park, according to a ranger, with an island accessible by hiking trail.
The plentiful campsites are well-spaced, particularly in the Broken Bowl Camping Area. Many of the campsites in the Bee Tree Camping Area are on inclines. Most sites include picnic tables and fire rings, with restrooms and showers nearby.
There are 19 screened shelters offering a respite from flying insects and views of the lake. If you require heat and air conditioning, two cottages and two cabins provide basic comfort.
The 5,000-acre lake was built in 1974 on a branch of the Sabine River as a cooling pond for a lignite-fed electric plant. Owned by Luminant, the 2,250-megawatt plant capable of powering over 1 million homes is one of the largest in Texas.
And therein lies the rub. The power plant emits a constant buzz and occasionally loud bangs. Both are annoying at first but soon drop into background noise.
The land for the park was deeded to the state by the power company in 1976. The warm lake water supports year-round fishing for bass and catfish. While the facility has been identified as a major emitter of mercury and sulfur dioxide, the state has concluded that consuming fish from the reservoir poses no threat to human health.
Martin Creek Lake State Park is outside of Tatum, about equal distance from Longview, Carthage, Henderson, and Marshall.
1,795th in a series. Everywhere is a day trip from somewhere. Follow “Day Trips & Beyond,” a travel blog, at austinchronicle.com/day-trips.
This article appears in February 27 • 2026.