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 Lake Sam Rayburn.' 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 Cassells-Boykin Park, an Angelina County 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. Forest Service recreation areas such as Caney 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.
Concerts & Shows Near Huntington
Listings from Ticketmaster, updated October 18, 2026. Tickets are sold by Ticketmaster; we don't check these dates ourselves, so confirm on the ticket page.
- Fri, Oct 23 · 8:00 PM CUMBIA FEST - TEJANO VS COAHUILA · Rodeo Disko, Lufkin · 9 mi · World
- Sat, Oct 31 · 8:00 PM TRIBAL HALLOWEEN PARTY - LUFKIN TX · Rodeo Disko, Lufkin · 9 mi · World
- Sat, Nov 21 · 6:00 PM 360 Allstars · Angelina Arts Alliance, Lufkin · 10 mi
- Thu, Dec 17 · 7:00 PM Doo Wop Project Christmas · Angelina Arts Alliance, Lufkin · 10 mi · R&B
- Sat, Oct 24 Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks Football vs. Southeastern Louisiana Lions Mens Football · Homer Bryce Stadium, Nacogdoches · 21 mi · Football
- Sat, Oct 31 Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks Football vs. Houston Christian Huskies Football · Homer Bryce Stadium, Nacogdoches · 21 mi · Football
- Thu, Nov 19 Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks Football vs. Northwestern State Demons Football · Homer Bryce Stadium, Nacogdoches · 21 mi · Football
- Sat, Dec 5 · 7:00 PM Hudson Westbrook · Banita Creek Hall, Nacogdoches · 21 mi · Country
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 Cassells-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 Forest Service recreation areas like Caney 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.
East Texas guides
Region-wide guides that put Huntington in context — where to go, what things cost, and how people actually live here.
Things to Do in East Texas
What to do in East Texas, checked against official sources: Tyler's Rose Garden and Caldwell Zoo, Canton's First Monday Trade Days, the Texas State Railroad, state parks, museums and festivals.
Read Guide →East Texas Festivals and Annual Events
Season-by-season guide to East Texas festivals and events — Canton's First Monday Trade Days, the Texas Rose Festival, the Yamboree, Wonderland of Lights and more, checked against each host's own site.
Read Guide →Best Day Trips from Tyler and East Texas
Drive-time guide to day trips from Tyler: state parks, small towns, museums, and lakes within about 30 minutes, an hour, and up to three hours.
Read Guide →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 →Business Owner?
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