The Outdoors in Big Sandy, Texas
Big Sandy is a small Piney Woods town surrounded by some of East Texas's best lake-and-woods country. Set in southwestern Upshur County, it's an easy reach from popular fishing lakes, classic hunting land, and one of the region's most unusual attractions — a sanctuary for rescued big cats.
Here's how to enjoy the outdoors in and around Big Sandy.
Lakes and Fishing
Big Sandy sits in prime lake country. Lake Hawkins, just to the west near the town of Hawkins, offers fishing, paddling, and a county park with camping and an RV park overlooking the water — an easy outing for a day or a weekend. Farther northwest lies Lake Fork, one of the most famous bass-fishing lakes in Texas, renowned for trophy largemouth and drawing anglers from across the country.
Between a friendly nearby lake and a world-class one within a drive, Big Sandy gives anglers and campers real options close to home. Whether it's an afternoon of crappie fishing or a serious run at a trophy bass, the water is never far.
Piney Woods and Hunting
Beyond the lakes, Big Sandy is wrapped in the rolling Piney Woods of Upshur County — forests, farms, and the timber-and-pasture country that built the area. Quiet back roads off US-80 and SH-155 make for scenic drives, and the surrounding woods are good hunting country, with deer, hogs, and other game on private leases throughout the region.
Big Sandy Creek and the wooded land around it add to the outdoor character of the town, giving residents and visitors a green, unhurried setting for getting outside in any season.
Tiger Creek and the Wider Region
One of the area's most distinctive attractions is the Tiger Creek Wildlife Refuge, a sanctuary for rescued tigers, lions, and other big cats located in the countryside toward Tyler. Visitors can see the animals in naturalistic habitats and learn about the rescue and conservation work — a genuinely unusual day out within easy reach of Big Sandy.
The broader region adds still more lakes, parks, and outdoor opportunities across Upshur, Wood, and Smith counties. Between the nearby lakes, the hunting country, and Tiger Creek, Big Sandy makes a fine base for outdoor recreation in East Texas.
Outdoor Highlights
- Bass and crappie fishing at Lake Hawkins, just minutes south of town
- Whitetail deer and wild hog hunting on private timber and ranch land
- Bird watching along the creek bottoms and pine corridors of Upshur County
- Horseback riding — plenty of open pasture and trail access on private land
- Dove hunting in the agricultural fields surrounding Big Sandy
Nearby Lakes
Parks & Trails
- Lake Hawkins Park
- Lake Bob Sandlin State Park
- Lake O' the Pines recreation areas
City & County Parks
Municipal and county parks, greenspaces, and recreation areas in and around Big Sandy.
- Big Sandy Park
- Walk of Fame Plaza
- Veterans Memorial Park
- Hawkins City Park And Pavilion
- Wells Park
Source: © OpenStreetMap contributors
Lakes Near Big Sandy
Major East Texas lakes and reservoirs within driving distance — fishing, boating, and lakeside camping.
- Lake Gladewater · ~9 mi
- Lake Hawkins · ~9 mi
- Lake Tyler · ~22 mi
- Lake Holbrook · ~27 mi
- Lake Winnsboro · ~27 mi
- Lake Quitman · ~28 mi
- Lake Cherokee · ~30 mi
State Parks & Natural Areas Near Big Sandy
Public lands within reach of Big Sandy — state parks, natural areas, and historic sites managed by Texas Parks & Wildlife — with approximate straight-line distance from town.
- Tyler State Park · Smith County ~12 mi
- Lake Bob Sandlin State Park · Titus County ~32 mi
- Daingerfield State Park · Morris County ~38 mi
- Martin Creek Lake State Park · Rusk County ~38 mi
- Lake Tawakoni State Park · Hunt County ~54 mi
- Purtis Creek State Park · VanZandt County ~54 mi
- Caddo Lake State Park · Harrison County ~55 mi
- Cooper Lake - South Sulphur Unit State Park · Hopkins County ~58 mi
Distances are approximate straight-line miles from Big Sandy. Source: Texas Parks & Wildlife Department — park locations
FAQ: Outdoors in Big Sandy
Big Sandy offers easy access to lake fishing and camping at nearby Lake Hawkins and famed Lake Fork, hunting and back-road exploring in the surrounding Piney Woods, and the Tiger Creek big-cat sanctuary toward Tyler — a well-rounded set of options for a small town.
Yes. Lake Hawkins, just west near Hawkins, offers fishing and camping close by, and Lake Fork — one of the top trophy-bass lakes in Texas — lies a short drive to the northwest, drawing anglers from across the country.
Tiger Creek Wildlife Refuge is a sanctuary for rescued tigers, lions, and other big cats, located in the countryside toward Tyler within easy reach of Big Sandy. Visitors can see the animals in naturalistic habitats and learn about its rescue and conservation work.
Yes. The Piney Woods and pasture around Big Sandy make southwestern Upshur County good hunting country, with deer, hogs, and other game taken on private leases throughout the area.
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