Kindgom on the Lake
Possum Kindgom State Park offers clear blue water and striking scenery.
By Morgan O'Hanlon
The massive Lake Possum Kingdom, large enough to fit 550 Houston Astrodomes, is teeming with life - especially during the summer months when personal watercraft and motorboats race across the water. Little do the boaters know the lake has an equally rich natural and cultural history hidden beneath its surface. The Palo Pinto Hills region, including the land flooded after construction of the Morris Sheppard Dam, is part of a limestone rock uplift formed about 300 million years ago, during the late Pennsylvanian geologic period. For thousands of years, bears, bison and prairie-chickens (as well as many Native American tribes) flocked to the banks of the Brazos River. For about a decade in the mid-1800s, the area served as home to the Caddo after they were forced from East Texas and before they were moved to Oklahoma in 1859. Although the creation of the Possum Kingdom Reservoir in 1941 submerged many physical remnants from these eras, the lake and surrounding hills have retained the sense of majesty in their rich history. Take a dip in the deep blue waters or simply gaze out into the cedar-lined horizon, and be transported back to the past. Better yet, make your own memories as you take to the lake with your close friends and family.
By the Numbers
| Size: 1,530 acres |
| Closest Town: Caddo |
| Year Opened: 1950 |
| Busy Season: March-July |
| Fun Fact: In spite of its name, Possum Kingdom isn't home to very many of Texas' beloved marsupial. Superintendent Travis Cook says he's never seen a possum on park grounds, and the park might be more aptly named Raccoon Kingdom. Maintenance staff members free raccoons that get trapped in the dumpsters practically every morning. |
Three Hikes
Easy: CCC Trail (.75 miles)
This new trail pays homage to Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) Company 2888, which began work building the park in May 1941. The CCC built many parks across Texas, and in the spring of 1941 Company 2888 moved from Tyler State Park to Possum Kingdom, which became the last CCC-built park in Texas. There, they cleared the park area and shoreline, built campsites and picnic tables, and constructed roads. When the reservoir filled ahead of schedule, in July 1942, Company 2888 abandoned its barracks. The CCC canceled the rest of the work and dismantled the corps because of the outbreak of World War II. You can still see the remnants of these barracks on the three-quarter-mile loop trail off State Park Road 33, between park headquarters and the park store.
Easy: Lakeview Trail (1.4 miles)
Catch some great views of the lake from the shore on this lakeside loop. You'll see boaters and Possum Kingdom's sparkling blue waters — with an option to glimpse it all from above on an optional, short-but-challenging extension to the top of the hill.
Challenging: Chaparral Ridge Trail (.5 miles)
Access the trailhead near the Chapparal Trail Camping Area to take a steep hike up into the hills. You'll see rocky, wooded areas on your climb before the trail levels out — and the rest of the trip is downhill from there. Assistant Superintendent Bob Kaspar is currently charting an extension of this trail that will take visitors into the grassy plains at the top of the hill and past a series of springs. If you want to preview this route, keep en eye on the park's event page for one of his interpretive walks.
Plan Your State Park Visit
Watch Fireworks
Have a Fourth of July like no other at Lake Possum Kingdom. Watch fireworks from the shore, or take a boat to witness the epic, annual spectacle at Hell's Gate. (Personal fireworks are not allowed in the park.)
Attend a Ranger Program
Ranger Kaspar offers several interpretive programs that cover the natural and cultural history of the region. The Palo Pinto Hills, where the park is located, saw plenty of cattle drives passing through on their way north. If you time your trip right, you might be able to watch Kaspar play his banjo as he sings his rendition of one the cowboy songs of that era:
Night Herding Song
(A lullaby cowboys used to calm their cattle — sourced from the Smithsonian's Alan Lomax recordings.)
Go to sleep little dogies when you're gonna lay down
and quit this forever shifting around.
My horse leg is weary, my feet they're sore.
Lay down little dogies, like you lay down before.
Bunch up, little dogies, bunch up.
Swim
Lake Possum Kingdom covers nearly 17,000 acres and has over 300 miles of shoreline with many scenic coves. Take a dip into the waters at the designated swimming area near the cabins and Spanish Oaks Camping Area. Swim at your own risk elsewhere in the park.
Fish
Lake Possum Kingdom has an exceptional stock of largemouth, striped and white bass; channel and blue catfish; and white crappie. You do not need a fishing license to fish from shore in a state park; the park also has a boat launch. Superintendent Travis Cook says anglers have great luck fishing from the pier near the park store. A fish cleaning station nearby makes it easy to fillet your catch after a successful harvest.
Boat
Bring your own boat and put in at the public ramp past the Lakeview Camping Area. Need a boat? The Possum Kingdom State Park Store rents motorized boats and paddlecraft. Call (940) 521-9128 for more information.
Overnight Stays
Campsites
Possum Kingdom State Park boasts more than 100 drive-up campsites, so there are plentiful choices for prospective campers looking to pitch their tent. Near the back of the Chapparal Trail Camping Area, site 100 is surrounded by thick brush that offers privacy from other campers. Kaspar said this site is his favorite because of its access to a secluded cove. Campers can also make use of the makeshift table Superintendent Travis Cook made from a tree stump using his carpentry skills.
In the Spanish Oaks Camping Area near the park store, site 6 offers the best combination of lakefront and enough space to park a large trailer or camper.
If you're looking for a more bare-bones camping experience, pack up your things and hike half a mile on the Lakeview Trail to the primitive camping area, where you can spend the night right on the shore and under the wide-open sky.
Cabins
If your preferred camping takes place between four walls, the park has six cabins and a lodge available to rent. All the cabins feature a kitchen with sink, stove and fridge. Just remember to bring your own linens, utensils and food.
Staff Story
“One night in mid-winter, during our off-season, we were doing an astronomy program. Hardly anyone was at the park, so it just ended up being me and one of our park police officers. We just decided, ‘Well, we'll just look up the sky and see what we see.’ And all of a sudden, I see 21 green lights all bunched up next to each other, going across the sky and then spreading out one by one. And I'm thinking like, oh my god, I'm about to get abducted here. And he goes, ‘Oh, that's Starlink.’” - Assistant Superintendent Bob Kaspar
Selfie Spots
Longhorn Trail Overlook
This mile-and-a-half trek to the top of a hill rewards hikers with a great view over the lake and park grounds.
Big Wooden Bass
Former park employee Monty Seymour carved several of the park's resident wildlife creatures into wood using a chainsaw. A big wooden fish off the road to the Lakeview Camping Area is the most easily accessible and recognizable. Can you spot more of his creations throughout the park?
Pro Packing List
Aside from the necessities, these items can make your trip to Possum Kingdom State Park even more enjoyable.
Kaku
Zulu with Pedal Drive
Elevate your fishing game with the Zulu PEDL Fishing Kayak. This pedal drive kayak will revolutionize the way you fish — enjoy the freedom of hands-free propulsion.
MSRP: $2150.00
kakukayaks.com
Kaku
Guru 14 Fishing Kayak/Skiff
This hybrid fishing machine adapts to your style. Paddle it for stealth, pedal it with fin or prop drive, or power it up with an electric motor, gas outboard, or bow-mounted GPS motor. Built to be fully customizable, the Guru gives you the freedom to rig it your way.
MSRP: $2099.00
kakukayaks.com
