Camping Folks - LBJ Grasslands?

[jluv]

I seem to remember someone posting about this place back on the old board. I'm going to go check it out this weekend for some tent camping. I've been trying to read up on it, but the info I've found is mostly about the designated camping areas. Has anyone here been camping out there? Do you know for sure if you can just find/make your own spot where you want, or do you have to stay in the designated areas with tent pads and other people next to you?

Ideally, I'm looking to find a spot off the beaten path that is far away from anyone else and has plenty of tree coverage, maybe a place to fish within walking distance. I'll need to drive up, not hike in, but I have 4wd if needed.

I don't necessarily expect anyone to offer up their secret spot, but I wanted to confirm if you really can just pitch a tent almost anywhere there, and maybe a tip on which general area of the park is best.

Thanks in advance!

[Downs]

I've camped up there before. We didn't camp at a designated/pay camp site we just drove down some roads till we found a good site. Actually found a site with a rope swing pretty fun.

If you need to drive in (we did) you probably aren't going to find a spot that isn't going to have people at it. The folks we ran into were pretty nice. Even had a TPW guy come out and check on us and he didn't say anything about not being able to camp there. It's like any other state park though no public display/consumption of alcohol.........we'll don't get caught anyway lol.

We did some hiking in the area trying to find squirrels for dinner (.22s) and were able to find some nice secluded areas that looked like nothing but animals had been there. But you'd have to leave the truck behind for that.

[TEAMJACOB]

I posted about it. Been 5 or 6 times this year

[jluv]

I posted about it. Been 5 or 6 times this year

Any info?

[Kart21]

Ten's of years ago use to camp out there.
Found some cliffs ( 100 foot ) to repel down on.

4 wheel drive is a plus.

Kind of primitive, or at lease back then it was.

Lots of hiking, don't get lost, lots of hills that can look all the same after you walk over one.

Was in the Civil Air Patrol, we used it as a rescue training area.

Found some WW II training junk on the biggest hill ( thinking it was hill # 1056 ) near the big lake.

Havn't been there in years .

[Downs]

I was in the CAP in Mineral Wells for years when I was in Jr High and High School. Those were good times

[Sean88gt]

Got chiggers?

[GrayStangGT]

Personally I like to camp at Black Creek Lake at LBJ, but the out of the way tent sites are hike in.

Assuming you can camp anywhere in the grasslands, check out this small pond, we used to hunt around it and it is out of the way and you can drive your truck down to it.

http://maps.google.com/maps?q=lbj+national+grasslands&ll=33.301103,-97.619877&spn=0.005075,0.011308&hq=lbj+national+grasslands&radius=15000&t=h&z=17

I've also fished this one and there might be some out of the way spots you can drive to on the north side of the lake. Big bass in there too.

http://maps.google.com/maps?q=lbj+national+grasslands&ll=33.322944,-97.643051&spn=0.010148,0.022616&hq=lbj+national+grasslands&radius=15000&t=h&z=16

Just call the Rangers office in Decature if you have any questions, they have always been helpful. If you get up there early enough on a weekday stop by and get one of the big detailed maps they sell at the office.

[jluv]

Personally I like to camp at Black Creek Lake at LBJ, but the out of the way tent sites are hike in.

Assuming you can camp anywhere in the grasslands, check out this small pond, we used to hunt around it and it is out of the way and you can drive your truck down to it.

http://maps.google.com/maps?q=lbj+national+grasslands&ll=33.301103,-97.619877&spn=0.005075,0.011308&hq=lbj+national+grasslands&radius=15000&t=h&z=17

I've also fished this one and there might be some out of the way spots you can drive to on the north side of the lake. Big bass in there too.

http://maps.google.com/maps?q=lbj+national+grasslands&ll=33.322944,-97.643051&spn=0.010148,0.022616&hq=lbj+national+grasslands&radius=15000&t=h&z=16

Just call the Rangers office in Decature if you have any questions, they have always been helpful. If you get up there early enough on a weekday stop by and get one of the big detailed maps they sell at the office.

Good stuff. Thanks!

[TEAMJACOB]

Any info?

yeah. i would recommend arriving during the day. it is dark as hell out there and the signs are old, faded, or missing. fishing will be a waste in my opinion being that every reservoir was extremely low last time i was out there and i'm not sure how much the little rain we've had has helped with the drought. i camped right on black creek. you can get right on the water and the grounds are kept short. it wont be hard to find a secluded place but i wouldnt look for one thats on any large body of water. its mainly a few reservoirs, and a ton of ponds. i always have a blast but all i was ever looking for was being secluded, having some beers, and tending a fire.

[jluv]

yeah. i would recommend arriving during the day. it is dark as hell out there and the signs are old, faded, or missing. fishing will be a waste in my opinion being that every reservoir was extremely low last time i was out there and i'm not sure how much the little rain we've had has helped with the drought. i camped right on black creek. you can get right on the water and the grounds are kept short. it wont be hard to find a secluded place but i wouldnt look for one thats on any large body of water. its mainly a few reservoirs, and a ton of ponds. i always have a blast but all i was ever looking for was being secluded, having some beers, and tending a fire.

Thanks! That's really what I'm after, too. I don't want to see/hear anyone else for the most part, but I also don't want to post up in the wrong area. Fishing would be nice, but I don't mind not catching anything.

[stevo]

Got chiggers?

Chinese-African Americans?

Stevo

[jluv]

Got chiggers?

Hopefully they won't be bad this time of year.

We got into a fucking ton of them at Cedar Hill State Park a couple of summers ago. I hate summer camping in Texas, but I got talked into it. Chiggers last WEEKS. It was miserable!

[GrayStangGT]

I've been in April several times and never had an issue with chiggers.

[jluv]

For those who gaf...

Had a great time! Drove/hiked around for about 3 hours and ended up setting up camp back at the first spot I'd looked at. Had to carry my shit a little way from where I parked, but it was worth it. Didn't see a single soul all weekend other than two of my buddies who met me out there. Camped literally 10 feet from the water. Caught a few mud cats and a few channel cats, nothing big. Saw some HUGE carp, so I'll be prepared to fish for those next time. The weather Friday was beautiful. It rained late that night and all day Saturday, but it didn't affect the camping. It was nice, in fact. Saw all kinds of birds including turkeys. No chiggers. Picked up quite a bit of trash people left behind. People who litter are fucking assholes. It's less than an hour from my house, so I'll definitely be going back to camp in that same spot.