Camping near Houston… just 1 hour away!

It’s a perfect time to go camping in Houston! Warm during the day, cool at night.  And plenty of outdoor activities such as hiking, biking, yoga.  Even put a SUP or kayak in the lake.

About this trip:

• Close to Houston. Only 1 hour away!
• In the woods.
• Hot Dutch Oven meals
• Hiking trails along the 128 mile Lone Star Hiking Trail
• 20 miles of mountain biking ONLY trails. (How often do you to ride without hikers!)
• Plus, plenty of space for hammocks, yoga, and just relaxing outdoors.

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“Double Lake Recreation Area was built in 1937 by the Civilian Conservation Corps” (CCC).

From camp, choose to go on a day hike on the Lone Star Hiking Trail, mountain bike, a little of both or neither!

Do some yoga by the lake or relax by the fire. This weekend is a prefect escape from the big city without having to go too far!

Each night, we’ll talk about the options for the next day. You choose if you want to go or make your own day. Several people are just as happy reading a book in a hammock as hiking 8 miles. This is your trip so you decide (and do) what makes you happy.

What to expect:

Experience Level:

All! Beginner campers, new members, experts and everywhere in between.

Ask to borrow a tent & ground pad.  Bring your own sleeping bag or just the comforter from your bed. And don’t forget your pillow! Amy ALWAYS does!

HTXoutdoors is planning & providing all meals. (let us know if you have food restrictions)

Optional Practice for Backpacking:

Great Opportunity to practice backpacking! Bring a pack and some weight to put in it and carry during the day hikes.

Packing List:

You bring:

• Plate/bowl, fork/spoon, cup
• Sleeping bag
• Tent (with poles & stakes), ground pad {ask about borrowing}
• Pillow
• Light source – head lamp or flashlight with extra batteries
• Water – if you don’t like drinking tap
• Sturdy shoes for hiking & comfortable shoes for camping
• Camping chair (ask about borrowing)
• Dress in layers. Light clothes for warmer weather, warm clothes, rain clothes. Extra socks. Have a dry set of clothes for at night in case you get wet during the day.
• Other drinks – no glass
• Cooler & ice for your drinks – no Styrofoam (we only have coolers for the community food. Not enough spaces for your personal drinks.)
• If there is particular food or drinks you want, bring it!
• Toiletries (wipes, toothbrush, toothpaste, lotion, towel)
• Sun Protection – hat, long sleeves & pants, sunscreen, sun glasses
• Bug Spray
• Additional snacks you might want
• Charger / Cables
• Games

HTXoutdoors Brings:

• Kitchen equipment (stoves, propane, pots, pans, cooking utensils)
• Main food (breakfast, lunch, dinner, some snacks)
• Firewood (a moderate amount. If you want a bone fire… bring/buy extra. Some parks require you to buy onsite and you’re not allowed to bring it. Please check part rules first.)
• Propane and/or Charcoal for cooking dinner
• Easy Up Tarp
• Coolers for community food only (please bring a cooler for your beverages)

Tentative Menu:

• Friday night (or first night) dinner – Always Amy’s Chili! Meat or Veggie Options (Also vegan, pork, beef & gluten free optons!! Be sure to let us know of food restrictions. All options are easy to accommodate but the default is Turkey/Beef & Veggie Only options.)
• Breakfast – variations of eggs, potatoes, bacon, turkey bacon, chicken sausage, pancakes, oatmeal, bagels, fruit, juice.
• Coffee & Tea
• Lunch – sandwiches if long hikes planned. Costco chicken sausages or grilled ham & cheese sandwiches.
• Snacks – Chips, hummus, dried fruit, trail mix, bars
• Dinners: Grilled Chicken & Veggies & Potatoes (or various soups)
• Desert – s’mores & Dutch Oven brownies.

We can easily accommodate various food restrictions. We only ask that if follow the restriction that you give us.  For example, if you request gluten free, you don’t eat the mac & cheese or challah bread French toast. And if you’re vegan, you don’t eat cheese.

We’ll accommodate your request, but we’ll hold you to your request since we put a lot of effort and plan portions according to your request.

Venue Amenities:

• Showers: YES! (~100 yards; closer than pace bend camping trip)
• Flushing toilets: YES! (~100 yards; closer than pace bend trip)
• Shared water only campsite. (potable (drinkable) water is available but not at every site. We might have to walk 100 yards or so for water (way closer than the 2018 Pace Bend campsite which we had to drive to.)

