USDA Forest Service · Texas
Ratcliff Lake Recreation Area
USDA Forest Service · Texas, United States
- Drinking water
- Yes
- Restrooms
- Yes
- Elevation
- 351 ft
- Dark sky
- Bortle class 1
- Cell coverage
- T-Mobile weak · AT&T weak · Verizon weak (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
- Activities
- Camping, Tent, Camping, Trailer
About
US Forest Service campground. 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 area offers opportunities for camping, picnicking, swimming, fishing and hiking. The Four C National Recreation Trail is 20 miles and originates in the Ratcliff Recreation Area and goes to the Neches Bluff Overlook. Not reservable through Recreation.gov, so plan on first-come, first-served; check with the ranger district for current conditions and fees.
Fees
Overnight Use:
Single Site: $15 per night
Single Site with electric hook-up (30 amp): $20 per night
Day Use:
$5 per vehicle per day
Group Site: $30 per day (up to 20 people; three vehicles)
Additional Vehicle Fee: $5 per vehicle per day
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° | 6 of 11 |
| February | 64° | 45° | 0° | 79° | 3 of 11 |
| March | 71° | 54° | 31° | 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° | 105° | 0 of 11 |
| September | 89° | 72° | 61° | 97° | 0 of 11 |
| October | 80° | 60° | 44° | 95° | 0 of 10 |
| November | 71° | 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 · 65 sites
- Mission Tejas State Park · Texas State Parks · 12 mi · 21 sites
- Hanks Creek · Army Corps of Engineers · 45 mi · 57 sites
- Wolf Creek Park Campground · City, County & Regional Parks · 50 mi · 102 sites
- Townsend · USDA Forest Service · 50 mi · 26 sites
All public campgrounds in Texas · Every state and province · Facts read from the operator 2026-08-06. Confirm fees, rules and current status with the operator before you go.