Things to Do in Alto, Texas

Alto's signature attraction is Caddo Mounds State Historic Site, about six miles southwest of town — a prehistoric Caddo village and ceremonial center more than 1,200 years old, on the route of the old El Camino Real. Three earthen mounds, still sacred to the Caddo people, rise from the lush Piney Woods landscape.

Visitors start in the visitor center with exhibits and an introductory video about the Caddo, then follow a 0.7-mile self-guided interpretive trail that includes a traditional Caddo grass house, the mounds, and a borrow pit; Snake Woman's Garden and a 0.4-mile walk along an original section of the Camino Real de los Tejas round out the visit. It's a moving, educational outing into one of the most important archaeological sites in Texas — a genuine destination right at Alto's doorstep.

Alto is a close-knit farming town in southern Cherokee County, with roots in farming, cattle ranching, and timber. Day-to-day life centers on Alto ISD and its Yellowjackets, the churches, and State Highway 21, which still traces the old Camino Real through town.

For visitors, the town is the gateway to the Caddo Mounds a few miles southwest, and a quiet stop on the historic road between Crockett and Nacogdoches.

The outdoors is close at hand around Alto. About 20 miles north-northeast, Lake Striker offers boating, fishing, and camping, and about an hour away the Angelina National Forest spreads across more than 150,000 acres of forestland with hiking trails, fishing spots, and picnic areas.

Alto's central location also makes for excellent day trips: Nacogdoches for its azalea trails and gardens, Rusk for the Texas State Railroad and Cherokee Civic Theatre, Lufkin for the Ellen Trout Zoo and museums, and Toledo Bend Reservoir for boating and fishing. Between the Caddo Mounds, the lake and forest, and the day trips, Alto offers a rich and varied menu of things to do.