By Steve Killian, Complex Superintendent, Cooper Lake State Park, [email protected]
Cooper, Texas — Cooper Lake State Park is a “cool” place to visit in July! The sun, white sands, the water, educational programs and so much more await you at your Texas State Park. Speaking of sand, the park has again added white sand to both our swimming beaches (South Sulphur & Doctors Creek). This soft white sand will transport you to a more tropical setting. Our sand is perfect for building sandcastles or planting your beach umbrella for a day of swimming and relaxing fun.
During July, we are presenting 31 educational, and recreational programs about animals, plants, and outdoor activities found in Northeast Texas. Our exciting programs range from restorative nature hikes through the forest to stargazing astronomy programs under some of the darkest skies in this part of Texas. Other featured programming includes “Fishing with a Ranger”, Archery, and “Art in the Park.”
Why not bring your fun and learning-packed Saturday to a most amazing conclusion by relaxing at a picnic table watching your food cook on one of our many day-use picnic grills? If you are lucky enough to be camping, relaxing around a campfire is the best! The flickering light of a campfire transcends your spirit and rejoins you to feelings shared by our past generations. There is no better place to share a story or eat a meal with family and friends!
Free fishing at Cooper Lake State Park! Fish from the bank, off our piers, fishing wall, or try your luck along the shoreline. Note – Boaters and kayakers must have a valid Texas fishing license. Fish attractors have been placed around the Doctor’s Creek floating fishing pier and the fishing wall at South Sulphur to help increase fishing success. Fish attractors are being utilized to draw more catchable fish within reach for our park visitors – and its working! White bass, crappie, bluegill, bass, and catfish are commonly caught at both park units during July.
Other popular activities are hiking our trails or just resting under a giant Post Oak tree or camping at one of our tree-canopied campsites. We have cabins, too. Texas State Parks are great places to relax, recreate, and recharge!
Park entrance fees are $5 for adults with kids 12 and under always free. Senior Texans 65 or older will only pay $3 to enter the park daily with a Bluebonnet Pass plus their traveling companion is $3 as well. Unlimited park entrances for you and everyone in your vehicle can be accomplished with the purchase of a Texas State Park Annual Pass for $70 which is good for over 12 months and at almost 90 Texas State Parks. Buy your pass and let your Texas adventuring begin! Note: All programs are free with a valid entrance permit.
For more information on this or other events and programs at Cooper Lake State Park, please visit and like our Facebook pages (Cooper Lake State Park – South Sulphur, 903-945-5256, and Cooper Lake State Park – Doctor’s Creek, 903-395-3100).
Cooper Lake State Park Events Calendars
South Sulphur Unit
- Friday, July 1
- S’mores with the Ranger: Meet at Gulls Bluff Day Use Area at 8:30 p.m. Bring your S’mores fixings and hear some campfire stories.
- Saturday, July 2
- Skins and Skulls — Who is the fastest or the furriest? Meet at Headquarters at 1 p.m. Get an inside look at some of the mammals, and reptiles of the park.
- Becoming a Junior Ranger – Meet at Headquarters 2:30 p.m. Check off activities to earn your Junior Ranger badge.
- Sunday, July 3
- Bike Parade –Meet at Honey Creek Day Use Area parking lot at 0 a.m. Join us for a pre-July 4th bicycle parade. Decorate your bike, then take a bike ride around the Honey Creek parking lot.
- Saturday, July 9
- Kid Fishing – 9 a.m. – 11 a.m. Meet at the Heron Harbor Fishing Wall. Bring your own fishing gear, no pole, no worries. We have a few fishing poles available to borrow. No experience needed!
- Sunday, July 10
- Art in the Park – Meet at Heron Harbor Day Use Area at 1 p.m. A chance to let loose your inner artist!
- Friday, July 15 – SS
- Stargazing – Meet at Heron Harbor Swim Beach at 8:30 p.m. We’ll have the telescopes out for viewing a planet or two. How many constellations can you see and name? Bring a lawn chair and bug spray.
- Saturday, July 16
- Go Take a Hike – Meet at Coyote Run Trail Head at 9 a.m. Join us on a short leisurely hike on Coyote Run trail getting a first-hand look at the flora and fauna of the park.
- Beginning Bird Watching – Meet at Heron Harbor Day Use Area at 10:30 a.m. Bring your binoculars, water, and sunscreen. We’ll walk, stop, and talk a bit about the birds we see around the day use area.
- Sunday, July 17
- Reading with the Ranger – Meet at Heron Harbor Day Use Area 10 a.m. Join us for a story about the nature around us.
