Can you reserve a site at Ratcliff Lake Recreation Area?

Yes, Ratcliff Lake Recreation Area is reservable through Recreation.gov.

How many campsites does Ratcliff Lake Recreation Area have?

65 sites in total, of which 58 can be booked.

What is the maximum RV length at Ratcliff Lake Recreation Area?

60 ft. That is the longest vehicle the sites here are recorded as taking; individual sites may be shorter.

Are pets allowed at Ratcliff Lake Recreation Area?

Yes, pets are allowed at Ratcliff Lake Recreation Area.

Are campfires allowed at Ratcliff Lake Recreation Area?

Campfires are allowed at Ratcliff Lake Recreation Area. Check for a current fire restriction before you go.

Ratcliff Lake Recreation Area, Texas — 58 sites, fees and cancellation alerts

Overview

Ratcliff Lake Recreation Area was built in 1936 by the Civilian Conservation Corps. It surrounds a picturesque 45-acre lake that was once a log pond and a source of water for the Central Coal and Coke Company sawmill which operated from 1902 to 1920.

The facility is open year-round and includes a large campground, picnic areas, a reservable amphitheater, a swim area and many opportunities for outdoor recreation. Camping is available year-round.

The Davy Crockett National Forest, named for the legendary pioneer, contains more than 160,000 acres of East Texas woodlands, streams, recreation areas and wildlife habitat. Located in Houston and Trinity Counties, the forest is centrally located within the Neches and Trinity River basins.

Recreation

Swimming, fishing, hunting, hiking and picnicking are the area's main activities. The designated swimming area and playground provides much fun for the kids (no lifeguard on duty). Fishing piers are available for anglers to try for largemouth bass, bream and channel/blue catfish. Only electric motors are allowed on the lake. Principal game for hunting on the national forest includes squirrel, deer, quail, dove, turkey and waterfowl. Three main hiking trails can be accessed from the facility: the 1.5-mile Tall Pines, 0.75-mile Trail Tamers and the 20-mile Four C, which winds through many types of forests to a scenic overlook. Learn more about recreation in the national forest.

Facilities

Ratcliff Lake has 56 campsites, both first-come, first-served and reservable. Campsites in Dogwood Loop have electrical hookups and can accommodate vehicles up to 50 ft. Flush toilets, hot and cold showers and trash bins are also provided. Two picnic shelters and an amphitheater are also reservable.
The day-use area has 17 single family picnicking units, a swimming area, flush toilets, two wooden fishing piers, one earthen pier, one fishing platform and a boat ramp.

Natural Features

The campground is heavily forested with loblolly pine, oak and other hardwoods, and surrounds Ratcliff Lake. A wide variety of wildlife exists in the area, including the endangered red-cockaded woodpecker.

Nearby Attractions

The Big Slough Wilderness Area, located along the Neches River about five miles north of Ratcliff, is free of modern development and gives the visitor a place for solitude and primitive experiences.

The facts

58 bookable sites
65 sites in total, including non-bookable
3 sites for day use only
Vehicles up to 60 ft
Up to 75 people per site
Loops: DOGWOOD LOOP, Day Use, FS 520, LAKESIDE LOOP, LOBLOLLY LOOP, S and P, Sawmill

Site types

27 Tent Only Nonelectric
25 Standard Electric
7 Management
3 Group Shelter Electric
3 Group Tent Only Area Nonelectric

Amenities

Electric hookups
Water hookups
Sewer hookups
Campfires allowed
Fire pits
Picnic tables
Grills
Shade
Pets allowed

