The Outdoors in Center, Texas
Center sits in the deep Piney Woods of far East Texas near the Louisiana line, surrounded by lakes and forest. From one of the best bass-fishing reservoirs in the country to a national forest and a quiet county lake, the outdoor options around Center are first-rate — a big part of the appeal of life in Shelby County.
Here's how to get outside in and around Center.
Toledo Bend Reservoir
The crown jewel of the area's outdoors is Toledo Bend Reservoir, the giant lake on the Texas–Louisiana border east of Center. Bassmaster Magazine has repeatedly ranked Toledo Bend among the top bass-fishing lakes in the entire country, and anglers come from across the nation to chase its trophy largemouth. Beyond fishing, the reservoir offers boating, water skiing, camping, and hiking along its vast shoreline.
The lake country even has golf: resorts like Emerald Hills Golf Resort and the Cypress Bend Golf and Conference Center offer championship courses with lodging and dining. For a fishing-and-outdoors getaway, Toledo Bend is hard to beat — and Center is one of its closest Texas towns.
Lake Pinkston and the Sabine National Forest
Closer to home, Lake Pinkston offers a quieter alternative — a smaller county lake with fishing and camping, perfect for an easy local outing without the crowds. And the Sabine National Forest, stretching along the Texas side of Toledo Bend, protects hundreds of thousands of acres of Piney Woods.
The national forest is a playground for fishing, hunting, hiking, mountain biking, and camping, with deep woods, creeks, and the lake's shoreline to explore. Between the big reservoir, the county lake, and the forest, Center residents have an enormous outdoor backyard.
Birding and the Piney Woods
Shelby County is a birdwatcher's paradise, home to hundreds of species — graceful waterfowl on the lakes and beautiful songbirds in the deep woods. The mix of forest, lake, and wetland habitats around Center makes it a rewarding area for birding throughout the year.
The surrounding country is classic deep East Texas — towering pines, hardwood bottoms, and quiet backroads. Whether you're casting for bass on Toledo Bend, hiking the Sabine National Forest, or watching for birds along a creek, the outdoors is central to life in Center.
FAQ: Outdoors in Center
Center is near Toledo Bend Reservoir (world-class bass fishing, boating, camping, and golf), the quieter Lake Pinkston (fishing and camping), and the Sabine National Forest (hunting, hiking, biking, and camping). The area is also excellent for birdwatching.
Yes — exceptional. Toledo Bend Reservoir, on the Texas–Louisiana border east of Center, has been repeatedly ranked by Bassmaster Magazine among the top bass-fishing lakes in the United States, drawing anglers from across the country.
Yes. The Sabine National Forest stretches along the Texas side of Toledo Bend near Center, protecting hundreds of thousands of acres of Piney Woods for fishing, hunting, hiking, biking, and camping.
Yes. Lake Pinkston is a quiet county lake near Center offering fishing and camping, and the massive Toledo Bend Reservoir lies a short drive east — one of the best bass-fishing lakes in the country.
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