The Outdoors in Buna, Texas

Buna's signature outdoor draw is the Big Thicket National Preserve, just to the west. The preserve protects more than 100,000 acres of public land — a remarkable mix of ecosystems where Southeastern swamps, eastern forests, and coastal plains meet — laced with roughly 40 miles of hiking trails and more than 20 miles of paddling trails.

It is a haven for nature lovers. Birdwatchers, photographers, hikers, and paddlers come for the moss-draped cypress-tupelo sloughs, the longleaf pine uplands, and the sheer diversity of plants and wildlife. Units of the preserve along the lower Neches put this protected wilderness within an easy reach of Buna.

The Neches River anchors the area's water recreation. Buna sits on the divide between the Neches and Sabine watersheds, and the lower Neches — with nearby creeks like Village Creek — offers excellent paddling and fishing through the Big Thicket country. Canoeists and kayakers drift through cypress sloughs and quiet backwaters, with guides and rentals available in the region.

Anglers target spotted and white bass, sunfish and bream, catfish, and several species of gar in these waters. The river's slow, tree-lined stretches make for a peaceful day on the water, and the surrounding Big Thicket adds to the sense of fishing a true wilderness river.

Beyond the river and the preserve, Buna is surrounded by the working timberland of Jasper County — second-growth pine forests, country roads, and the woods that built the town. This is good hunting country, with deer, hogs, and small game across the surrounding lands, and quiet scenic drives in every direction.

For open-water recreation, two of East Texas's great reservoirs lie within a drive to the north — B.A. Steinhagen Lake (Dam B) and the vast Sam Rayburn Reservoir — both prized for bass fishing, boating, and camping. Between the Big Thicket, the Neches, and the lakes a little farther out, Buna is a fine base for outdoor recreation in any season.