News Release

Big Thicket National Preserve welcomed record visitation for the second year in a row

Date: March 4, 2020
Contact: Jason Ginder, 409-951-6721

For the second year in a row, Big Thicket National Preserve saw a record number of visitors, recording 255,926 visits in 2019, a 14% increase over the previous year. The preserve saw a notable increase in visitation during the fall and winter months, while an extremely wet 2019 led to a significant decrease in backcountry camping use.  “The preserve has a lot to offer visitors of all backgrounds and interests,” stated Big Thicket National Preserve Superintendent Wayne Prokopetz. “Since 1974, the preserve has welcomed visitors interested in hunting, fishing, hiking, camping, or just seeking a quiet place to recharge.”

Over the past five years Big Thicket National Preserve has seen a nearly 50% increase in visitation. With a record number of folks participating in ranger-led programs like guided canoe trips and monthly night hikes. “The parks in our community offer us important opportunities to reconnect with the natural world, spend time with our family and friends, and clear our heads.  We are excited that more people are discovering the unique opportunities this preserve has to offer,” stated Big Thicket National Preserve Superintendent Wayne Prokopetz. 

To truly “see” the preserve, you must venture away from the modern conveniences of automobile travel and take a close look at the small things. The preserve offers over 40 miles of developed hiking trails suitable for all skill levels. Numerous creeks and rivers offer visitors the opportunity to kayak and canoe on over 100 miles of accessible waterways. For the more adventurous visitors, backcountry camping opportunities are available in most units of the preserve. Birding, photography, hunting and fishing are just a few of the other common activities’ visitors enjoy.

Nationwide, the 419 Units of the National Park Service received more than 327.5 million recreation visits, marking the third highest since record keeping began in 1904. For an in-depth look at 2019 visitation, including individual park figures, please visit the NPS Social Science web site.

Big Thicket National Preserve is located in southeast Texas, near the city of Beaumont and 75 miles northeast of Houston. The preserve consists of nine land units and six water corridors encompassing more than 113,000 acres. The Big Thicket, often referred to as a “biological crossroads,” is a transition zone between four distinct vegetation types – the moist eastern hardwood forest, the southwestern desert, the southeastern swamp, and the central prairies. Species from all these different vegetation types come together in the thicket, exhibiting a variety of vegetation and wildlife that has received global interest. 

For general information about Big Thicket National Preserve, visit www.nps.gov/bith or call the preserve visitor center at 409-951-6700. Visit us on Facebook www.facebook.com/BigThicketNPS, Twitter www.twitter.com/BigThicketNPS, and Instagram www.instagram.com/BigThicketNPS.