- Friday, July 22
- Wildlife Detectives – Meet at Buggy Whip Restroom at 10:30 a.m. We’ll take a short walk around the pond at Buggy Whip. Explore how to determine the types of animals that may have been here from the signs they leave behind.
- Saturday, July 23
- Archery 101 — From 9 to 11 a.m. Meet at Buggy Whip Restroom. Registration is required, program limited to 15 participants. Reserve your spot by calling (903) 945-5256 or click on the following link to email Alicia O’Connor. No experience needed. Ages 10 and up. Equipment provided.
- Sunday, July 24
- Back Yard Bass Fishing – Meet at Heron Harbor Day Use Area, near the fishing wall, at 1 p.m. Learn how to fish on dry land. Join us as we learn to tie a hook onto the line, cast, catch, and release our fish while exploring fishing rules and fishing ethics.
- Friday, July 29
- Aquatic Science & Pond Life – Meet at Buggy Whip Restroom at 8:30 a.m. Discover what creatures live in the littoral zone. Collection buckets supplied.
- Saturday, July 30
- Becoming a Junior Ranger – Meet at Headquarters at 1 p.m. Check off activities to earn your Junior Ranger badge.
- Sunday, July 31
- Wonderful World of Wings – Meet at Heron Harbor Day Use Area at 1 p.m. Discover fascinating facts about bird wings and what makes them so very special.
Doctor’s Creek Unit
- Friday, July 1
- Is it heat illness? – Meet at Headquarters at 2 p.m. Learn the signs and symptoms of heat illnesses.
- Saturday, July 2 – DC
- Skins and Skulls – Who is the fastest or the furriest? Meet at Pelican Point Pavilion at 9 a.m. Get an inside look at some of the mammals, and reptiles of the park.
- Becoming a Junior Ranger – Meet at Pelican Point Pavilion at 10:30 a.m. Check off activities to earn your Junior Ranger badge.
- Sunday, July 3
- Bike Parade – Meet at Post Oak Amphitheater parking lot at 1 p.m. Join us for a pre-July 4th bicycle parade. Decorate your bike, then take a bike ride around the camping loop.
- Saturday, July 9
- Kid Fish with the Ranger – From 1-3 p.m. Meet at the Bluebonnet Fishing Pier. Bring your own fishing gear, no pole, no worries. We have a few fishing poles available to borrow. No experience needed!
- Sunday, July 10 – DC
- Art in the Park – Meet at Pelican Point Pavilion at 10 a.m. A chance to let loose your inner artist!
- Saturday, July 16
- Go Take a Hike – Meet at Cedar Creek North Loop Trail Head at 1 p.m. Join us on a short leisurely hike on Cedar Creek North Loop getting a first-hand look at the flora and fauna of the park.
- Sunday, July 17
- Reading with the Ranger – Meet at Pelican Point Pavilion at 1 p.m. Join us for a story about the nature around us.
- Friday, July 22 – DC
- Wildlife Detectives – Meet at the Pelican Point Parking Lot 8:30 a.m. We’ll take a short walk on the Cedar Creek South Loop. Explore how to determine the types of animals that may have been here from the signs they leave behind.
- Saturday, July 23
- Roving with the Ranger –Stop Ranger Alicia while she roves around the park from 1 to 2:30 p.m., and ask questions about the interpretive items she’s carrying.
- Sunday, July 24
- Back Yard Bass Fishing – Meet at Bluebonnet Day Use Area 10 a.m. Learn how to fish on dry land. Join us as we learn to tie a hook onto the line, cast, catch, and release our fish while exploring fishing rules and fishing ethics.
- Thursday, July 28
- Talk with a Master Naturalist – 10 a.m. Meet at Pelican Point Pavilion. Topic: Hummingbirds
- Friday, July 29
- Dutch Oven 101 – From 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Meet at Pelican Point Pavilion. Happy trails on a cattle drive, yes indeed. Cast iron cooking was a part of that happiness. Reserve your spot for a hands-on cooking demonstration by calling (903) 945-5256 and or by emailing Alicia O’Connor at alicia.o’[email protected].
- Saturday, July 30 – DC
- Photography 101 – Meet at Bluebonnet Day Use Area at 9 a.m. Learn about composition, the rule of thirds, leading lines, the golden hour, and space. We’ll take a short walk on the lookout for photo chances.
- Becoming a Junior Ranger – Meet at Headquarters at 10:30 a.m. Check off activities to earn your Junior Ranger badge.
- Sunday, July 31
- Wonderful World of Wings – Meet at Pelican Point Pavilion at 10 a.m. Discover fascinating facts about bird wings and what makes them so very special.
