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People take advantage of the outdoors at Cooper Lake State Parks. The park is located on the banks of Jim Chapman Lake, where watersports abound. Almost 200 overnight camping sites, ranging from cool cabins to primitive tent sites, are available at CLSP..
Cooper Lake State Park was made for summer fun! The park has two white sandy beaches waiting for you! Plant your umbrella, spread out a towel, and get ready to experience summer’s goodness. Water sports abound at the park. Whether you love fishing from the bank or boat, jet skiing, swimming or kayaking, the lake is full, setting us up for water sports fun throughout the summer season.
Also, don’t forget about our almost 200 camping facilities, including cool cabins perched on the banks of Jim Chapman Lake.
During July, we are presenting 26 educational, and recreational programs about animals, plants, and outdoor activities found in Northeast Texas. Our exciting programs range from restorative nature hikes through the forest to stargazing astronomy under some of the darkest skies in this part of Texas. Other featured programming includes “Fishing with a Ranger” and “Art in the Park.”
Why not bring your fun and learning-packed Saturday adventure to an amazing conclusion by relaxing at a picnic table watching your food cook on one of our many day-use picnic grills? If you are lucky enough to be camping, relaxing around a campfire is the best! The flickering light of a campfire energizes your spirit and reconnects you to innate feelings shared by our past generations. There is no better place to share a story or eat a meal with family and friends!
Come enjoy “Free Fishing” at Cooper Lake State Park or any of our other Texas State Park! Fish from the bank, off our piers, fishing wall, or try your luck along the shoreline. Note Boaters and kayakers must have a valid Texas fishing license while fishing Jim Chapman Lake. Fish attractors have been placed around the Doctors Creek floating fishing pier and the fishing wall at South Sulphur to help increase fishing success. Fish attractors are being utilized to draw more catchable fish within reach for our park visitors – and it’s working! White bass, crappie, bluegill, largemouth bass, and catfish are commonly caught at both park units during July.
Park entrance fees are $5 for adults, with kids 12 and under always free. Senior Texans 65 or older will only pay $3 to enter the park daily with a Bluebonnet Pass, plus their traveling companion is $3 as well (independent of age). Unlimited free entrances for you and everyone in your vehicle can be accomplished with the purchase of a Texas State Park Annual Pass for $70 which is good for over 12 months and at all 89 Texas State Parks. Buy your pass and let your Texas adventuring begin!
Update: The destroyed fishing pier at Sunset Cove – South Sulphur Unit has been approved and funded for replacement. We hope to see a new upgraded pier sometime mid to late 2024. We are excited!
Alert — Like many of you, the storms hit us hard on June 15. We are currently removing downed trees from our South Sulphur trails, and we hope to have this vast amazing trail system open later in the month. All trails at Doctors Creek are currently open. Please see our website for real time trail updates.
For more information on this or other events and programs at Cooper Lake State Park, please visit our Texas Parks and Wildlife website and like our Facebook pages:
Cooper Lake State Park – South Sulphur and 903-945-5256, or
Cooper Lake State Park – Doctor’s Creek and 903-395-3100.