In Rusk County, a landscape dotted with lakes meets tangible traces of history. Martin Creek Lake State Park sits on the shore of 5,000-acre Martin Creek Lake. The park also has trails of varying lengths and difficulty levels, as well as stories ranging from a former trade route to a listed Historic District.
Lakeshore and Trails
At Conservation Pool, the Martin Creek Reservoir has 62 miles of shoreline. The reservoir offers year-round fishing for largemouth bass and catfish, including blue and channel catfish. The details on shoreline length and fish species offer two specific perspectives on the lake landscape.
The trails differ in more than just length: the Old Henderson Road Loop is 1.4 miles long and moderately challenging; the longer Harmony Hill Loop is 1.7 miles long but easy. At 0.9 miles, the Island Trails are the shortest and are also easy. They pass through tall pines and open grassland. This lets you consider both trail length and the stated difficulty level when choosing a route.
Historic Sites
Old Henderson Road was once a trade route between Henderson and Shreveport. Harmony Hill has a different story: the former settlement is now a Historic District listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Both connections provide a tangible context for the trail names and Rusk County’s historical heritage.
The Rusk County Depot Museum & History Center was established in 1978, beginning with a railroad depot, and includes twelve historic structures. At the Children’s Discovery Center, children can experience history by touching, feeling and looking. Alongside viewing historic buildings, hands-on, child-friendly ways of learning about history are also at the heart of the experience.
The monument to the victims of the New London School Explosion was erected in 1939. The Henderson Commercial Historic District is also listed on the National Register. Together with the Harmony Hill Historic District, these listings highlight different facets of the area’s historical heritage.
Festivals, Routes and Local Offerings
The Heritage Syrup Festival is designated an East Texas Folk-Life Festival and takes place on the second Saturday in November. Check the details for the relevant year before your trip. This will let you plan your visit around the specific festival dates.
East Texas Wildflower Trails is a self-guided tour with four routes in Rusk County. The driving tour includes a map and attractions. If you like to choose your own itinerary, you can use this information to plan rather than follow a fixed program.
The Henderson Farmers Market offers locally grown and homemade produce, meat and cheese, as well as prepared food and drinks. The market adds another aspect of local life to your explorations of history and landscape.
Planning Your Trip
Martin Creek Lake is three miles southwest of Tatum on Texas Highway 43; access is via County Road 2183. Before setting out, it’s a good idea to check current road conditions and park information. Then, as you plan, you can weigh whether you’re more interested in the water and trails, history, the festival or local market offerings.
Discover more destinations: Henderson, Tatum, Bastrop, Jones County, Presidio County, Hockley County, Bowie County, Dawson County
For the main travel overview: Texas.
