Stretching across 161,088 acres along the Texas–Louisiana border, Sabine National Forest stands as East Texas’s wild heart—a landscape defined by towering American beech trees, longleaf pine savannas, and the dark, tannin-stained waters of Toledo Bend Reservoir. Established in 1936, this forest offers a distinctly Southern woodland experience far removed from the arid landscapes most associate with Texas.
The forest sprawls across five counties, with the bulk of its acreage concentrated in Sabine and Shelby counties. Hemphill serves as the gateway community, where visitors can stop at the local ranger district office for maps and current trail conditions before heading into the backcountry.
Hiking trails wind through bottomland hardwoods and across rolling pine ridges, with wildlife viewing opportunities that include white-tailed deer, wild turkey, and the occasional armadillo rustling through the underbrush. The forest’s eastern edge borders Toledo Bend Reservoir, one of the largest man-made lakes in the South, adding fishing and water access to the experience.
Camping options are scattered throughout the forest, allowing overnight visitors to wake to morning fog drifting through the trees and the calls of pileated woodpeckers echoing across the canopy.
Spring brings wildflower blooms and mild temperatures ideal for hiking, while fall offers comfortable weather and changing foliage among the hardwoods. Summer can be hot and humid, typical of East Texas, though early morning excursions remain pleasant. The forest is accessible year-round via Highway 87 from Hemphill.
Explore Nearby
- North Toledo Bend State Park — State Park in Louisiana
- Hodges Gardens State Park — State Park in Louisiana
- Cane River National Heritage Trail — Scenic Byway in Louisiana
- Toledo Bend Forest Scenic Byway — Scenic Byway in Louisiana