Book on Recreation.gov

65 campsites at Ratcliff Lake Recreation Area

Site	Loop	Type	Entry	Surface	Grade	Water	Max rig	People
014 Host	DOGWOOD LOOP	Management	Back In	Gravel	Slight	—	45 ft	8	🐾
015	DOGWOOD LOOP	Standard Electric	Back In	Paved	Slight	—	50 ft	8	🐾
016	DOGWOOD LOOP	Standard Electric	Back In	Paved	Slight	—	50 ft	8	🐾
017	DOGWOOD LOOP	Standard Electric	Back In	Paved	Slight	—	50 ft	8	🐾
018	DOGWOOD LOOP	Standard Electric	Back In	Paved	Slight	—	50 ft	8	🐾
019	DOGWOOD LOOP	Standard Electric	Back In	Paved	Slight	—	50 ft	8	🐾
020	DOGWOOD LOOP	Standard Electric	Back In	Paved	Slight	—	45 ft	8	🐾
021	DOGWOOD LOOP	Standard Electric	Back In	Paved	Slight	—	50 ft	8	🐾
022	DOGWOOD LOOP	Standard Electric	Back In	Paved	Slight	—	50 ft	8	🐾
023	DOGWOOD LOOP	Management	Back In	Paved	Slight	—	45 ft	8	🐾
024	DOGWOOD LOOP	Standard Electric	Back In	Paved	Slight	—	50 ft	8	🐾
025	DOGWOOD LOOP	Standard Electric	Back In	Paved	Slight	—	45 ft	8	🐾
026	DOGWOOD LOOP	Standard Electric	Back In	Paved	Slight	—	35 ft	8	🐾
027	DOGWOOD LOOP	Standard Electric	Back In	Paved	Slight	—	50 ft	8	🐾
028	DOGWOOD LOOP	Standard Electric	Back In	Paved	Slight	—	50 ft	8	🐾
029	DOGWOOD LOOP	Standard Electric	Back In	Paved	Slight	—	45 ft	8	🐾
030	DOGWOOD LOOP	Standard Electric	Back In	Paved	Slight	—	60 ft	8	🐾
031	DOGWOOD LOOP	Standard Electric	Back In	Paved	Slight	—	50 ft	8	🐾
032	DOGWOOD LOOP	Standard Electric	Back In	Paved	Slight	—	50 ft	8	🐾
033	DOGWOOD LOOP	Standard Electric	Back In	Paved	Slight	—	50 ft	8	🐾
034	DOGWOOD LOOP	Standard Electric	Back In	Paved	Slight	—	50 ft	8	🐾
035	DOGWOOD LOOP	Standard Electric	Back In	Gravel	Slight	—	45 ft	8	🐾
036	DOGWOOD LOOP	Standard Electric	Back In	Paved	Slight	—	50 ft	8	🐾
037	DOGWOOD LOOP	Standard Electric	Back In	Gravel	Slight	—	40 ft	8	🐾
038	DOGWOOD LOOP	Standard Electric	Back In	Gravel	Slight	—	50 ft	8	🐾
039	DOGWOOD LOOP	Standard Electric	Back In	Gravel	Slight	—	35 ft	8	🐾
040	DOGWOOD LOOP	Standard Electric	Back In	Gravel	Slight	—	50 ft	8	🐾
AMP001	Day Use	Group Shelter Electric	—	Paved	—	—	—	50
CCC Shelter	Day Use	Group Shelter Electric	—	Paved	—	Lakefront	—	75
012	FS 520	Tent Only Nonelectric	Parallel	Paved	Slight	Lakefront	15 ft	8	🐾
013	FS 520	Tent Only Nonelectric	Parallel	Paved	Slight	—	60 ft	8	🐾
001	LAKESIDE LOOP	Tent Only Nonelectric	Back In	Paved	Slight	Lakefront	20 ft	8	🐾
002	LAKESIDE LOOP	Tent Only Nonelectric	Parallel	Paved	Slight	Lakefront	20 ft	8	🐾
003	LAKESIDE LOOP	Tent Only Nonelectric	Back In	Paved	Slight	—	20 ft	8	🐾
004	LAKESIDE LOOP	Tent Only Nonelectric	Back In	Paved	Slight	Lakefront	40 ft	8	🐾
005	LAKESIDE LOOP	Tent Only Nonelectric	Parallel	Paved	Slight	—	20 ft	8	🐾
006	LAKESIDE LOOP	Tent Only Nonelectric	Back In	Paved	Slight	Lakefront	20 ft	8	🐾
007	LAKESIDE LOOP	Tent Only Nonelectric	Parallel	Paved	Slight	Lakefront	20 ft	8	🐾
008	LAKESIDE LOOP	Tent Only Nonelectric	Parallel	Paved	Slight	Lakefront	20 ft	8	🐾
009	LAKESIDE LOOP	Tent Only Nonelectric	Back In	Paved	Slight	Lakefront	20 ft	8	🐾
010	LAKESIDE LOOP	Tent Only Nonelectric	Back In	Paved	Slight	Lakefront	15 ft	8	🐾
011	LAKESIDE LOOP	Tent Only Nonelectric	Back In	Paved	Slight	Lakefront	30 ft	8	🐾
A Group	LAKESIDE LOOP	Group Tent Only Area Nonelectric	—	Paved	Slight	Lakefront	60 ft	10	🐾
041	LOBLOLLY LOOP	Tent Only Nonelectric	Back In	Paved	Slight	Lakefront	35 ft	8	🐾
042	LOBLOLLY LOOP	Tent Only Nonelectric	—	Paved	Slight	Lakefront	20 ft	8	🐾
043	LOBLOLLY LOOP	Tent Only Nonelectric	Back In	Paved	Slight	Lakefront	20 ft	8	🐾
044	LOBLOLLY LOOP	Tent Only Nonelectric	—	Paved	Slight	Lakefront	20 ft	8	🐾
045	LOBLOLLY LOOP	Tent Only Nonelectric	—	Paved	Slight	Lakefront	20 ft	8	🐾
046	LOBLOLLY LOOP	Tent Only Nonelectric	Back In	Paved	Slight	Lakefront	20 ft	8	🐾
047	LOBLOLLY LOOP	Tent Only Nonelectric	—	Paved	Slight	Lakefront	20 ft	8	🐾
048	LOBLOLLY LOOP	Tent Only Nonelectric	—	Paved	Moderate	Lakefront	35 ft	8	🐾
049	LOBLOLLY LOOP	Tent Only Nonelectric	Back In	Paved	Moderate	Lakefront	35 ft	8	🐾
050	LOBLOLLY LOOP	Tent Only Nonelectric	—	Paved	Slight	Lakefront	20 ft	8	🐾
051 Host	LOBLOLLY LOOP	Management	Back In	Gravel	Slight	—	40 ft	8	🐾
B Group	LOBLOLLY LOOP	Group Tent Only Area Nonelectric	—	Paved	Slight	Lakefront	40 ft	10	🐾
S and P Group tent	S and P	Management	Pull Through	—	—	—	—	0
S and P Standard	S and P	Management	Pull Through	—	—	—	—	0
S and P Tent	S and P	Management	Pull Through	—	—	—	—	0
052 Host	Sawmill	Management	Back In	Gravel	Slight	—	40 ft	8	🐾
053	Sawmill	Tent Only Nonelectric	Pull Through	Gravel	Slight	—	35 ft	8	🐾
054	Sawmill	Tent Only Nonelectric	Pull Through	Gravel	Slight	Lakefront	35 ft	8	🐾
055	Sawmill	Tent Only Nonelectric	Pull Through	Gravel	Slight	Lakefront	35 ft	8	🐾
056	Sawmill	Tent Only Nonelectric	Pull Through	Gravel	Slight	Lakefront	35 ft	8	🐾
C Group	Sawmill	Group Tent Only Area Nonelectric	Pull Through	Gravel	Slight	—	40 ft	10	🐾
Sawmill Shelter	Sawmill	Group Shelter Electric	—	Paved	—	—	—	75

