Steinhagen Lake is part of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Town Bluff Project, commonly known as “Dam B” in the Corps Fort Worth District. The dam is located midway between Jasper and Woodville, Texas. The dam provides flood control on the Angelina and Neches River basins, water supply to the Lower Neches Valley Authority and Beaumont area, provides a source of electric power generation and creates excellent recreation areas for fishing, camping, and wildlife viewing. Wildlife habitat consists of pine uplands, bottomland hardwoods, and mixed forest, where numerous species including deer, squirrels, rabbits, foxes, quail, waterfowl and songbirds make their homes.
There are four Corps of Engineers managed sites at the Steinhagen Lake reservoir: Bluffview Park, Magnolia Ridge, Sandy Creek, and Campers Cove. The campground at Campers Cove is closed, but there is a day-use area with a boat ramp, picnic sites, and a walking trail. Bluffview Park is a day-use area on the southwest side of the lake in the community of Town Bluff. Here you will find picnic sites with covered tables, a restroom facility with flush toilets, drinking water, and individual and group picnic areas. An observation area at this park overlooks the lake, outlet structure, spillway, and powerhouse, and is open year-round. Overnight camping is available at Sandy Creek Park and Magnolia Ridge Park where numerous facilities and day-use areas are also situated. Boat ramps, group picnic shelters, playgrounds, restrooms, and water and electric hookups are available at these sites.
If you need an RV to explore the area, visit Jasper, Texas RV Rentals. While camping in the area you can also visit nearby historical sites, Martin Dies Jr State Park or Davy Crockett National Forest.
There are four Corps of Engineers recreation areas at Steinhagen Lake.
Bluffview Park can be reached by traveling east from Woodville, Texas on Route 1746, then turning north on Route 92 to reach the park.
Campers Cove can be reached from Woodville by traveling east on US 190 to Route 92, then turning south to County Road 4120. Take 4120 east for .6 miles to the campground entrance.
For overnight camping at Sandy Creek Campground take route 190 west from Jasper, Texas, turn south on route 777 to County Road 155, then turn west and follow signs to the campground.
Magnolia Ridge camping is also available near Woodville. Go east on US 190, north on Route 92, and continue 1.5 miles to the park entrance road.
Highways and campground access roads are paved, and not subject to weather conditions which could make local roads dusty or muddy. Traveling with RVs and tow vehicles to the US Corps of Engineers sites is easy, with good roads and accessibility. Campsites have paved pads, and campgrounds have paved roads. Some recreation areas are heavily forested which can reduce sightlines, and access roads are winding, however, trees are set back from the access roads and do not impede accessibility for larger units.
Sandy Creek Campground is located on the southeast shore of Steinhagen Lake. The campground contains 78 campsites, 35 with 50 amp electric and water hookups, 34 with 30 amp electric and water hookups, six sites without electric or water hookups, and two sites with screened shelters that have electric and water hookups. Amenities at the campground include three boat launches with one lane each, three restrooms with flush toilets - two of which have showers - a vault toilet, a group shelter, a playground, volleyball courts, two fishing piers, and an RV dump station.
The campground is open all year round, with reservable and first come first serve sites. There is no swimming beach at the campground. However, fishing, boating, hiking, hunting, and cycling are all popular pastimes at this lakeside campground. The area is forested with pines and hardwoods and there is numerous wildlife in the area's natural landscape. Boat and bicycle rentals are available at nearby Martin Dies Jr State Park.
Magnolia Ridge Campground is located on the northwest shore of Steinhagen Lake. There are 41 campsites available here, 32 of which have 30 amp electrical service and water hookups, eight with no hookups, and one with a screened shelter that has electric and water hookups. There are three boat ramps with one lane each, two restrooms with flush toilets and showers, one vault toilet, a group shelter, playground, volleyball court, kids fishing pond, and an RV dump station. The campground is open year-round with reservable and first come first serve sites. Fishing, hiking, boating, and wildlife watching are all popular activities at the campground, although there is no swim beach. The campground is well treed, with pine and hardwood forest, and there are plenty of shady, private spots. Young people can enjoy the kid's fish pond, which allows children to safely fish without the need for watercraft or to venture out on uneven, variable terrain along the lake shoreline.
