Lakeside Day Use

Lakeside 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 5177 FM 726, Jefferson, TX 75657. Lakeside Park offers one large group picnic shelter, complete with electric hookups, that can accommodate up to 100 guests. A boat ramp, dock, swimming beaches and a volleyball court 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, and hunting for white-tailed deer, waterfowl and small game is available on nearby public lands. 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. Lakeside Day Use is located near the Ferrell's Bridge Dam. Lake O' the Pines includes about 18,700 acres of water and 9,000 acres of land, created by the construction of that 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.