Getting there

From Crockett, take State Highway 7 east for 15 miles. The recreation area is on the left between the towns of Ratcliff and Kennard.

31.38833, -95.15500 · 31°23'18.0"N 95°9'18.0"W

Directions (Google Maps) · Directions (Apple Maps)

Typical weather

Typically 97°F in Aug, down to 62°F in Jan.

	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
High °F	62	67	73	82	87	93	96	97	92	84	71	64
Low °F	38	43	48	55	64	70	72	72	67	55	47	40
Precip in	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—

1991–2020 averages from the nearest NOAA station, 13.3 mi away — not measured at the facility itself, and elevation can make a real difference over that distance.

Map

Fees and stay limits

Standard Electric sites: Add $5.00 / night electical hookup fee

From Recreation.gov, which is not always current. The operator's own page is the authority on what you will be charged.

Common questions about Ratcliff Lake Recreation Area

Can you reserve a site at Ratcliff Lake Recreation Area?: Yes, Ratcliff Lake Recreation Area is reservable through Recreation.gov.
How many campsites does Ratcliff Lake Recreation Area have?: 65 sites in total, of which 58 can be booked.
What is the maximum RV length at Ratcliff Lake Recreation Area?: 60 ft. That is the longest vehicle the sites here are recorded as taking; individual sites may be shorter.
Are pets allowed at Ratcliff Lake Recreation Area?: Yes, pets are allowed at Ratcliff Lake Recreation Area.
Does Ratcliff Lake Recreation Area have hookups?: Electric, Water, Sewer.
Are campfires allowed at Ratcliff Lake Recreation Area?: Campfires are allowed at Ratcliff Lake Recreation Area. Check for a current fire restriction before you go.

Camping near Ratcliff Lake Recreation Area

Hanks Creek 45.1 mi · Campground · we watch it
Townsend 49.7 mi · Campground · we watch it
Caney Creek 55.8 mi · Campground · we watch it
Boykin Springs Camping 56.6 mi · Campground · we watch it
Boykin Springs Pavilion 57.3 mi · Campground · we watch it
Ratcliff Lake: (936) 655-2299 0.3 mi · Campground
DAVY CROCKETT (Lufkin/Crockett Area): 936-655-2299 7 mi · Facility
Neches Bluff Overlook: (936) 655-2299 12.4 mi · Facility
ANGELINA (Sam Rayburn Reservoir Area) 936-897-1068 52.6 mi · Facility
Boykin Springs: (936) 897-1068 56.6 mi · Campground
National Forests and Grasslands in Texas Day Use 56.7 mi · Activity pass
Double Lake Recreation Area: (936) 344-6205 57.8 mi · Campground

Contact

Phone 936-655-2299
Book Recreation.gov

Recreation.gov last updated this record on 2026-02-25.

Ratcliff Lake Recreation Area