The Outdoors in Gladewater, Texas
City & County Parks
Municipal and county parks, greenspaces, and recreation areas in and around Gladewater.
- Garland P Ferguson Park
- Penick Park
- White Oak City Park
- Hugh Camp Memorial Park
Source: © OpenStreetMap contributors
Lakes Near Gladewater
Lakes and reservoirs within about 30 miles of Gladewater, by approximate straight-line distance. Access, boating rules and camping vary by lake, so check with the operator before you go.
- Lake Gladewater · ~3 mi
- Lake Hawkins · ~19 mi
- Lake Cherokee · ~20 mi
- Lake Tyler · ~22 mi
- Lake o' the Pines · ~27 mi
- Martin Creek Lake · ~30 mi
State Parks & Natural Areas Near Gladewater
Public lands within reach of Gladewater — state parks, natural areas, and historic sites managed by Texas Parks & Wildlife — with approximate straight-line distance from town.
- Tyler State Park · Smith County ~20 mi
- Martin Creek Lake State Park · Rusk County ~29 mi
- Daingerfield State Park · Morris County ~36 mi
- Lake Bob Sandlin State Park · Titus County ~36 mi
- Caddo Lake State Park · Harrison County ~46 mi
Distances are approximate straight-line miles from Gladewater. Source: Texas Parks & Wildlife Department — park locations
Gladewater sits in the green, rolling Piney Woods of the Longview area, with a city lake in town and several of Northeast Texas's best fishing reservoirs a short drive away. While the town is better known for antiques than outdoor adventure, its location puts a lot of good water and woods within easy reach.
Here's how to get outside in and around Gladewater.
Lake Gladewater
Lake Gladewater, completed on Glade Creek in 1952 as a water supply and recreation lake, is the town's close-to-home outdoor spot. The lake offers fishing — bass, crappie, and catfish — along with boating and a quiet place to enjoy the water without leaving the city. It's a pleasant, low-key amenity for residents and a nice spot for an easy afternoon outdoors.
Owned by the city, Lake Gladewater is the kind of small reservoir that gives a town its everyday outdoor character — a place to fish after work or take the family on a weekend.
The Region's Bigger Lakes
Gladewater's real outdoor advantage is its proximity to the bigger lakes of Northeast Texas. Lake O' the Pines, northeast toward Jefferson, is a large Corps of Engineers reservoir popular for bass fishing, boating, and camping, with numerous parks around its shoreline. Lake Cherokee, to the southeast near Longview and Kilgore, offers more fishing and boating.
A bit farther out, the famous trophy-bass waters of Lake Fork lie to the west, and the lakes around Tyler are to the southwest. As part of the Longview area, Gladewater residents have easy access to one of the better concentrations of fishing lakes in East Texas — all within a short drive.
Parks and the Piney Woods
In town, Gladewater's city parks add, and green space for everyday recreation, and the surrounding countryside is classic East Texas — pine and hardwood forest, creek bottoms, and rolling hills. It's good country for hunting, scenic drives, and getting into the woods.
Gladewater's central spot in the Longview metro makes the wider region's outdoor options easy to reach. Longview's parks and trail system are 12 miles east, Tyler's rose gardens and Tyler State Park are about 25 miles west, and the lakes and forests of Northeast Texas spread out in every direction. For a small antiquing town, Gladewater is surprisingly well placed for the outdoors.
FAQ: Outdoors in Gladewater
Yes. Lake Gladewater, completed on Glade Creek in 1952, is a recreation lake in town offering fishing (bass, crappie, catfish) and boating — an easy local spot for getting outside.
Beyond Lake Gladewater in town, Lake O' the Pines (northeast) and Lake Cherokee (southeast) are popular nearby reservoirs for fishing and boating, and the trophy-bass waters of Lake Fork are a short drive west. As part of the Longview area, Gladewater has easy access to the region's lakes.
Fishing and boating at Lake Gladewater and the nearby reservoirs, plus hiking, hunting, and scenic drives in the surrounding Piney Woods. Longview's parks and trails are 12 miles away, and Tyler State Park is about 25 miles west.
Gladewater offers fishing at Lake Gladewater in town, and its location near Lake O' the Pines, Lake Cherokee, and Lake Fork gives anglers access to some of the better fishing water in Northeast Texas within a short drive.
East Texas guides
Region-wide guides that put Gladewater in context — where to go, what things cost, and how people actually live here.
Best Lakes in East Texas
A fact-checked guide to 17 East Texas lakes, from Lake Fork's trophy bass and Caddo Lake to Toledo Bend, Sam Rayburn and Lake Tawakoni. Sizes, species, access and rules come from TPWD.
Read Guide →Best Hiking Trails in East Texas
East Texas hiking trails checked against park and Forest Service sources: Tyler, Daingerfield, Mission Tejas and Martin Creek Lake state parks, the Four C Trail and the Sawmill Trail.
Read Guide →East Texas State Parks Guide
Twelve East Texas state parks from TPWD: Tyler, Caddo Lake, Atlanta, Lake Bob Sandlin, Tawakoni, Purtis Creek, Cooper, Martin Dies Jr. and more. Camping, cabins and passes.
Read Guide →Fishing in East Texas: Complete Guide
A sourced guide to fishing Lake Fork, Lake Palestine, Cedar Creek and Lake Athens: bass slot limits, where TPWD says the fish are, and Texas license rules.
Read Guide →Business Owner?
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