Things to Do in Huntington, Texas
Huntington is a small Piney Woods town with a big outdoor draw right next door: Lake Sam Rayburn, the largest lake wholly within Texas, and the Angelina National Forest that surrounds it. Add the shopping, dining, and attractions of nearby Lufkin, and there's plenty to do.
Here's what to do in and around Huntington.
Lake Sam Rayburn
Huntington's crown jewel is Lake Sam Rayburn, the more-than-114,000-acre reservoir just to the east that has made the town the self-styled 'gateway' to 'Big Sam.' The lake is one of the premier bass-fishing destinations in the country, hosting major tournaments, and it's just as good for boating, water sports, swimming, and lakeside picnics.
Access from Huntington is easy. Hanks Creek Park, a Corps of Engineers facility, offers a boat ramp and waterfront campsites, and Cassels-Boykin Park provides another mid-lake access point. Whether you're after trophy largemouth, a day on the boat, or a quiet shoreline campsite, the reservoir is the centerpiece of things to do here.
Angelina National Forest
Wrapping around much of the lake is the Angelina National Forest — more than 150,000 acres of public pine and hardwood forest open for camping, hiking, paddling, fishing, swimming, and hunting. Developed recreation areas such as Caney Creek, Harvey Creek, and Sandy Creek give visitors established sites for a day trip or a weekend outdoors.
For anyone who loves the woods, the national forest is a remarkable resource right at Huntington's doorstep. Combined with the lake, it gives the town a one-two punch of water and forest that few small Texas communities can match — ideal for hunters, hikers, paddlers, and campers alike.
Lufkin and the Region
When you want town amenities, Lufkin — the Angelina County seat just ten miles west on U.S. Highway 69 — adds the shopping, dining, and attractions of a small East Texas city. Lufkin is home to the Naranjo Museum of Natural History, the Texas Forestry Museum that tells the region's timber story, the Ellen Trout Zoo, and the Museum of East Texas, among other stops.
The broader region offers still more lakes, forest, and Piney Woods heritage within a reasonable drive. Between Lake Sam Rayburn, the Angelina National Forest, and the museums and conveniences of nearby Lufkin, Huntington offers a well-rounded menu of things to do for a small community.
FAQ: Things to Do in Huntington
Huntington's top draw is Lake Sam Rayburn, just east of town, for bass fishing, boating, and camping, plus the surrounding Angelina National Forest for hiking and hunting. Nearby Lufkin, ten miles west, adds museums, a zoo, shopping, and dining.
Lake Sam Rayburn is a reservoir of more than 114,000 acres just east of Huntington — the largest lake located entirely within Texas. Nationally known for bass fishing and tournaments, it's reached from town via lakeside parks like Hanks Creek and Cassels-Boykin.
Yes. The Angelina National Forest, more than 150,000 acres of public pine and hardwood forest, surrounds much of Lake Sam Rayburn near Huntington. It offers camping, hiking, paddling, fishing, and hunting, with developed sites like Caney Creek, Harvey Creek, and Sandy Creek.
Lufkin, ten miles west of Huntington, is home to the Texas Forestry Museum, the Naranjo Museum of Natural History, the Ellen Trout Zoo, and the Museum of East Texas, along with the shopping and dining of the Angelina County seat.
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