Johnson Creek Day Use

Johnson Creek Day Use Area is situated along the banks of Lake O' the Pines in the Ark-La-Tex portion of the Pineywoods of east Texas, near the states of Arkansas, Oklahoma and Louisiana, at 580 Crestwood Lp., Avinger, TX 75657. Johnson Creek offers a large group picnic shelter, complete with electric hookups, that can accommodate up to 100 guests. A boat ramp, courtesy dock, fishing dock, volleyball court and swimming beach are also provided, making the area perfect for large parties or family functions. Boating, fishing, water sports and wildlife viewing are all popular pastimes here. Hunting for white-tailed deer, waterfowl and small game is available on nearby public lands, including some of the best waterfowl hunting in East Texas. Lake O' the Pines fishing includes largemouth, spotted and white bass along with crappie, catfish and sunfish; besides boat fishing there are areas for bank fishing along the shore and below the dam along Big Cypress Bayou. Birdwatchers should bring binoculars, as numerous resident and migratory species inhabit the area; bald eagle sightings are common in fall and winter and occasional in spring and summer. Lake O' the Pines includes about 18,700 acres of water and 9,000 acres of land, and the Johnson Creek Day Use Area is near the confluence of Johnson Creek and the lake. The lake was created by the construction of the Ferrell's Bridge Dam on the Big Cypress Bayou, as part of the overall plan for flood control in the Red River Basin below Denison Dam in Oklahoma. Other historic and tourist attractions are nearby in the towns of Jefferson and Marshall, and Texas Wildflower Trail routes run along the roads surrounding the lake.