Parking:

Large, shared parking lot.  You’re not driving directly up to your spot. Plan to carry your stuff about 100 yards or so over a grassy field & dirt trail.

Fee Includes:

• Campsite (group site F).
• Full meal planning & shopping
• Use of community camping gear (pop-ups, tables, camp kitchen,
• Dinner Friday night (arrive by 9’ish PM and we’ll have dinner. Arrive after, and there is still food but it might not be hot.  We have stoves to reheat food.  You don’t have to get food on the way! )
• Hot Breakfast, Lunch & Dutch Oven Dinner Saturday
• Hot Breakfast Sunday
• Plus snacks & deserts! And take leftovers home with you!

Refunds:

90% if we find someone to take your spot.

Additional Fee:

$9 per night/per car – try to carpool to reduce this cost! (to carpool, post in the camping event listed on Facebook.)

How to find the group:

Group Campsite F.  Follow the road to the left as you follow the Group Camping signs.  If the sign only has numbers, just keep driving straight.

You’ll run into a parking lot, near the lodge. The bathrooms are on the opposite side of the parking lot.

You can’t see the campsite from the parking lot. Park as far to the right (furthest from the bathrooms, as possible.) As you walk through the open field, towards the lake, you see a path.  Follow the path to the right.  You’ll see a sign for site “F” on the left. Turn left and follow the trail…. You’ll dead end into our group.  Look for the HTXoutdoors signs.

You’re going to walk past Site I (should be on your right and along the tree line) and Site J (should be on your left and just past the volleyball “court”. If site J is on your right… turn right and follow the path by the water until you see “F” on the left.

If you’re starting to walk to the other side of the lake, you’ve gone too far.

About the group you’re meeting:

We’re a laidback group.  In general, we just like to have a good time. No one judges… if you drink you’re welcome. If you don’t, you’re welcome. As long as you’re respectful to others and looking to have fun, you’ll fit right in!

In general, our group loves to learn about new people, places and things to do. We’re very diverse and we take advantage of learning from people who have had different experiences from us.

Whether that’s from Urban US to Rural US or International… you’re likely to meet a little of each in every trip.

Community:

Everyone shares in camp duties. When you arrive, you sign up to help with meals throughout the weekend.  The amount of help needed depends on the number of people on the camping trip.  The more people, the more we disperse the work.

Cook Duty:  You don’t have to know how to cook. 😊 The meal is predetermined, and we tell you where we need help. Usually it’s a lot of chopping… onions/garlic/peppers or making a pot rice (just follow directions).  Sometimes it’s helping make mac & cheese, steak or mashed potatoes. Regardless, we’re helping you with each step.

Clean Duty:  To ensure we don’t attract wild animals, it’s very important that we clean thoroughly after each meal.  All food has to be put in coolers or tubs. Clean the tables and stoves and rinse dishes.

(The gold star goes to the people who don’t try so hard here! Scrubbing Dutch ovens means you’re undoing months’ or years’ worth of work that made them non-stick!

How to clean dutch ovens:  All you have to do it heat them up a bit, and rinse.  It really is that easy.)

Note: Before you sign up for a cook or clean shift, look at the schedule.  If you’re not staying the entire weekend, choose a shift before you leave.

If there is a particular activity that you want to do and it’s during a shift, don’t sign up for that shift.  For example, if you must see the sunset, sign up for dinner clean or breakfast. If you’re not a morning person, sign up for dinner or breakfast clean.

How to RSVP:

In the notes section,

• Indicate if you have any food requirements (i.e. No meat, no pork, no gluten).
• Let me know if you need to borrow a tent, sleeping bag or ground pad.

Who is HTXoutdoors?

If you have been looking for a group to explore Houston, do outdoor activities and meet people with similar interests, you have finally found it!

We are Houstonians (new, original and somewhere in between) in our 20’s & 30’s and we love the outdoors!

With a zest for adventure, we have day trips, weekend trips & international trips.  So if you have 2 weeks of vacation or “unlimited”…you can find new adventures to fit your schedule.

Come out and meet others interested in hiking, biking, camping, kayaking, rock climbing and more!  It’s a good chance to meet each other. It’s an even better chance to plan some adventures.