Fishing from the lake surface or shoreline on Steinhagen Lake is a popular pastime. Fish species in the lake include largemouth bass, catfish and crappie. The lake has over 10000 acres of lake surface, and miles of shoreline, in addition to fishable locations along the Angelina and Neches Rivers. A valid fishing license for the State of Texas is required.
Visitors to Magnolia Ridge Park will find an excellent children's fish pond where an artesian spring is located. The site allows young people and adults who are unable to fish from the lake surface by boat, or from the shoreline due to limits in accessibility, to fish safely. Annual fishing days at the kid’s fishing pond are held for children and for seniors in local nursing homes when special regulations may apply.
Beautiful Steinhagen Lake has natural recreational areas around the lake where individuals and groups can enjoy an outdoor meal. Group shelters are available, and reservable, at Sandy Creek Park, Magnolia Ridge Park and Bluffview Park. These group shelters are for day use only and offer electrical outlets, water supply, lighting, and grills. Shelters can accommodate up to 100 people.
Playground structures and restrooms are available near picnic shelters. Individual picnic sites are also available at recreation areas that are available on a first-come. first-serve basis.
Numerous launch sites are available at COE and other recreational sites to launch a boat for fishing, sightseeing, or recreation. There are seven COE launch sites, and 13 boat launches in total. There is no charge for registered campers or annual pass holders to use the boat launches, and a small fee for day users. Use caution when boating as the lake depth varies and has shallow spots, with the average depth being three to seven feet.
There are canoe rentals available at Martin Dies Jr State Park, and an accessible canoe dock at Sandy Creek Park. It is recommended that boaters take a boating safety course before venturing out on the water. Obey state laws and ensure that there is safety equipment and life preservers for all passengers on board.
Multi-use trails around Steinhagen Lake are accessible to cyclists and Martin Dies Jr State Park has dedicated mountain biking trails for cyclists. When using multi-use trails, watch out for foot traffic. During the offseason, cooler weather makes the risk of heat-related illnesses on long strenuous bike trips less of a danger, but you should still pack plenty of water.
Bike rentals are also available at the state park headquarters, daily from 8:30 AM to 3:30 PM, bikes must be returned by 4:40 PM. When cycling on natural trails, appropriate safety equipment, and helmets are highly recommended.
The project area contains lands in both Tyler County and Jasper County, and hunting regulations may vary depending on which county you are hunting in. Be sure to be aware of rules and regulations, and have a valid license and permits. Species available for harvest in the area include white-tailed deer, feral hogs, squirrels, rabbits, and waterfowl. On the 875 acres of Corps lands, rifle and pistol hunting is prohibited, and hunting is also prohibited within 600 feet of a farmyard, dwelling, roadway, or park boundary.
Rimfire and centerfire weapons are allowed in the wildlife management area near the Angelina-Neches/Dam B which contains 13000 acres of land and water. For a completely different hunting experience, every September, Texas Parks and Wildlife allows a limited number of permits for American alligators in areas around the Town Bluff Project.
During the fall, winter, and spring, when temperatures are cooler in the area, you can venture out on a hike on one of the trails in the Steinhagen Lake area without having to contend with hot Texas summer weather.
Bluffview Park has a ⅓ of a mile, paved walking trail. Magnolia Ridge Park has a ½ mile Pond Loop trail, the ⅔ mile out and back Magnolia Trail, the 4/10 of a mile, out and back, Walnut Trail, and the 1/3 of a mile, out and back, Beech Trail. Sandy Creek Park trails include the Sandy Creek Trail, a one way .78 mile path, and 2 other trails currently under development. The Sandy Creek Trail connects from the Old Folks Loop to the Slough Trail at Martin Dies Jr State Park. More hiking and canoe trails are available at Martin Dies Jr. State Park.
