The Outdoors in Hemphill, Texas
Hemphill is an outdoor lover's paradise, set where the Sabine National Forest meets the vast Toledo Bend Reservoir on the Texas-Louisiana line. Few small towns in Texas can match the combination of national forest woodlands and one of the South's premier fishing lakes right at the doorstep.
Here's how to enjoy the outdoors in and around Hemphill.
Toledo Bend Reservoir
Hemphill's signature outdoor draw is Toledo Bend Reservoir, created in 1966 on the Sabine River and one of the largest man-made lakes in the South, stretching more than 65 miles along the Texas-Louisiana border. It has long been celebrated as a fishing destination, thanks to abundant aquatic vegetation and submerged timber that make for ideal habitat.
The lake is renowned for its bass fishing — among the best in the South — along with crappie, white bass, catfish, and big sunfish. Boat ramps, marinas, and lakeside recreation areas around Hemphill provide access to the water, and the reservoir's huge size means there's always a quiet cove to find. For anglers and boaters, Toledo Bend is the heart of Hemphill's outdoor life.
Sabine National Forest
Wrapping the country around Hemphill is the Sabine National Forest, whose eastern edge traces the shore of Toledo Bend. The forest offers fishing, hunting, camping, hiking, horseback riding, and mountain biking across its protected Piney Woods, with recreation areas like Lakeview and Indian Mounds providing campsites, boat access, and picnic spots near the lake.
A highlight for hikers is the Trail Between the Lakes, a roughly 28-mile path running from the Lakeview Recreation Area on Toledo Bend toward Sam Rayburn Reservoir to the southwest. Whether for a weekend campout, a day hike, or a hunting trip in season, the national forest gives Hemphill an outdoor backyard of rare scale and quiet.
Hunting and the Piney Woods
Beyond the lake and the marked recreation areas, the deep forest around Hemphill is classic East Texas hunting country, with deer, hogs, and other game drawing hunters to the woods each season. The national forest and surrounding timberland offer scenic drives, birdwatching, and the simple pleasure of getting out into the pines.
Between world-class fishing on Toledo Bend, the camping and trails of the Sabine National Forest, and good hunting in the surrounding woods, Hemphill is a genuine outdoor base for any season. Few towns its size in Texas put this much water and forest within such easy reach.
City & County Parks
Municipal and county parks, greenspaces, and recreation areas in and around Hemphill.
- Pine Park
Source: © OpenStreetMap contributors
Lakes Near Hemphill
Major East Texas lakes and reservoirs within driving distance — fishing, boating, and lakeside camping.
- Toledo Bend Reservoir · ~16 mi
- Sam Rayburn Reservoir · ~26 mi
State Parks & Natural Areas Near Hemphill
Public lands within reach of Hemphill — state parks, natural areas, and historic sites managed by Texas Parks & Wildlife — with approximate straight-line distance from town.
- Martin Dies, Jr. State Park · Jasper County ~39 mi
- Martin Creek Lake State Park · Rusk County ~77 mi
- Village Creek State Park · Hardin County ~78 mi
Distances are approximate straight-line miles from Hemphill. Source: Texas Parks & Wildlife Department — park locations
FAQ: Outdoors in Hemphill
Toledo Bend Reservoir, on Hemphill's eastern edge, is one of the largest man-made lakes in the South, created in 1966 on the Sabine River and stretching more than 65 miles along the Texas-Louisiana line. It's famous for bass fishing, with crappie, white bass, catfish, and sunfish as well.
Yes — exceptionally. Toledo Bend Reservoir at Hemphill is one of the South's premier fishing lakes, known for outstanding bass fishing thanks to abundant aquatic vegetation and submerged timber, plus crappie, white bass, catfish, and big sunfish. Boat ramps and marinas around town provide access.
The Sabine National Forest surrounds Hemphill, with its eastern edge along Toledo Bend. It offers camping, hiking, hunting, fishing, horseback riding, and mountain biking, with recreation areas like Lakeview and Indian Mounds and the roughly 28-mile Trail Between the Lakes.
Yes. The Sabine National Forest around Hemphill has recreation areas such as Lakeview and Indian Mounds offering campsites, boat access, and picnicking on Toledo Bend, plus private RV parks and marinas around the lake for a day trip or a longer stay in the woods.
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