Lake Bob Sandlin State Park located in Titus County is near the small East Texas towns of Pittsburg and Mount Pleasant. With close proximity to both I-20 and I-30 this is a popular park with folks from the Dallas/Ft Worth metroplex approximately 140 miles distant.
Reservations are recommended and should be made well in advance for weekends and school breaks. Although small (639.8 acres) the park feels spacious with 4 distinct camping loops. Located on the North side of the large (9,400 acre) Lake Bob Sandlin, a popular bass fisherie, you may cast your line from a lighted fishing pier, the shoreline or take advantage of the boat ramp to get right out on the water and snag one of those rainbow trout the lake is stocked with. There is also fishing in the trout pond located at one of two remote hike-in primitive camping areas. 66 back in campsites, nestled in the pineywoods offer electric and water. 9 of these are premium lakeside sites. We noticed that most of these sites were not very long so call ahead if you have a trailer or RV to make sure you can be acomodated. When not fishing there are almost 5 miles of nature trails that you may hike or mountain bike on beginner to intermediate trails 5 miles through the forest passing two ponds with crossings on 8 footbridges. You may spot bald eagles in winter as well as white tailed deer at any time of the year. Bobcats, although rarely seen live here and share their territory with at least one black panther who roams this part of Texas. A small cemetery in the day use area dates back to the days of Fort Sherman, a wooden stockade fort that would have been located in or near the park, built in the 1840’s to protect settlers from Indian attacks. The facilities here are older, the park was opened in 1987, but very clean. If you visit this park in the fall you will be rewarded with the spectacular red and gold colors of oak, hickory, redbud and maple trees. The staff at this park is outstanding. We were picnicking in the day use area when our puppy was startled and bolted off into the woods. When we reported this the rangers immediately went into action hiking the trails and helping us search. By the following morning this dog of ours was still on the loose. He was spotted by the ranger on duty who called us on our cell phone to advise where he had seen him. Happy ending we reunited shortly thereafter.
