Cooper Lake State Park RV & Campground Guide
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Cooper Lake State Park spans 2,560 acres, surrounded by a 19,300-acre lake that is beautiful and perfect for outdoor adventures. Guests enjoy geocaching, stargazing, bird and wildlife watching, fishing, picnicking, paddling, boating, hiking, water skiing, swimming, camping, and horseback riding. Annual events at the park include the annual Lion's Club Christmas Parade, the Native American Fall Harvest, and the Buffalo Soldiers. The spring and fall offer mild temperatures with hot summers and cold winters. Local attractions near the state park include the Clara Slough Museum, the Southwest Dairy Museum, and the Leo St. Clair Music Box Museum.
Spring 48-66 F
Summer 75-93 F
Fall 57-76 F
Winter 44-56 F
RV Resorts & Campsites in Cooper Lake State Park
Cooper Lake State Park offers four campgrounds equipped for RVs, including Liberty Grove, Bright Star, Deer Haven, and Buggy Whip Equestrian Campgrounds. The Buggy Whip Equestrian Campground is restricted to campers traveling with horses only. All RV-equipped campgrounds have water and electrical hookups, fire pits, lantern posts, bathrooms, and showers. Guests can connect to the park's Wi-Fi, and the campgrounds are pet-friendly.
What to Do at
Cooper Lake State Park
Breathtaking views and abundant wildlife await you at Cooper Lake State Park, including a rustic observation bridge. You can participate in fishing, paddling, boating, stargazing, water skiing, hiking, and horseback riding. In summer, you can rent single or double kayaks and boats on-site. There are also educational programs, including stargazing and birding events.
Fishing
You must have a valid Texas fishing license at the park. Guests can Angle from fishing piers or boats, and fishing cleaning stations are available. You will have a chance to catch largemouth bass, white bass, bluegill, red shiners, and carp.
Geocaching
Visit the park office for details about geocaching adventures and find treasures throughout the park. You can sign the logbook and take a prize when you find one.
Nature Watching
You can spot birds from the picnic areas and hiking trails. You may see black vultures, white-throated sparrows, Northern cardinals, and great blue herons.
Stargazing
Cooper Lake State Park hosts an annual stargazing event in September, and the events are from 8:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. You can see the constellations, the Milky Way, and the planets on clear nights.
Flora and Fauna
Plants and flowers at the park include green antelope horns, buttonbush, osage-orange, American persimmons, peppervine, roughleaf dogwoods, and American trumpet vines. You may also encounter impressive wildlife, including bobcats, beavers, raccoons, white-tailed deer, and armadillos.
Hiking
You'll find six hiking trails, including Coyote Run Trail, which is 4.6 miles in length. The Honey Creek Interpretive Trail is 0.3 miles and takes about 30 minutes, and the Little Bluestem Loop is 3.2 miles. The Lonesome Dove Loop, spanning 4.8 miles, is challenging. The Rabbit Run and Pioneer Pass trails are moderate, but they are a little over 1 mile.
Swimming
Swimming is permitted at the two designated beaches only. Guests cannot swim in the ponds. A lifeguard isn't posted at the designated swimming areas, so guests swim at their own risk.
Boating
Enjoy boat rides, kayaking, and canoeing on the lake, but don't forget your life jackets as they are required. From the lake, guests see exquisite views of the park, including lush greenery and beautiful wildlife.
Biking
Most of the hiking trails are open to biking enthusiasts. Ride your bike around the trails and view picturesque backdrops.
How to Get to
Cooper Lake State Park
From South Sulfur, head southeast on Farm to Market 1529 South toward County Road 4779. Continue straight for 2.8 miles on County Road 4779. Turn right onto TX-154 East/TX-19 South. Turn right onto Farm to Market 71 West. Turn right onto FM 3505 and continue until you see the park entrance.
Entering Cooper Lake State Park
Enter Cooper Lake State Park on foot after parking in the parking lot; there are accessible parking spots available. The park's operating hours are 6 a.m. to 10 p.m., and the park office is open from 8:15 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. The speed limit is 10 mph, and motorized vehicles are allowed on designated, paved roads only.
Cooper Lake State Park Entry Fee (visitors 13 and older) : $5.0
Frequently Asked Questions About Cooper Lake State Park
Early fall is the best time to visit Cooper Lake State Park, as the temperatures are mild. During this timeframe, the park will also be less crowded.
Birders can look forward to adding several species of raptors, songbirds, and waterfowl to their journals. While exploring you may also spot bobcats, beavers, white-tailed deer and armadillos.
Yes, there are designated RV camping spots in Cooper Lake State Park. There are 42 camping spots at Liberty Grove, 15 camping spots at Bright Star, and 40 camping spots at Deer Haven.
You aren't required to reserve a camping spot, but this state park has an almost year-round peak season and fills quickly. The cost of camping ranges from $10 to $30.
Pets are welcome at Cooper Lake State Park and are allowed on the hiking trails. However, they must be on a leash and are not permitted on the beaches.