USDA Forest Service · Texas
Ratcliff Lake Recreation Area
USDA Forest Service · Texas, United States
- Sites
- 65
- Hookups
- 28 electric, 15 with water, 30 no hookups
- Season
- Year-round
- Cost
- Standard Electric sites: Add $5.00 / night electical hookup fee
- Max RV length
- 60 ft
- Group sites
- Yes
- Drinking water
- Yes
- Restrooms
- Yes
- Dump station
- Yes
- Pets
- Yes
- Elevation
- 322 ft
- Dark sky
- Bortle class 1
- Cell coverage
- T-Mobile weak · Verizon weak · AT&T good (carriers' 4G LTE filings to the FCC, 2025-12; not measured here)
- Access road
- RATCLIFF LAKE R A (NFSR 520) · bituminous surface treatment · high degree of user comfort
- Lake
- National Forests and Grasslands in Texas
- Nearest town
- KENNARD
- Address
- 18551 State Highway 7 East, KENNARD, TX, 75487
- Phone
- 936-655-2299
- Activities
- Boating, Camping, Canoeing, Day Use Area, Fishing, Hiking, Historic & Cultural Site, Kayaking, Swimming Site
60 numbered sites are mapped one by one - open the site map to pick yours.
About
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.
Weather, month by month
| Month | Typical high | Typical low | Coldest night | Hottest day | Years with a night below 32°F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 59° | 40° | 17° | 77° | 5 of 11 |
| February | 64° | 45° | 0° | 79° | 3 of 11 |
| March | 72° | 54° | 32° | 83° | 1 of 11 |
| April | 78° | 60° | 45° | 85° | 0 of 11 |
| May | 86° | 69° | 60° | 95° | 0 of 11 |
| June | 91° | 75° | 65° | 100° | 0 of 11 |
| July | 93° | 77° | 70° | 106° | 0 of 11 |
| August | 97° | 79° | 72° | 106° | 0 of 11 |
| September | 89° | 72° | 61° | 98° | 0 of 11 |
| October | 80° | 60° | 44° | 95° | 0 of 10 |
| November | 72° | 54° | 29° | 83° | 2 of 10 |
| December | 62° | 45° | 32° | 80° | 0 of 10 |
Mid-month figures from 2016–2026 of daily weather at this spot (ERA5 reanalysis via Open-Meteo, CC BY 4.0), in °F. Typical is the median; coldest and hottest are the extremes seen.
Nearby campgrounds
- Ratcliff Lake Recreation Area · USDA Forest Service · 0 mi
- Mission Tejas State Park · Texas State Parks · 12 mi · 21 sites
- Hanks Creek · Army Corps of Engineers · 45 mi · 57 sites
- Townsend · USDA Forest Service · 50 mi · 26 sites
- Wolf Creek Park Campground · City, County & Regional Parks · 50 mi · 102 sites
All public campgrounds in Texas · Every state and province · Facts read from the operator 2026-02-25. Confirm fees, rules and current status with the operator before you go.